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“Christian spirituality concerns the quest for a fulfilled and authentic Christian existence, involving the bringing together of the fundamental ideas of Christianity and the whole experience of living on the basis of and within the scope of the Christian faith.”

Alister McGrath

“The spiritual life is simply the increasing vitality and sway of God’s Spirit in us.”

Marjorie Thompson

“The practice of the presence of God.”

Brother Lawrence

The goal of Christian spirituality is to be enlivened by God’s Spirit.

Smackdown:Plato vs. Aristotle

Smackdown:Aristotle vs. Plato

Platotechne

vs.episteme / theoria

Smackdown:Aristotle vs. Plato

Aristotlesophia

vs.phronesis

Whereas young people become accomplished in geometry and mathematics, and wise within these limits, prudent young people do not seem to be found. The reason is that prudence is concerned with particulars as well as universals, and particulars become known from experience, but a young person lacks experience, since some length of time is needed to produce it.

Nichomachean Ethics 1142 a

“Phronesis goes beyond both analytical, scientific knowledge (episteme) and technical knowledge or know-how (techne) and involves judgments and decisions made in the manner of a virtuoso.”

Making Social Science Matter

“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one

receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a

perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run

aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave

it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.”

26

Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba, as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?” Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands toward heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, “If you will, you can become all flame.”

Philokalia

LectioDivina

(SacredReading)

Lectio = reading Meditatio = meditation

Oratio = oration, spoken/communicated

prayer Contemplatio = contemplation

Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;Lord, hear my voice;

let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication

If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss,O Lord, who could stand?

For there is forgiveness with you;therefore you shall be feared.

The Daily Office

Mattins (of the morning): The first office is held before dawn, keeping vigil for the day to come. Prime (first): First of the Little Hours, observed at 6 a.m.Lauds (praise): Lauds is held at dawn, it includes Psalms 148-150 (the “Praise the Lord!” psalms).Terce (third): The second of the Little Hours, it is observed at 9 a.m.Sext (sixth): The third of the Little Hours, observed at noon.None (ninth): The fourth of the Little Hours, it is observed at 3 p.m.Vespers (evening): Held at dusk, Vespers (along with Lauds) is considered one of the two most important offices of the day. It concludes with the singing of the Magnificat (Mary’s song from Luke 1: 46-55).Compline (complete): The prayers said at night before retiring, Compline includes the Nunc Dimittis (Simeon’s Song from Luke 2: 29-32).

The JesusPrayer

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."

"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Lord Jesus Christ,Son of God,

Have mercy on me,a sinner.

Prayingwith Icons

The Stationsof the Cross

Station One: Jesus is Condemned to

Death

Station Two: Jesus receives his cross

Station Three:Jesus falls under the

weight of the cross the first time

Station Four:Jesus meets his mother

Station Five:Simon of Cyrene helps

Jesus to carry the cross

Station Six:The face of Jesus is wiped

by Veronica

Station Seven:Jesus falls a second time

Station Eight:The women of Jerusalem

mourn for our Lord

Station Nine:Jesus falls the third time

Station Ten: Jesus is stripped of his

garments

Station Eleven: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Station Twelve: Jesus dies upon the cross

Station Thirteen:Jesus is laid in the arms of

his mother

Station Fourteen: Jesus is laid in the tomb

The Labyrinth

Silence and Solitude

Centering Prayer

Meditation

The Ignatian Examen

Spiritual Direction

Pilgrimage

Fasting

The Sign of the Cross and Other Bodily Prayer

Sabbath

Service

“A Rule of Life is a pattern of spiritual disciplines that

provides structure and direction for growth in

holiness.” Marjorie Thompson

Example of a Personal Rule∀Pray through two centuries of the Jesus Prayer in the morning and evening every day.∀Keep the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday every week.∀Walk a labyrinth once a month.∀Take a two-day silent retreat once a year.∀Fast and walk the Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent.∀Take a 28-day Ignatian retreat every decade.

“The spiritual life is not something we add onto an already busy life…. [It] is to

impregnate and infiltrate and control what we

already do with an attitude of service to God.”

Henri Nouwen & Richard Foster

“I think the most important thing a pastor does is who he or she is.”

Eugene Peterson