01 Art of Spirituality

8/8/2019 01 Art of Spirituality

1/23

Gilberto Cavazos-Gonzlez


2/23

Hebrew Scripture:Hebrew Scripture: ruahruah


3/23

Hebrew Scripture:Hebrew Scripture: ruah

Christian Scripture:Christian Scripture:

pneuma; pneumatikos, pneumatik

Latin root:Latin root: spiritus; spiritualis, spiritualitas

PaulinePauline spirituality:spirituality:Christians are pneumatic


4/23

Inculturation ofthe Message ofChrist Grace of Baptism

Living theGospel

Paul: pneuma vs sarx Moral distinction

Not contrary to soma

The spiritual person is not one who condemns the

body or runs from material things, rather s/he isone in whom the Spirit ofGod dwells (1Cor 2,14-15)


5/23

1.Bruno Secondin claims that Christianity today hasto recover the original characteristic of its

spirituality, which I the inculturation of themessage of Christ. (B. Secondin, Spiriutlait inDialogo, 27

2.To enter into Christ is to enter into the sphere of

the Spirit I Cor 6:7; 2:10ff)3. It is important to grasp that, in Pauline theology,

Spirit and spiritual are not contrasted withphysical or material (for which the Greek word

soma, in latin corpus, is the root) but rather withall that is opposed to the Spirit of God(for whichthe word sarx, in Latin caro, is used). (Sheldrake,Spirituality History, 42)


6/23

AsceticalTheology; MysticalTheology SpiritualTheologyPart of SystematicTheology

Partnered withMoralTheology Spirituality seeks to express the conscious

(personal and ecclesial) human response to

God which is to say life in the Spirit.P.Sheldrake


7/23

Some have called it simply spirituality; others have named itspiritual life; devout life; supernatural life; interior life; mysticalevolution; and theology of Christian perfection.The terms first used

and still commonly used to designate the systematic theology ofthe spiritual life are ascetical theologyand mystical theology,although these words do not have the same meaning for alltheologians". (Jordan Aumann, Spiritual Theology[http://www.domcentral.org/study/aumann/st/st01.htm#terminology] 23 Sept., 2001).

Sandra Schneiders on why Spirituality is better than SpiritualTheology as a title for the discipline:

1. In many circles spirituality is no longer seen as intimately linked totheology

2.Spirituality as a discipline can contribute toTheology3. It can better facilitate comparative and cross-traditional dialogue.4.Spirituality is broader than narrower terms like mysticism, devotion,

moral life, etc.


8/23

Aumann represents a school of thought that would keep

spirituality as a fi4eld of study dependent only on theology and

thus prefers to speak of spiritual theology akin to moral theology,

biblical theology, etc. Spirituality as understood today coversmore than spiritual theology, or as it was often called in the past

ascetical and/or mystical theology.

Those theologies tend to downplay or ignore the cultural,

anthropological, social and psychological dimensions that havebeen so important to the lived experience of Christian faith.

Spirituality can never loose its ties toTheology, but it has to have

an identity of its own. With the return of spirituality as life in

the Spirit it shifts from spiritual theology to a more experiential,

holistic, ecumenical, and pluralistic approach.


9/23

Early 20thCentury France 1916:August Saudreau, Manuel de spiritualit

1918-1928:PierrePourrat, La spiritualit catholique

1920 Revue dAscetique et de Mystique 1923 Dictionnaire de spiritualit

1943:Chair in Histoire de la Spiritualit InstituteCatholique de Paris

Spiritualit gains acceptability

Pierre Pourrat is translated into English ChristianSpiritualityin 4 volumes (1929)


10/23

1950-70ss Spirituality moves into

Anglophonic world

1960-70sTheological attempts at definition 1975 Ermano Ancilli 3 Vol Dictionary 1983: Walter Principe 3 categories 1983 Gustavo Gutierrez 3 stages 1991Philip Sheldrake Spirituality and History 1997Bruno Secondin Spirituality in Dialogue

Gilberto Cavazos (2009)


11/23

Studies the passing on of lifes wisdom

Studies the wisdom of the Masters

Researches the most profound andtranscendent anthropological experiences

One of the most ancientdisciplines yet a newscience.


