Spiritual Theology

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Spiritual Theology
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Definition

• Traditional definition of spiritual/ascetic/mystic
  al theology that part of theology that,
  proceeding from the truths of divine revelation
  and the religious experience of individual
  persons, defines the nature of the supernatural
  life, formulates directives for its growth and
  development, and explains the process by which
  souls advance from the beginning of the spiritual
  life to its full perfection. (Aumann, Spiritual
  Theology, p. 22)

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Definition (cont.)

• Modern definition of spirituality that which
  is transcendent in and beyond us (Miller, 1999).
• Modern definitions tend toward universality and
  inclusivity, and are correspondingly vague and
  empty of content.

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Goals

• Aquinas two conditions of final beatitude in
  glory (Summa Theologiae I, q. 26, a. 1)
• Perfection of the individual
• Knowledge and experience of God and the good
• Beatific vision the intimate and joyful union
  of the souls of the blessed with God in glory
  (Aumann, p. 42). See 1 John 32 1 Cor. 1312.

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Approaches

• Two primary approaches
• Apophatic (negative) theology God in negation,
  absence
• Kataphatic (positive) theology God in presence
• Some writers consider these separate stages (e.g.
  the Carmelites), other see individuals as
  inclined toward one or the other of these paths

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Stages

• Standard division
• Via purgativa/Purgation an intense and
  profound purification of all the faculties and
  powers of the soul and body (Aumann, p. 177).
  Focus on avoiding sin and resisting temptation.
• Via illuminativa/Illumination. Focus on progress
  in the good, advancing in charity.
• Via unitiva/Union.
• Stages can be intermingled.

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Stages (cont.)

• Other similar schemes
• Aquinas Beginners, proficients and perfect
  (Summa Theologiae, II-II, q. 24, a. 9).
• Hugh of St. Victor, Underhill Preliminary stage
  of awakening.

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Stages (cont.)

• Purgation
• Moral reform and confession self-knowledge
• Physical discipline food, sexuality
• Mental discipline guarding the heart (Hilton)
• Detachment from created things self-denial
• Suffering
• Development of humility

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Stages (cont.)

• Illumination
• Increasing sense of the presence of God
  occasional mystical experiences
• Increasing sense of love for all things and
  oneness with them

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Stages (cont.)

• Union Description
• that most intimate kiss of all, a mystery of
  supreme generosity and ineffable sweetness.
  (Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of
  Songs, 3.5).
• Thus the soul which finds its good in cleaving
  to God will not consider itself perfectly united
  with him until it perceives that he abides in her
  and she in him. Note even then may she be said
  to be one with God as the Father and Son are one
  . (Bernard, 71.6)
• when God and man cleave wholly to each
  other--it is when they are incorporated into each
  other by mutual love . (Bernard, 71.10).

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Stages (cont.)

• Union Characteristics
• Ineffability
• The breath of your beloved is to me a goodly
  odor, and I receive of its fullness gratefully,
  in however small measure. For it causes the
  memory of your abundant sweetness to arise in me,
  and I find the ineffable sweetness of your
  condescending love in this saying My beloved
  is mine and I am his. (Bernard of Clairvaux,
  Sermons on the Song of Songs 67.5).
• In a manner which exceeds description and
  thought, the man of God is found worthy to become
  not God but what God is . (William of St.
  Thierry, Golden Epistle, 263).

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Stages (cont)

• I was within the heaven that receives more of
  His light and I saw things that he who from that
  height descends, forgets or can not speak for
  nearing its desired end, our intellect sinks into
  an abyss so deep that memory fails to follow it
  (Dante, Par. 1.4-9).
• you who feel, beneath the rays of the eternal
  life, that sweetness which cannot be known unless
  it is experienced . (Dante, Par. 3.37-40).

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Stages (cont.)

• Examples Bernard
• 3 kisses (Song of Solomon Sermon 3, 4)
• Kiss of the feet confessio conversion and
  repentence
• Kiss of the hand devotio continuing
  repentence, avoiding sin
• Kiss of the mouth contemplatio mystical union
• Stages amor carnalis, amor rationalis, amor
  spiritualis (Sermon 20)
• the love of the heart relates to a certain
  warmth of affection, the love of the soul to
  energy or judgment of reason, and the love of
  strength can refer to constancy and vigor of
  spirit. (20.4).
• reason is a disposition of the mind ready to
  conform to the truth in all things. (William of
  St. Thierry, Golden Epistle, 202).

