Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, as Hans Urs von Balthasar writes in Two Sisters in the Spirit, “thinks only the single necessary thought for which she has space… [and that is] of the risen and glorified Kyrios [(Christ)].” The reason she is solely absorbed with the resurrected Christ is that he shows her, and the rest of humanity, how to live a life that gives Laudem Gloriae (i.e. Praises of Glory) to God. This paper will explore how Saint Elizabeth is a source of theology for the Catholic Church. In order to accomplish this task, this paper will briefly examine her treatise Heaven in Faith and her prayer “Elevation of the Trinity” as ways of revealing her theological contributions to the Christian way of life. Heaven in Faith is a document that Elizabeth wrote for her younger sister …show more content…
In order for each disciple to genuinely adore the Lord, he must first surrender his will and then conform it to God’s will. By following Yahweh’s will, a Christian is, thereby, able to be fully recollected to receive God’s superabundant love. A human soul which is recollected “becomes an image of the simplicity and transparency of God.” A person, who has become an image of God, can both give and receive generously just like Jesus. This Christlike generosity calls forth all that an individual has and is because God wants humanity to be transformed into the divine image, so He can then fill them with His grace and glory. By receiving Yahweh’s grace, as Elizabeth indicates in her second prayer on the fifth day, Christians become better able to draw Jesus into themselves, and Jesus, conversely, brings them into himself. Adoration enables an individual to say, as Elizabeth did in her prayer “Elevation of the Trinity,” “help me to forget myself entirely that I may be established in You as still and as peaceful as if my soul were already in
The medieval theologian Julian of Norwich was a mystic, writer, anchoress and spiritual director for her time. She is gaining in popularity for our time as she provides a spiritual template for contemplative prayer and practice in her compilation of writings found in Revelations of Divine Love. The insightful meditations provide the backdrop and basis for her Trinitarian theology’s embrace of God’s Motherhood found in the Trinity. Her representative approach of the all-encompassing unconditional love of a mother who nurtures, depicts Christ as our Mother ascending to the placement of Second hood within the Trinity while giving voice to the duality of God.
Warner's book details the special importance of the Virgin Mary throughout Christianity and explores her religious and secular meaning. She discusses such things as the Church's attitude toward virginity, the role model of the Virgin martyr, the Virgin's relics, and her role as an intercessor with God.
In de-emphasizing the role of the Church, it’s rituals, and offices, and supplanting them with a more direct and personal approach to God and spirituality; the Protestant Reformation, through the works of Martin...
Little is known of the early life of the Flemish Cistercian nun, Blessed Beatrice of Nazareth. Beatrice of Nazareth was born in the year 1200 in the town of Tienen, Belgium (Lindemann Ph.D n.d.). She was the youngest of six children (Lindemann Ph.D n.d.). De Ganck (1991, xiii) concludes that Beatrice is of middle class, “well-to-do, but not wealthy as has sometimes been asserted.”
In chapter two, ‘Francis and His Companions,’ Cunningham exposes the considerable growth in Francis of Assisi’s influence, as he recounts his companions that joined him after deciding to live his life. The chapter is significant because it exposes how Francis of Assisi’s gospel is different from the orthodox Catholic practices, which recognized the pope, as the sole Vicar of Christ. (Cunningham 32). This chapter is important in my life because it reinforces my conviction God is the almighty and all-powerful, and all people regardless of the status of the needed to worship
European Christian Renaissance and Public Theology. " European Journal of Theology 20.2 (2011): 111-118. Academic Search Elite -. Web.
New York, NY: Pantheon Books Zimmerman, B. (1912) The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. St. Teresa of Avila. The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Robert Appleton Company.
From the Catholic observation point, the Church presents two parts: One representing its divine nature as the untarnished body of Christ, and one direc...
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
...Today as a Christ follower, we will never be satisfied if our life is not bearing lasting fruit because we are not fulfilling the purpose for which we were “grafted “into the Vine. Let’s examine the “fruit” of our lives. Is it the kind of fruit that reveals the character of Christ? Let’s not settle for fruitless Christianity. God will do the work of making us fruitful – we must only abide, surrendering our lives to His mission of making disciples of all nations through us. The whole notion of mission is to stretch out to work the work of evangelism not through hierarchy, sovereignty, rather through humbleness, hospitality, affection love for the others. That is what Jesus who portrayed as the one who we do not deserve to untie His sandals straps in the first Chapter of John, later become feet washer, intimate with humanity leaving His equality with God.
At the core of Elizabeth Johnson’s theology of a living God lies a God who is active here and now. In “Quest for the Living God,” Johnson found God had acted in human history through incarnate Word and the renewing Spirit. He has done so with the historical person of Jesus Christ and the grace of the Spirit. Jesus manifested himself and reached us in person. The Spirit travelled with us in the changes of history.
After describing ecstasy, the flight of the soul is described; it appears as if the soul has left the body. These favors are great graces from God, but one should not have excessive desires to see God as it may prove a hindrance. Another favor described is that of the joy felt by the soul for God; Teresa asks that the sisters praise God often. Souls in the sixth mansions are urged by Teresa to keep the humanity of Christ ever before them and to meditate on the Passion as well. Teresa recalls the fruit of doing so herself.
Teresa builds her doctrines based on her experiences of divine origin. Teresa’s idea of humility is identical to that of Jesus’ teachings of a humble and loving life. Teresa helped build what it is today’s Church, evident of her title of the Doctor of the Church. For Teresa, “prayer must be the foundation in which this house is built.” To her prayer permits people to get to know God better in an intimate way. In my opinion, I agree with St. Teresa’s theological perspective of a humble and intimate life with God. She has greatly impacted the Church and is the inspiration for many, because of her spiritual ideals on her life and writings, for this she will always be remembered as the great Catholic
Loving people unconditionally was another aspect of Jesus’ worship lifestyle. The Gospels depict countless examples of Jesus interacting with people. Every interaction was filled with love. He met people’s needs when he healed the sick and the blind and the dumb. He met the needs of the hungry thousands. The marginalized of society were always on His mind. From the women to the children, the aliens and the outcasts, He was a...
“Today I appeal to the whole Church community to be willing to foster feminine participation in every way in its internal life. This is certainly not a new commitment, since it is inspired by the example of Christ himself….nevertheless, he also involved women in the cause of his kingdom; indeed he wanted them to be the first witnesses and heralds of his resurrection. In fact, there are many women who have distinguished themselves in the Church’s history by their holiness and hardworking ingenuity.”