Welcome to Spiritual Theology

 

SUBJECT OVERVIEW

COURSE AIM:

To reflect on the great themes of Christian holiness – the development of Christian spiritual life as a progressive identification with Christ under the action of the Holy Spirit in response to the call of God the Father. To open apostolic horizons, with a perspective attentive to current cultural challenges.

CONTENT:
I. Introduction to spiritual theology
II. Fundamental dimensions of spiritual life
III. Dynamics and itinerary of spiritual life
IV. Summary of the history of spirituality

COURSE NOTES

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

    By the end of this course students should be able to

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    PROGRAM

    This course will cover the following topics:

    I. INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY

    1. Christian Life as object of study in Spiritual Theology. Other names used:
    sanctity, spiritual experience, and spirituality. Unity and diversity in Christian
    spirituality. Definition of Spiritual Theology.
    2. Origin and development of Spiritual Theology. Patristic and medieval
    literature on the spiritual life. Difference between Theology and spirituality. First
    treatises on Spiritual Theology. Its classification into Ascetical and Mystical Theology,
    and its later integration into an academic discipline.
    3. Nature, sources and method of Spiritual Theology. It is distinct from, but
    related to Dogmatic and Moral Theology. Sources of Spiritual Theology: life and
    teachings of saints have pride of place. Method of Spiritual Theology

    II. FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE

    4.  The Trinity, source and goal of spiritual life. Scriptural and patristic
    teachings on the inhabitation of the Trinity in the soul. Magisterium and theological
    doctrine. The testimony of saints.
    5. The Christian’s divine filiation. Scriptural and patristic teachings.
    Theological doctrine. The meaning of divine filiation in the experience of saints.
    6. Holiness and identification with Christ. Christ-centeredness of spiritual life.
    Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life as source and model of holiness. Following
    and imitating Christ in the early Church and in the teachings of St. Paul. Following and
    imitating Christ in the history of spirituality.
    7. The Holy Spirit, author of our sanctification. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Life
    in accord with the flesh and life in accord with the Spirit in Pauline writings. The gifts of
    the Holy Spirit: nature and dynamics. Specific role of each of the gifts. Docility to the
    Holy Spirit.
    8. Ecclesial dimension of spiritual life (1): liturgy and sacraments. The Church
    as place of encounter with Christ and the communication of the Holy Spirit. Word of
    God and spiritual life. Liturgy and spiritual life. Configuration with Christ through the
    sacraments. The Eucharist, center and root of our spiritual life.
    9. Ecclesial dimension of spiritual life (2): fraternity and filiation to Mary.
    Christian experience and fraternity. Participation in the Church’s mission: diversity of
    roles and Christian vocation to the apostolate. Sanctity and apostolate. Mary, synthesis
    and ideal of spiritual life. Mary in the spiritual life of a Christian.
    10. Secular dimension of spiritual life. Various meanings of the word ‘world’.
    Biblical teachings on the world. Concept of Christian secularity and its forms: secular
    spiritualities and religious spiritualities. Secularity and spiritual life of the lay faithful.

    II. FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE

    4.  The Trinity, source and goal of spiritual life. Scriptural and patristic
    teachings on the inhabitation of the Trinity in the soul. Magisterium and theological
    doctrine. The testimony of saints.
    5. The Christian’s divine filiation. Scriptural and patristic teachings.
    Theological doctrine. The meaning of divine filiation in the experience of saints.
    6. Holiness and identification with Christ. Christ-centeredness of spiritual life.
    Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life as source and model of holiness. Following
    and imitating Christ in the early Church and in the teachings of St. Paul. Following and
    imitating Christ in the history of spirituality.
    7. The Holy Spirit, author of our sanctification. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Life
    in accord with the flesh and life in accord with the Spirit in Pauline writings. The gifts of
    the Holy Spirit: nature and dynamics. Specific role of each of the gifts. Docility to the
    Holy Spirit.
    8. Ecclesial dimension of spiritual life (1): liturgy and sacraments. The Church
    as place of encounter with Christ and the communication of the Holy Spirit. Word of
    God and spiritual life. Liturgy and spiritual life. Configuration with Christ through the
    sacraments. The Eucharist, center and root of our spiritual life.
    9. Ecclesial dimension of spiritual life (2): fraternity and filiation to Mary.
    Christian experience and fraternity. Participation in the Church’s mission: diversity of
    roles and Christian vocation to the apostolate. Sanctity and apostolate. Mary, synthesis
    and ideal of spiritual life. Mary in the spiritual life of a Christian.
    10. Secular dimension of spiritual life. Various meanings of the word ‘world’.
    Biblical teachings on the world. Concept of Christian secularity and its forms: secular
    spiritualities and religious spiritualities. Secularity and spiritual life of the lay faithful.

    RESOURCES

    Recommended Reading
    a) Systematic Exposition.

    AUMANN, J., Spiritual Theology, Sheed and Ward, London 1980; Teologia spirituale , Dehoniane, Rome 1991.

    BELDA, M., Guided by the Spirit of God. Course in Spiritual Theology, Palabra 2006.

    BOUYER, L., Introduction to spiritual life: a manual of theology, asceticism and mysticism , Herder, Barcelona 1964; Introduction to spirituality , Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN 1961.

    ILLANES, JL, World and Holiness , Rialp, Madrid 1984; World and Holiness , Ares, Milan 1992.
    Treatise on Spiritual Theology , Eunsa, Pamplona 2007.

    PINCKAERS, S., La vita spirituale del Cristiano secondo San Paolo e San Tommaso d’Aquino , Jaca Book, Milano 1995; The spiritual life, Edicep, Valencia 1995.

    THILS, G., Christian Holiness , Sígueme, Salamanca 1968.
    Existence et sainteté en Jésus-Christ , Beauchesne, Paris 1982.

    TORRELL, JP, Saint Thomas d’Aquin, maître spirituel: initiation 2 , Éditions universitaires de Fribourg-Cerf, Fribourg-Paris 2002; Saint Thomas Aquinas. Spiritual Master, Catholic University of America Press, Washington DC 2003.

    WEISMAYER, J., Leben in Fülle, Verlagsanstalt Tyrolia, Innsbruck 1983; The Christian life in pienezza , Dehoniane, Bologna 1989; Christian life in fullness , PPC, Madrid 1990.

    b) History of spirituality.

    AUMANN, J., Christian spirituality in the catholic tradition,London 1985; Sommario di storia della spiritualità,Dehoniane, Napoli 1986.

    ROYO MARÍN, A., The Great Masters of Spiritual Life. History of Christian Spirituality , BAC, Madrid 1973.
    SESÉ, J., History of spirituality , Eunsa, Pamplona 2005; Rome 2008.