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History of History of SpiritualitySpirituality
Presentation for Spiritual Care Champions Presentation for Spiritual Care Champions SeriesSeries
Systematic SeriesSystematic Series
December 2, 2008December 2, 2008
Laura Richter, M.Div. Laura Richter, M.Div.
ObjectivesObjectives
Learn about the history of spirituality, Learn about the history of spirituality, with a focus on spirituality in the with a focus on spirituality in the Christian/Catholic tradition. Christian/Catholic tradition.
Recognize the importance of Recognize the importance of understanding our tradition and how understanding our tradition and how it impacts healthcare today. it impacts healthcare today.
Make practical connections between Make practical connections between spirituality and Catholic Health Care. spirituality and Catholic Health Care.
What is spirituality? What is spirituality?
Whatever gives meaning to your life.Whatever gives meaning to your life. - - Joe DriscollJoe Driscoll
Spirituality is how a person finds meaning Spirituality is how a person finds meaning and purpose in his or her life in a way and purpose in his or her life in a way that is reflected in behaviors.that is reflected in behaviors.
- - Jerry BroccoloJerry Broccolo
Spirituality is the practice of staying Spirituality is the practice of staying consciously connected with what makes consciously connected with what makes us alive, with ourselves, and with one us alive, with ourselves, and with one another and the great other.another and the great other.
- - Robin Carnes and Sally Robin Carnes and Sally CraigCraig
““Deepest values and meanings by which Deepest values and meanings by which people seek to live.”people seek to live.”
- - Philip SheldrakePhilip Sheldrake
Spirituality can be understood apart Spirituality can be understood apart from religion, but for most, their from religion, but for most, their sense of spirituality is shaped by sense of spirituality is shaped by their religion. their religion.
A Brief History of A Brief History of SpiritualitySpirituality
Use History to Use History to organize the organize the discussiondiscussion Early Church (0 – 300)Early Church (0 – 300) Monasticism (300 – 1150)Monasticism (300 – 1150) Medieval (1150 – 1450)Medieval (1150 – 1450) Reformation (1450 – 1700)Reformation (1450 – 1700) Age of Reason (1700 – 1900)Age of Reason (1700 – 1900) Modernity & Post-modernity Modernity & Post-modernity
(1900 – 2000)(1900 – 2000)
Early ChurchEarly Church0 - 3000 - 300 Christian Spirituality rooted Christian Spirituality rooted
in the Scriptures in the Scriptures Grew out of Jewish heritage and Grew out of Jewish heritage and
ritual ritual New Testament highlighted loving New Testament highlighted loving
God, sacrifice of Jesus, the kingdomGod, sacrifice of Jesus, the kingdom Always in context of community – Always in context of community –
but community itself was repressed but community itself was repressed in larger schemein larger scheme
Strong Themes in early Strong Themes in early Church spiritualityChurch spirituality Doctrine Doctrine MartyrdomMartyrdom AsceticismAsceticism Discipleship and transformationDiscipleship and transformation
Monastic paradigm Monastic paradigm 300 - 1150 300 - 1150 World happenings:World happenings:
– Legalization of Christianity – Legalization of Christianity – Constantine in 313Constantine in 313
– Monasticism spread in East and Monasticism spread in East and WestWest
– Monasteries established and rulesMonasteries established and rules– A time of unrest and conquering A time of unrest and conquering
Figures in this timeFigures in this time
St. BasilSt. Basil St. AugustineSt. Augustine St. BenedictSt. Benedict The Hermits and the “Fathers”The Hermits and the “Fathers”
– St. Antony 269St. Antony 269– Athanasius, OrigenAthanasius, Origen
Impact on Spirituality Impact on Spirituality
Temptation and avoidance of itTemptation and avoidance of it Asceticism Asceticism Leaders created “rules” – some Leaders created “rules” – some
more about love (Augustine) and more about love (Augustine) and others a combination of spiritual others a combination of spiritual and practical (Benedict) and practical (Benedict)
““Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace.”prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace.”
