Notre Dame Seminary School of Theology Professor: Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes Time: MWF 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. E-mail: [email protected] Room: 1 SpT 501 - Spiritual Theology Syllabus I Course Description This course introduces the student to the Christian spiritual teaching of the Catholic Church. The two-fold purpose is to present in a systematic fashion the fundamental elements in the living of the Christian spiritual life and to introduce the student at the same time to Christian spiritual classics which illustrate these elements. II Course Rationale: A candidate for the priesthood needs to embrace a Christian spiritual life based on a sound understanding of the faith realities which undergird it. Exposure to the Christian spiritual classics introduces him to reliable spiritual reading for continuing spiritual formation. Both of these ends will lay a theological foundation for the spiritual guidance of others. III Envisioned Outcomes: Students will learn the basic stepping-stones in the journey of the Christian spiritual life. Students will appreciate the theological structure of the Christian spiritual life. Students will be introduced to thirteen Christian spiritual classics for continuing support of their own spiritual journey. Students will be acquainted with the basic theological understanding of the faith realities involved in helping others become disciples of the Lord. IV Instructional Methods: Lecture Class reflection on reading of classics V Requirements and Important Dates A. Read entire text and assigned portions of spiritual classics B. Two exams: October 24 and final exam week C. Reflective paper due three weeks after topic has been treated in class D. Active participation in class reflection based on personal journaling VI Bibliography A. Texts: Hughes, Alfred C., Spiritual Masters: Living a Life of Prayer in the Catholic Tradition (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1998) Aumann, Jordan, Spiritual Theology (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1980) B. Classics: Aelred of Rievaulx, Spiritual Friendship, Mark Williams, tr. (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1977) Augustine, Confessions, Garry Wills, tr. (New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2006) Benedict, Rule, Timothy Fry, ed. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1980) Catherine of Siena, “The Dialogues,” The Classics of Western Spirituality, Suzanne Noffke, tr. (New York, NY: Paulist Press, 1980) Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, John Ryan, tr. (Washington, DC: Harper-Image Books, 1950) Guigo II, The Ladder of Monks and Twelve Meditations, Edmund Colledge and James Walsh, trs. (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1979) Hilton, Walter, The Scale of Perfection, John Clark & Rosemary Dorward, tr.& ed. (New York, NY: Paulist Press 1991) Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, David Fleming, ed. (New York, NY: Doubleday Image Books, 1978) Jean Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence, J. Ramiere, ed; E.J. Strickland, tr. (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2008) John of the Cross, “Ascent,” The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, Kiernan Kavanaugh & Otilio Rodriguez, tr. (Washington, DC: Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1973) Merton, Thomas, ed., Wisdom of the Desert (New York, NY: New Directions Books, 1970) Teresa of Avila, “The Way of Perfection,” The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Kiernan Kavanaugh & Otilio Rodriguez, tr. (Washington, DC: Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1980) Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ, (New York, NY: Doubleday, 1955) VII Glossary of Terms (Most of these definitions are drawn from Spiritual Theology by Jordan Aumann.) 1. Asceticism: Asceticism comes from the Greek askeein meaning to practice or exercise in order to acquire a skill, especially an athletic skill. In the spiritual life, it refers to the graced efforts of persons to grow in that life. 2. Ecclesial Spirituality: Ecclesial spirituality is the approach to Christian holiness which is rooted in the elements of Christian spiritual life entrusted by Christ to the Church and which transcends the particular emphasis of any one school of Christian spirituality. 3. Fruits of the Spirit: Fruits of the Spirit are virtuous acts which are performed by those who are guided by the Holy Spirit and which bring joy to the person who performs them. 4. Gifts of the Holy Spirit: The gifts of the Holy Spirit are operative habits which are granted directly by the Holy Spirit and operate in a supernatural or divine way. They perfect the virtues. 4.1 Gift of Knowledge: The gift of knowledge is a supernatural habit through which the human intellect, under the action of the Holy Spirit, judges rightly concerning created things as related to eternal life. 4.2 Gift of Understanding: The gift of understanding is a supernatural habit, infused in the soul with sanctifying grace, by which the human intellect, under the illuminating action of the Holy Spirit, is made apt for a penetrating intuition of revealed truths and even natural truths in so far as they are related to the supernatural end. 4.3 Gift of Wisdom: The gift of wisdom is a supernatural habit, inseparable from charity, by which a Christian judges rightly concerning God and divine things through their ultimate and highest causes, under the movement of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to taste them by a certain connaturality. 