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Stages (cont.)

• Richard of St. Victor Stages of contemplation
• Imagination, e.g. wonder over creation
• Imagination according to reason, e.g. seek
  rational principle for what we see
• Reason according to imagination, e.g. speculation
  about invisible things from their similitude with
  visible ones
• Reason according to reason, e.g. speculation
  about invisible things (celestial souls, highest
  goods) from that which we know through
  experience and acquire from understanding
• Above but not beyond reason, e.g. divine showings
  of things we cant investigate or grasp fully
• Above and beyond (or even against) reason

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Processes

• Primarily an Interior Journey
• Knowledge and Reason intellectual process or
  openness to learning
• Relation and Love affective process
• Grace and Infused Mystical Experience

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Methods

• Ascetical (normal) Prayer and its grades (Aumann,
  Teresa of Avila)
• Vocal prayer
• Meditation application of the mind to some
  supernatural truth
• Affective prayer a simplified meditation in
  which love predominates
• Prayer of simplicity or acquired recollection
  a simple loving gaze on some divine object

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Methods (cont.)

• Mystical or contemplative prayer direct
  knowledge of God accompanied by delight
  blending of cognitive and affective
• Teresa Prayer of Quiet (complete absorption in
  God), Prayer of Union, Prayer of Conforming
  Union, Prayer of Transforming Union

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Methods (cont.)

• Sacraments Baptism, Eucharist, Confession
• Study and reading lectio divina
• Friendships, spiritual direction and discernment
• Self-examination
• Revision of life
• Focus on spiritual realities
• afterlife
• vanity of the world
• passion of Christ,

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Methods (cont.)

• Daily rhythm, e.g. monastic Divine Office based
  around the Psalms and life of Christ
• Morning Office
• Little Hours
• Prime (6 am)
• Terce (9 am)
• Sext (noon)
• None (3 pm)
• Vespers (530 pm)
• Compline (bedtime)
• Night Office Matins (Vigils) (2 or 3 am)

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Eastern Distinctives

• Spiritual warfare
• Transcendence
• Imagery
• Prayer emphases

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Images, Metaphors and Symbols of Spiritual Growth

• Mutual love between Bride and Bridegroom
  (Bernard, Sermon 83-85)
• In love alone, of all the movements of the soul
  and the senses and affections, can the creature
  respond to its Creator, if not with an equal, at
  least with a like return of gift for gift.
  (Sermons 83.4).
• God is sought not on foot but by desire. Any
  the happy discovery of what is desired does not
  end desire but extends it. The consummation of
  joy does not consume desire, does it? Rather, it
  is oil poured on flames, which itself catches
  fire. Thus it is. Joy will be fulfilled (Ps
  1511). But there will be no end to desire, and
  so no end of seeking. (Sermons 84.1).

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Images of Growth (cont.)

• Light and Vision
• He may not rashly fit his fact to the face of
  the most serene Bridegroom in case he is
  dazzled by light (Pr 2527), and wrapped again in
  a darkness deeper than before. (Bernard, 3.2).
• Gods true greeting has such force that it
  takes away all the bodys strength and reveals
  the soul to herself and she takes on a divine
  radiance. Then the soul leaves the body, taking
  all her power, wisdom, love and longing . Then
  she sees one complete God in three Persons and
  knows the three Persons in one God undivided.
  (Mechtild of Madeburg, Flowing Light of the
  Godhead, I.2).

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Spiritual Direction

• Seen as important from very earliest times
  (Desert Fathers)
• Goal Helping the directee grow closer to God
  relationship with God is the primary focus
• Emphases
• Prayer as the primary means to relationship
  other disciplines and moral activities also
  important
• Listening and discernment

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Spiritual Direction (cont.)

• Director-Directee Relationship
• In modern times, tends to be more egalitarian
• Hospitality metaphor used
• Mechanics
• Regular meetings but less frequent that in
  psychotherapy, typically once a month
• Retreat format and experience deemed important

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Spiritual Direction (cont.)

• Training
• Calling the primary qualification, which is
  evidenced by people seeking out the director
• Ongoing personal spiritual direction essential
• Experience in the spiritual life
• Familiar with theological, spiritual and
  psychological literature
• Familiar with techniques of spiritual growth