ImpactImpact
Focus on obedience, humility and Focus on obedience, humility and conversionconversion
Penitentials created – theme of repentancePenitentials created – theme of repentance Sense of pilgrimageSense of pilgrimage Spiritual Development/spiritual direction Spiritual Development/spiritual direction
(Ireland)(Ireland) Cistercian movement – focus on humanism Cistercian movement – focus on humanism Human nature, dignity, virtue and loveHuman nature, dignity, virtue and love
During this time…During this time…
Increased sense of the Increased sense of the communion of saintscommunion of saints
Spiritual growth and guidanceSpiritual growth and guidance Great works (classics) passed on Great works (classics) passed on
through monasteriesthrough monasteries Missionary work Missionary work
Medieval times Medieval times 1150 - 14501150 - 1450 In the world:In the world:
– 1212thth century Renaissance century Renaissance – Real flourishing of intellectual and Real flourishing of intellectual and
spiritual pursuits spiritual pursuits – Rebirth of cities – building of Rebirth of cities – building of
CathedralsCathedrals– Establishment of UniversitiesEstablishment of Universities
Figures during this Figures during this time and new groupstime and new groups Peter Lombard’s sentences Peter Lombard’s sentences St’s Dominic and Francis and St’s Dominic and Francis and
Mendicant movement (focus on Mendicant movement (focus on simplicity, begging for alms)simplicity, begging for alms)
Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas Beginning of lay movement with the Beginning of lay movement with the
Beguines Beguines Mystics – including Catherine of Siena Mystics – including Catherine of Siena
and Julian of Norwichand Julian of Norwich
Impact on Spirituality Impact on Spirituality
Growing separation between Growing separation between clergy and laityclergy and laity
More space between church and More space between church and statestate
Sense of sacred was spreading Sense of sacred was spreading into Churches, schools and into Churches, schools and even the city even the city
Reformation Reformation 1450 - 17001450 - 1700 World happeningsWorld happenings
– Time of science/discoveryTime of science/discovery– Discovery of the new worldDiscovery of the new world– Founding of Anglican ChurchFounding of Anglican Church– Lutheran Reformation Lutheran Reformation
Some central figuresSome central figures
Desiderius Erasmus – focused on Desiderius Erasmus – focused on bible, which inspired sense of bible, which inspired sense of piety. piety.
Martin Luther – 95 theses (1517)Martin Luther – 95 theses (1517) John Calvin – humanismJohn Calvin – humanism
Other “characters”Other “characters”
Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola Teresa of Avila and John of the Teresa of Avila and John of the
Cross – Carmelites Cross – Carmelites Francis de Sales and Jeanne de Francis de Sales and Jeanne de
Chantal Chantal Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul
Impact on SpiritualityImpact on Spirituality
Spirituality had focused on Spirituality had focused on externals – rituals, relics, externals – rituals, relics, pilgrimages and penancespilgrimages and penances
Clergy living high and not always Clergy living high and not always educated or qualifiededucated or qualified
New conversation about works New conversation about works and graceand grace
Impact on SpiritualityImpact on Spirituality
Rise of religious orders Rise of religious orders Breaking away from monastery – Breaking away from monastery –
out in the community out in the community Service of the poorService of the poor Helping others through service, Helping others through service,
education and healthcare education and healthcare Also rise of Puritanism – Quakers Also rise of Puritanism – Quakers
Age of Reason Age of Reason 1700 - 19001700 - 1900 Big changes withBig changes with
– The Enlightenment The Enlightenment – Political revolutions Political revolutions
FranceFrance AmericaAmerica
– Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution
Some important Some important figures figures Kant – Lutheran who disproved God Kant – Lutheran who disproved God
– reason was higher than nature – reason was higher than nature real focus on conscience and ethicsreal focus on conscience and ethics
Wesley's (John & Charles) – Wesley's (John & Charles) – Methodist spirituality Methodist spirituality
Jonathan Edwards and the PuritansJonathan Edwards and the Puritans John Henry Newman John Henry Newman Therese of Lisieux Therese of Lisieux
Impact of world Impact of world happeningshappenings Real swing to the “new world”Real swing to the “new world” New missionary spirit (Africa, Asia and New missionary spirit (Africa, Asia and
Latin America)Latin America) Focus on reason Focus on reason
– AutonomyAutonomy– Evolutionary theory Evolutionary theory – Social reform Social reform – Rapidly expanding cities Rapidly expanding cities – Growth of modern psychology Growth of modern psychology
Impact on Spirituality Impact on Spirituality
Less great writers, more groups Less great writers, more groups working through ministryworking through ministry
More break-offs into other More break-offs into other Christian traditionsChristian traditions
Catholic Church losing authority, Catholic Church losing authority, some religious orders suppressed some religious orders suppressed