12/23

Formative vs Research Orientations

Subject:Too specific vs too broad

Objectivity: Issues of Self-Implication Questions of Method

Gilberto Cavazos (2009)


13/23

Gilberto Cavazos-Gonzlez, OFM.Spirituality.Miguel A. De LaTorre, ed.Hispanic AmericanReligious Cultures, vol. 2. SantaBarbara, CA:

ABC-CLIO 2009, 756.


14/23

Lived Experience (existential level) Conversion Life /Conversation

Scientific Study (educational level) Doctrine Progress /Growth


15/23

Lived Experience (existential level) Conversion

Life /Conversation

Academic Study (educational level) Doctrine Progress /Growth

Spiritual Traditions (communal level)

Culture

Religion


16/23

Spirituality is the way in which a personunderstands and lives within his or her

historical context that aspect of his or herreligion, philosophy or ethic that is viewed asthe loftiest, the noblest, the most calculated

to lead to the fullness of the ideal orperfection being sought. (136).


17/23

the formulation of a teaching about the lived reality,

often under the influence of some outstanding

spiritual person. Sometimes the way of life and

example of such a person becomes a pattern for

others; many traditions or schools of spirituality

by reason of differing teachings ... doctrines have

been worked out either in more formal theologicalpresentations or more often in practical works

designed for practical instruction of those interested

in spiritual growth. (136)


18/23

the study by scholars of the first and especially ofthe second levels of spirituality. Here spirituality has

become a discipline using the methods andresources of several other branches of knowledge.

Within such study of Christian spirituality a specialquestion has arisen. Is there not for Christians only

one spirituality, that of the gospel lived after thepattern of Christs own life, death, and resurrection?

there have been many variations in the wayChristians have interpreted and lived the gospel.

(136).


19/23

Michael Downey Understanding Spirituality 43.


20/23

OntologyOntology:: HomoHomo SpiritualisSpiritualis

ExperienceExperience:: HomoHomo ViatorViator

ClasicClasic:: HomoHomo ReligiosusReligiosus

ScienceScience:: Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens

ArtformArtform:: HomoHomo CreativusCreativus

OntologyOntology:: HomoHomo SpiritualisSpiritualis

FundamentalFundamental dimension of being human

ExperienceExperience:: HomoHomo ViatorViator

LifeLife in relationship and growthClasicClasic:: HomoHomo ReligiosusReligiosus

TraditionTradition and wisdom of a community

ScienceScience:: Homo SapiensHomo SapiensAcademic StudyStudy with subject and methods

ArtformArtform:: HomoHomoCreativusCreativus

Grace/DisciplineGrace/Discipline for integral formation


21/23

It is a self-implicating discipline

It is interdisciplinary

Seeks to facilitate religious experience It is sensual as well as reflective

It is wholistic as well as holy

Unlike spiritual theology, which aimed to supplyunquestioned principles derived from revelation and

tradition to the life of the Christian, spirituality

wishes to understand religious experience as it

occurs Schneider ECS 261.


22/23

1.1. Life in the SpiritLife in the Spirit

2.2. SelfSelf--implicatingimplicating3.3. SocioSocio--implicatingimplicating4.4. InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary

5.5. Religious experienceReligious experience6.6. W/W/HolysticHolystic7.7.ArtArt--formform


23/23

A descriptive approach to spirituality Where/When, Who, What, hoW, Why

ContextsContexts:: Place; Situation; Social Location

ParticipantsParticipants:: Player; Sharer;Actor;Partaker; Pro orCon

ContentContent:: Sources, Information;Truth vs facts

ProcessProcess:: Pedagogy;Practices;Stages ofGrowth or Deterioration

AspirationsAspirations:: Hopes, dreams and goals;

Initial &On-Going Gilberto Cavazos-G. (2008) 23

Documents

01 Art of Spirituality