4.4 Gift of Counsel: The gift of counsel is a supernatural habit by which the Holy Spirit enables a Christian to judge rightly in particular events what ought to be done in view of the supernatural ultimate end and personal sanctification. 4.5 Gift of Fortitude: The gift of fortitude is a supernatural habit through which the Holy Spirit strengthens the soul for the practice of virtue with a confidence of overcoming dangers or difficulties that may arise. 4.6 Gift of Piety: The gift of piety is a supernatural habit infused with sanctifying grace, which arouses in the will, through the movement of the Holy Spirit, a filial love for God as Father and a sentiment of universal love for all men and women as brothers and sisters. 4.7 Gift of Fear of the Lord: The gift of fear of the Lord is a supernatural habit by which the just soul, under the movement of the Holy Spirit, acquires a special docility for subjecting himself completely to the divine will out of reverence for the majesty of God. 5. Grace 5.1 Actual Grace: Actual grace is a transient stimulation or movement by which the soul is prompted to do or receive something relating to justification, sanctification or salvation. 5.2 Sanctifying grace: Sanctifying grace is a supernatural quality, inhering in the soul, which gives a person a physical and formal participation, although analogous and accidental, in the very nature of the life of God. 6. Holiness or Perfection: Christian holiness or perfection is marked by a growing dominion of sacrificial charity, enabled by participation in God’s life through Christ in the Church and uniting us to the Trinitarian God by likening us to God, enabling us to worship him and enfleshing us in the concrete circumstances of our personal vocation in life. 7. Mysticism: Mysticism comes from the Greek mystikos, originally referring to secret or hidden rites known only to the initiated. In the spiritual life, it refers to an experiential, intuitive knowledge of the divine. 8. Prayer: Prayer is the lifting of the heart and mind to God. 8.1 Vocal Prayer: Vocal prayer is expressed in words, whether written or spoken. 8.2 Meditation: Meditation is discursive prayer which involves the reasoned application of the mind to some supernatural truth in order to appreciate its deeper meaning, love it and carry it out in practice with the help of God’s grace. 8.3 Lectio Divina: Lectio divina is meditative prayer, based on Sacred Scripture or on classics from the Christian spiritual tradition. 8.4 Affective Prayer: Affective prayer is a form of discursive prayer wherein the will is more active than the intellect. 8.5 Prayer of Simplicity: The prayer of simplicity is acquired recollection. 8.6 Contemplation: Contemplation is an expression of prayer that includes an experiential knowledge of God. It may be acquired or infused, depending on whether special grace is involved. 9. Sacramental Grace 9.1 Sacramental Grace of Baptism: The baptismal sacramental grace purifies from any sin and grants new birth in Christ into the Church, laying the foundation for the Christian spiritual life. 9.2 Sacramental Grace of Confirmation: The confirmational sacramental grace grants an increase and a strengthening of this new spiritual life in Christ Jesus and equips the Christian both to discern his vocational call and engage faithfully in the spiritual battle in life. 9.3 Sacramental Grace of Eucharist: The Eucharistic sacramental grace immerses the Christian more deeply in the saving and sanctifying paschal mystery and nourishes the Christian spiritual life. 9.4 Sacramental Grace of Penance and Reconciliation: The sacramental grace of penance and reconciliation provides forgiveness, restoration and healing for the Christian spiritual life. 9.5 Sacramental Grace of the Anointing of the Sick: The sacramental grace of the anointing of the sick provides physical and moral healing for a seriously ill Christian and strengthening for the final journey to the next life. 9.6 Sacramental Grace of Matrimony: The sacramental grace of matrimony sanctifies marriage, strengthens the spousal union and provides help for the procreation, education and formation of children as members of the Church. 9.7 Sacramental Grace of Orders: The Sacramental grace of holy orders configures the recipient to Christ the Head of the Mystical Body and enables the ordained to fulfill the responsibilities of office, especially as they are related to the strengthening of the spiritual life of the faithful through the ministry of word, sacrament and pastoral care. 10. Schools of Christian Spirituality: A school of Christian spirituality constitutes a distinctive corporate way in which the Christian spiritual life has been lived as inspired by the example and teaching of a great saint or as reflected in the spiritual temperament of a particular nation or as founded in a specific doctrinal basis.