But new focus within Catholicism But new focus within Catholicism on miracles and visionson miracles and visions
Modernity to Post-Modernity to Post-ModernityModernity1900 - 20001900 - 2000 World Happenings:World Happenings:
– Death of European empires, fall of Death of European empires, fall of Soviet UnionSoviet Union
– World WarsWorld Wars– Increased communication and Increased communication and
technologytechnology– Vatican Council Vatican Council
Some figures from this Some figures from this timetime Evelyn UnderhillEvelyn Underhill Dorothy DayDorothy Day Thomas MertonThomas Merton Mother Teresa Mother Teresa
Modernity and Post-Modernity and Post-modernity themesmodernity themes ModernityModernity
– Focus on reasonFocus on reason– Ordered view of worldOrdered view of world– Belief in human progress Belief in human progress
Post ModernityPost Modernity– No simple answers or optimismNo simple answers or optimism– World and families are fragmented World and families are fragmented – World understood as plural World understood as plural – Suspicion of universal truths Suspicion of universal truths
Impact on Spirituality Impact on Spirituality
Institutional religion declinesInstitutional religion declines Inter-religious dialogue increases Inter-religious dialogue increases New theologies and spiritualities New theologies and spiritualities
emerge:emerge:– Liberation TheologyLiberation Theology– Feminist Theology Feminist Theology – Ecumenical Theology – Taize Ecumenical Theology – Taize – Charismatic movementCharismatic movement
How Tradition How Tradition Informs the PresentInforms the Present
The impact of history The impact of history on spirituality on spirituality Trends in spirituality were always Trends in spirituality were always
influenced by world happenings influenced by world happenings Major figures often began Major figures often began
movements, some of which exist movements, some of which exist todaytoday
We are at the end of 2000 years of We are at the end of 2000 years of spirituality and all that has happened spirituality and all that has happened influences spirituality todayinfluences spirituality today
Catholicism and Christianity are Catholicism and Christianity are major influences on spirituality major influences on spirituality through historythrough history
Yet world no longer holds this as Yet world no longer holds this as dominantdominant
Sense of global reality, pluralismSense of global reality, pluralism
Spirituality has emerged apart Spirituality has emerged apart from religionfrom religion
Post-modernity has changed Post-modernity has changed attitudes and religious practices attitudes and religious practices for Gen X and younger for Gen X and younger generationsgenerations
Implications for Implications for Catholic HealthcareCatholic Healthcare
ImplicationsImplications
We are a Catholic Health MinistryWe are a Catholic Health Ministry Our ministry is rooted in the Our ministry is rooted in the
healing ministry of Jesushealing ministry of Jesus We often have signs of the We often have signs of the
charism of our founders and charism of our founders and foundressesfoundresses
Implications Implications
Spirituality does affect healthcareSpirituality does affect healthcare Personal spirituality affectsPersonal spirituality affects
– Understandings of illnessUnderstandings of illness– Ability to healAbility to heal– The way people make meaning The way people make meaning
In our ministriesIn our ministries
We may still have people who enjoy ritual, We may still have people who enjoy ritual, devotionals and will find comfort in devotionals and will find comfort in sacraments and religionsacraments and religion
There may also be patients and families who There may also be patients and families who will want no connection to organized religionwill want no connection to organized religion
Notions of spiritual care must be broaderNotions of spiritual care must be broader Must be able to provide diverse and plural Must be able to provide diverse and plural
care in the ministriescare in the ministries May want to engage broader understanding May want to engage broader understanding
of spirituality as that which gives life of spirituality as that which gives life meaningmeaning
Real sense of connection and devotion Real sense of connection and devotion to the sisters – will grieve loss of themto the sisters – will grieve loss of them
Important for lay leaders to have Important for lay leaders to have formation – personal sense of formation – personal sense of spirituality if ministry is to continue spirituality if ministry is to continue
Understand role of the ERD’s in our Understand role of the ERD’s in our ministryministry
We may have associates who live out We may have associates who live out their calling/vocation in their worktheir calling/vocation in their work
Some employees will not want overt Some employees will not want overt mention of spirituality or religionmention of spirituality or religion
Open Discussion Open Discussion
Questions? Questions? Comments? Comments?
Some ResourcesSome Resources
A Brief History of Spirituality by A Brief History of Spirituality by Philip SheldrakePhilip Sheldrake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualityality