Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Christian’s States of Life. Analysis of his Writings in Light of the Creation of the Figure of the Secular Institutes

As the subtitle indicates, the article analyzes von Balthasar’s thought on the states of life of christians in light of the creation of the figure of Secular Institutes in 1947 by the Apostolic Constitution Provida Mater Ecclesia. The author highlights the difference between classical thinking on evangelical counsels, based on the search for Christian perfection, and von Balthasar’s view based on the concepts of state of life and form. It underlines the significance of the writings published by von Balthasar in 1948 and 1956 not only to perceive the development of the Swiss theologian’s thought on the states of life, but also to delve -deeper into the consideration of their underlying principles. The author concludes by pointing out the need to arrive at a reflection on holiness in the Church that stems more decisively from the affirmation of the universal call to holiness.

Helbredelsesforkynnelse og kristen tro

From the second half of the 19th century, some Christians have maintained that by adeptly manipulating the relevant spiritual laws, one may liberate oneself entirely from physical illness. This article is an investigation of the doctrinal context and anthropological implications of this way of understanding the Christian message. The method of the investigation is textual analyses of the writings of some of the main representatives of this movement, like Essek Kenyon and Kenneth Hagin. The context is found to be an anti-elitist kind of modernity interpreted by means of the Wesleyan understanding of Christian perfection, and the implication is a kind of ableism with a one-sided emphasis on the well-being of the strong and physically healthy. The worldview is a type of mind–matter duality, where liberation from the limits of materiality is an important goal. One rejects the idea of the spiritual value of trials and tribulations and does not seem to have a message of hope for those who struggle with chronic illness.

Introduction

This chapter introduces Matthew Simpson and B.T. Roberts as representative figures of an initial theological fragmentation in American Methodist theology. Previous historiography of American Methodism as a theological tradition is summarized, noting the tendency to emphasize a big-tent vision for American Methodist theology. It is argued that the big-tent vision for American Methodist theology is the result of the shifts that happened in the 1850s and 1860s and represents one part of the fragmentation within American Methodism. It is argued that holiness and entire sanctification, or Christian perfection, were particular points of emphasis in American Methodist theology, even across its initial divisions. Simpson and Roberts represent a textured case study of a crucial moment of fragmentation in American Methodism.

‘The love that pierces the heart’: a critical analysis of the concept of sanctification in the writings of St Anselm of Canterbury

Contemporary analyses of Anselm's objective description of Christ's atonement have often resulted in a trend of interpretation that tends to ignore the relevance of this model to a development and understanding of a western doctrine of Christian sanctification. Through the examination of some overlooked insights offered inCur Deus homoand their integration with other spiritual writings in Anselm's corpus, the present article attempts to redirect current scholarship towards a more holistic engagement with Anselm's doctrine of atonement, out of which an original doctrine of Christian perfection can be outlined.

Jesuit Interior Indias

This chapter examines the way in which Early Modern Jesuits understood the practice of confession. As leading actors in the apostolic field, they often promoted a vision of the sacrament of penance, which, in stark contrast to its connotations as a means of punishment, turned it into an effective tool oriented toward inner reform of the individual. Based on analysis of the Iberian interior missions, a range of practices is considered—including examination of conscience, general confession, and spiritual direction—that imbued the act of confession with a strong introspective dimension in the Society’s missionary contexts. Thus, this chapter highlights the role of such instruments in the development of forms of subjectivity, which contributed to individuals “entering into themselves,” exploring inner spaces of their soul. The particular geography of this space had to be known to conquer it and to thus lead the penitent toward a devoted life and Christian perfection.

Zalecenia i zachęty do życia doskonałego w korespondencji Grzegorza z Nazjanzu

The text of the article is an analysis of Gregory of Nazianzus’ comments on Christian perfection. They were selected from his letters written in his family regions after returning from Constantinople, where he occupied for two years the position in the episcopal capital. It was a period of almost ten years of his life, until his death in 390, in which he contacted many people mainly through letters, because weak health prevented him from traveling frequently. The analysis of the letters showed that the threads containing recommendations, warnings, cautions, and encouragements were numerous in them. They have been divided in three categories of addresses, i.e. clergy and monks, lay people and family members. Depending on the situation, the needs of addressees, their spiritual disabilities, or even their progress on the path to perfect living, Gregory demonstrated the skills of good spiritual help. His sensitivity to human problems, related to everyday life, triggered his concern for their proper evaluation. All human activity was per­ceived by him in terms of God’s providence and eternal life. He considered the abidance of Christian principles to be the duty of every follower of Jesus Christ, so he had made efforts to ensure that the recipients of his letters were not indiffe­rent to spiritual values.

Model doskonałego chrześcijanina w pismach św. Cypriana z Kartaginy

The article shows the model of the perfect Christian depicted by the Bishop of Carthage, St. Cyprian. This model is particularly interesting since it was formed during the persecution, which had a major impact on shaping the image of the perfect Christian. This paper consists of three main parts: the first - St. bishop Cyprian of Carthage and his time – in which the circumstances of his pastoral work and his works are given, the other - Perfection for all - shows a model of perfection that St. Cyprian proposed to all believers, and in the third part, the martyrs - „a fruit a hundredfold” of perfection - are portrayed. To them Cyprian admitted the highest degree of Christian perfection. For bishop Cyprian the Christian-martyrs, who perfectly fulfilled God’s commandments in everyday life and in the most perfect way they united themself with Christ in the suffering and in the death, were primarily a perfect model of the Christians. And this model of perfect Christianmartyr for decades after Cyprian - till the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great - was the main model of a perfect Christian.