Spiritual Theology

Authority level: Authoritative doctrine
Theological status: Theological synthesis
GuideThe entry presents Catholic teaching together with theological explanation. The exact note of each proposition depends on the teaching act and sources cited.
Contents

Spiritual Theology is the disciplined theological study of Christian life as grace leads believers through prayer, virtue, purification, and charity toward union with the Triune God.[1]

Spiritual Theology: The Theology of Yesterday for Spiritual Help Today is a book written by Diogenes Allen, professor emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary. The book largely discusses the ancient traditions included within the "threefold way" in achieving habitual presence with God. He begins by discussing what spiritual theology is before moving into the a description of its journey and goal. Along the way, he speaks of the importance of conversion, progress in that journey, and contemplation. The Eight Deadly Thoughts of Evagrius often prevent progress during the journey. Also included is a comparison and contrasting of the Book of Nature and the Book of Scripture. Finally, he ends the book by discussing mystical theology and Christian doctrine in the spiritual life.[3][4][5]

The book was published by Cowley Publications in 1997. ISBN 1-56101-130-4

Object and sources

Spiritual theology studies the lived appropriation of revealed truth: growth in holiness, prayer, virtue, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, ascetic struggle, contemplation, discernment, states of life, and the ordinary and extraordinary movements found in Christian experience. Its sources are Scripture, Tradition, liturgy, dogmatic and moral theology, the teaching of the Church, and the tested witness of saints.[2]

It is genuinely theological, not a catalog of techniques or religious feelings. Experience is interpreted by faith rather than made an independent source that can overturn revelation. At the same time, doctrine is studied for the communion with God to which it points; spiritual theology therefore resists a separation between intellectual truth, sacramental life, morality, and prayer.

Grace and cooperation

Holiness begins and ends in God's initiative. Sanctifying grace makes believers participants in divine life, and actual graces move them to acts of faith, hope, charity, repentance, and service. Human disciplines cooperate with grace but do not manufacture contemplation or earn God's friendship apart from Christ.

Traditions such as Benedictine, Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan, Ignatian, Salesian, and Eastern monastic spirituality emphasize different aspects of the one Gospel. Their sound diversity does not establish separate levels of Christianity. Every baptized person is called to holiness, while concrete practices must fit vocation, duties, health, maturity, and the guidance of the Church.

References

  1. 1.Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2012–2016 — The universal call to holiness, spiritual progress, purification, and union with Christ
  2. 2.Lumen gentium — Vatican II's dogmatic constitution on the mystery, constitution, and mission of the Church
  3. 3.Astell, Ann W. (Winter 1999). "Book reviews". Anglican Theological Review. 81 (1): 188.
  4. 4.O'Keefe, Mark (March 1998). "Shorter notices". Theological Studies. 59 (1): 189. doi:10.1177/004056399805900131.
  5. 5.Crowe, Philip (1998-01-01). "Book Review: Spiritual Theology: The Theology of Yesterday for Spiritual Help Today". Theology. 101 (799): 47–47. doi:10.1177/0040571X9810100114. ISSN 0040-571X.