scholarly journals EMBRACING THE SPIRIT: THE IGNATIAN PNEUMATOLOGY OF LOUIS LALLEMANT

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 397
Author(s):  
André Brouillette

The Pneumatology of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola is famously discreet. However, other Ignatian authors give the Holy Spirit a central place in their spirituality. This article analyzes the Pneumatological contribution of Louis Lallemant’s Spiritual Doctrine to Ignatian spirituality, in dialogue with the Spiritual Exercises. Anchored in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, this spiritual teaching advocates a docility to the Spirit nurtured by the “guard over the heart” and an on-going responsiveness to the Spirit’s promptings. The “second conversion” promoted by Lallemant to his hearers is revealed as a Pneumatological event. It nonetheless conforms the believer to Christ, acknowledging the Christological focus of Ignatian Spirituality, while expanding its Pneumatological dimension. KEYWORDS: Spiritual Exercises. Pneumatological. Louis Lallemant. Spiritual Doctrine.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Michael Barnes SJ

This article considers the theme of discernment in the tradition of Ignatian spirituality emanating from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). After a brief introduction which addresses the central problematic of bad influences that manifest themselves as good, the article turns to the life and work of two Jesuits, the 16th C English missionary to India, Thomas Stephens and the 20th C French historian and cultural critic, Michel de Certeau. Both kept up a constant dialogue with local culture in which they sought authenticity in their response to ‘events’, whether a hideous massacre which shaped the pastoral commitment and writing of Stephens in the south of the Portuguese enclave of Goa or the 1968 student-led protests in Paris that so much affected the thinking of de Certeau. Very different in terms of personal background and contemporary experience, they both share in a tradition of discernment as a virtuous response to what both would understand as the ‘wisdom of the Spirit’ revealed in their personal interactions with ‘the other’.


2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Najeeb Awad

AbstractIn their study of Augustine'sDe Trinitate, scholars read the fifteen books which comprise this text as a monolithically written discourse on the doctrine of the Trinity. This article is an attempt to examine if it is possible to argue on tenable bases that pneumatology, rather than any other doctrine, is the subject of Augustine's text by showing that the interpretation of the identity and consubstantiality of the Spirit occupies inDe Trinitatea more foundational and central place than just being part of Augustine's discussion on the doctrine of the Trinity. It ultimately suggests that freeing Augustine's text from diachronic prejudices means also wondering if he really wanted to write an additional version of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity which he already followed, or whether he wanted to contribute something new about a relatively neglected doctrine in the faith of the church.


2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Mooney

AbstractThis essay examines the life of Ignatius of Loyola (c. 1491–1556), founder of the Society of Jesus [Jesuits], whose religious experience defined the contours of Ignatian spirituality. Through an exploration of foundational documents such as Ignatius's “autobiography,” the Spiritual Exercises, the Jesuits' Constitutions, and early Jesuit writings, this essay shows how the diversity of early Jesuit ministries – as spiritual guides, opponents of Protestantism, schoolteachers, and missionaries to lands outside Europe – can be subsumed under the single rubric of “apostolic mission.” Constitutive features of Ignatian spirituality impinging upon the Jesuit notion of and concrete practice of apostolic mission included the priority of prayer, the Trinitarian missio Dei, the positive embrace of creation and culture, a commitment to seek God in all things, go wherever others needed help, form them to help others, and choose ministries according to what most served the universal good. These principles, not always realized in actual Jesuit ministries, prove useful today for theorists and practitioners of Christian mission. Cet article examine la vie d'Ignace de Loyola (c. 1491–1556), fondateur de la Société de Jésus (Jésuites), dont l'expérience religieuse a défini les contours de la spiritualité ignatienne. A travers l'exploration de documents fondamentaux tels que la « biographie » d'Ignace, les Exercices spirituels, les Constitutions des Jésuites et les premiers écrits jésuites, l'article montre comment la diversité des premiers ministères jésuites – comme guides spirituels, opposants au Protestantisme, enseignants et missionnaires vers des terres hors de l'Europe – peut être rassemblée sous la rubrique unique de « mission apostolique ». Les traits constitutifs de la spiritualité ignatienne qui eurent des répercussions sur la notion et la pratique jésuite de la mission apostolique comprenaient la priorité de la prière, la missio Dei trinitaire, l'accueil positif de la création et de la culture, un engagement à chercher Dieu en toutes choses, à aller partout où il y avait besoin d'aide, à former à aider les autres, et à choisir les ministères en fonction de ce qui contribuait le plus au bien universel. Ces principes, pas toujours réalisés dans l'exercice des ministères jésuites, sont encore utiles aujourd'hui aux théoriciens et praticiens de la mission chrétienne. Dieser Artikel untersucht das Leben Ignatius von Loyolas (1491–1556), dem Gründer der Gesellschaft Jesu (Jesuiten), dessen religiöse Erfahrung die Konturen der ignatianischen Spiritualität bestimmt hat. Durch eine Untersuchung der Gründungsdokumente wie der ,,Autobiografie“ des Ignatius, der Geistlichen Übungen, der Konstitutionen der Jesuiten und früher jesuitischer Schriften zeigt dieser Artikel, wie die Vielfalt der frühen jesuitischen Dienste – als spirituelle Leiter, Gegner des Protestantismus, Lehrer und Missionare außerhalb Europas – unter der einen Rubrik ,,apostolische Mission“ zusammengefasst werden kann. Grundlegende Züge der ignatianischen Spiritualität, die das Verständnis und die konkrete Praxis der apostolischen Mission beeinflussen, schlossen den Vorrang des Gebets ein sowie die trinitarische missio Dei, einen positiven Zugang zu Schöpfung und Kultur, die Hingabe Gott in allen Dingen zu suchen, dorthin zu gehen wo andere Hilfe brauchten, sie auszubilden, damit sie anderen helfen können und jene Dienste zu wählen, die das höhere Gut am meisten förderten. Diese Prinzipien, die nicht immer in den aktuellen jesuitischen Diensten umgesetzt werden, erweisen sich heute als nützlich für Theoretiker und Praktiker der christlichen Mission. Este ensayo examina la vida de Ignacio de Loyola (c. 1491–1556), fundador de la Compañía de Jesús [jesuitas], cuya experiencia religiosa define los parámetros de su espiritualidad. A través de un análisis de documentos fundacionales, tales como la “autobiografía” de Ignacio de Loyola, los Ejercicios espirituales, Constituciones de la Compañía y otros escritos de los primeros tiempos jesuíticos, este ensayo señala cómo la diversidad de los ministerios de los jesuitas en su etapa inicial – directores espirituales, opositores del protestantismo, maestros de escuelas y misioneros a lugares fuera de Europa- puede clasificarse bajo la categoría de “misión apostólica.” Elementos importantes de la espiritualidad de Ignacio de Loyola que inciden en la noción y la práctica concreta de la misión apostólica jesuítica incluyen la prioridad de la oración, la missio Dei trinitaria, el aceptar la creación y la cultura, el compromiso de buscar a Dios en todas las cosas, ir a donde otros necesitan ayuda, proveer instrucción sobre cómo ayudar a otros y elegir ministerios que sean más beneficiosos para el bien universal. Estos principios, no siempre presentes en el ministerio actual de los jesuitas, hoy resultan útiles para los teóricos y prácticos de la misión cristiana.


