FINALITÀ
To help the students, as future Christian leaders, shepherds and spiritual guides, to combine theology and spirituality, Christian doctrine and practice, contemplation and action.
ARGOMENTI
1. Nature and scope of Spiritual Theology: Terminology, method, sources, types. 2. Biblical and theological foundations of spirituality. 3. Schools of spirituality. 4. The goal of our striving: The glory of God, salvation, sanctification. 5. Our life in the Trinity: The Father, goal of all the creatures; Christ, the way, the truth, the life; the Holy Spirit sanctifier. 6. The supernatural organism: Grace (sanctifying, actual, effects), indwelling of the Trinity, infused virtues, gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, beatitudes. 7. Perfection of the Christian life: the nature of Christian perfection, the mystical state. 8. Growth in holiness: Conversion from sin, means of spiritual growth (the sacraments, meritorious good works, and prayer of petition). 9. The theological virtues (faith, hope, charity) and the moral virtues (prudence, counsel, justice, piety, temperance, fear, fortitude). 10. Vocal prayer, meditation, lectio divina, affective prayer, prayer of simplicity, contemplative prayer, prayer of quiet, prayer of union, prayer of conforming, union prayer, transforming union. 11. Aids to spiritual growth: The presence of God, examination of conscience, the desire for perfection, conformity to God’s will, fidelity to grace, plan of life, spiritual reading, holy friendships, spiritual direction. 12. Discernment of spirits: types of spirits, psychosomatic phenomena, extraordinary mystical phenomena.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to: Identify the differences between Christian doctrine and practice, contemplation and action, in the progressive stages of growing in Christian life towards perfection; explain in discussion the tenets of the goal of Christian life; expound on how to analyse and to strive for it in forming holy Christians.
TESTI
Aumann, Jordan. 2010. Spiritual Theology. London: Sheed & Ward.
Bibliography:
Burke, Dan. 2012. Navigating the Interior Life: Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God. Steubenville: Emmaus Road Publishing; Chan, Simon. 1998. Spiritual Theology: A Systematic Study of the Christian Life. Downers Grove, Inter Varsity Press; Collins, Kenneth, ed. 2000. Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic; Downey, Michael, ed. 1993. The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality. Collegeville: Liturgical Press; Doyle, Charles. 2011. Guidance in Spiritual Direction. Charlston: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform; Fernandez-Carvajal, Francis. 2012. Through Wind and Waves: On Being a Spiritual Guide. New Rochelle: Scepter; Garrigou-Lagrange, Reginald. 2013. The Three Ages of the Interior Life. Charlston: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform; Gray, Tim. 2009. Prayer in Scripture for a Change. An introduction to Lectio Divina. Neceda: Ascension Press; Holder, Arthur. 2006. The Blackwell Companion to Christian Spirituality. Indianapolis: Blackwell Publishing; Jones, Cheslyn, Geoffrey Wainwright, and Edward Yarnold, eds. 2004. The Study of Spirituality. London: SCPK; McGrath, Alister. 2005. Christian Spirituality: An Introduction. Indianapolis: Blackwell Publishing; Mursell, Gordon. 2001. The Story of Christian Spirituality: Two Thousand Years, from East to West. Oxford: Lion Hudson; Sheldrake, Philip. 2006. A Brief History of Spirituality. Indianapolis: Blackwell; Tanquerey, Adolphe. 2013. The Spiritual Life. A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology. Charlotte: Tan Books & Publishing; Wiseman, James. 2006. Spirituality and Mysticism: A Global View. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.