2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kommers

Revival within churches from traditional-reformed origin: on sincere longing and extreme embarrassment Within churches from reformed origin the debate about revival has become an actual issue. It seems that these churches are becoming smaller and smaller, and that there is a lack of missionary zeal. Many pastors seem to have lost the courage to go on. What is happening in the churches? One can learn something from the history of the church. What was God doing in the past? The Word of God was there and it seems that in those places where revivals broke out, the Word of God was preached faithfully, in the power of the Holy Spirit. From sermons of three revival preachers who worked from 1816 to 1880 in Wuppertal (Germany), one can learn how their sermons contributed to revival in those days.   The missionary-soul caring message struck the people in their hearts, and not only individuals, but also whole regions changed; change took place not only in doctrine and lifestyle, but also holiness occupied a central place in the people’s hearts. When praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, people will repent and turn to God and “times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).


1957 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-89
Author(s):  
G. J. Sirks

More than once the doctrine of the Spirit (Pneumatology) has been called the Cinderella of Theology. If this was so in the past, and is perhaps still, it now requires our full attention. At the risk of viewing the situation through ‘continental’ eyes, but hoping you will recognize this, I would say that the nineteenth century, impressed by the advance of science, confronted theology in the first place with problems raised by natural science. Its first question concerned the nature of God, especially in connection with creation. Scientific historical inquiry paid attention to the Bible, and in the New Testament focussed its interest upon the question of the historical Jesus. This work culminated and came to a temporary halt in Albert Schweitzer's, The Quest of the Historical Jesus. A revival of Systematic Theology and Dogmatics followed, and in the opinion of the dogmatists the connecting lines between theology viewed from a cosmic standpoint and the Gospel were too long. The same thing was seen happening in the historical study of religions which came to cover an ever-widening field. On flle other hand, however, they could not be satisfied with a ‘life of Jesus,’ so that Christology began to occupy a central place which it has held during the last few decades. And, if Pneumatology received any attention at all, its allotted place was small.


2018 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-164
Author(s):  
Teresa Messias

This article explores the Christian theological work of Sebastian Moore O.S.B. and his notion of human desire as the existential point of impact or subjective dynamics where a human being may discover a call to communion in Love, a presence of the Creating God himself as hidden source of joy and fulfilment, attracting a person to his or her ultimate meaning. Human desire is, in its deepest reality, the emergent presence of the Self as gift. This gift is attracted, oriented, healed and liberated by the presence of Jesus and the discipleship that he awakes in every one of those to whom he revels himself as the Loving other. Desire is, therefore, considered an ontological and theological via to access and undergo the transformative three-phased process of union to God or divinization, following Jesus’ destiny: an awakening, an emptying and a fulfilling of desire. A conscious and consented transformative union ( théosis) may occur, in desire, between God and a human person. Moore’s Christian spiritual itinerary of transformation of human desire is, in a second moment, paralleled with the experience of prayer and transformation that are the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. We draw attention to the fact that the Christian spiritual itinerary exposed in Moore’s theology of desire is strikingly interlocked with the structure and key theological moments of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Dolphijn

Starting with Antonin Artaud's radio play To Have Done With The Judgement Of God, this article analyses the ways in which Artaud's idea of the body without organs links up with various of his writings on the body and bodily theatre and with Deleuze and Guattari's later development of his ideas. Using Klossowski (or Klossowski's Nietzsche) to explain how the dominance of dialogue equals the dominance of God, I go on to examine how the Son (the facialised body), the Father (Language) and the Holy Spirit (Subjectification), need to be warded off in order to revitalize the body, reuniting it with ‘the earth’ it has been separated from. Artaud's writings on Balinese dancing and the Tarahumaran people pave the way for the new body to appear. Reconstructing the body through bodily practices, through religion and above all through art, as Deleuze and Guattari suggest, we are introduced not only to new ways of thinking theatre and performance art, but to life itself.


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