| CODE | MRT5004 | ||||||
| TITLE | Spirituality of the Christian States of Life | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Moral Theology | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will present the various Christian States of Life and the theological reasoning on them throughout the history of theology and spirituality. Theology to show the fundamental spiritual core of each particular state of life. Reference will be made to the paradigm shifts in the theological reflective development from a theoretical distinction between the Common States of Christian life and Christian States of perfection, to a more wholistic and realistic unified vision of the Christian states of life rooted in the Universal Call to Holiness through Baptism. Particular reference will be made to a major theologian, Hans Urs Von Balthasar, who contributed to the theological reflection on the States of Christian Life in the Twentieth Century. His theologico-spiritual vision can be grasped in two words: vocation and mission. All vocations, including the Priestly, Consecrated, Lay states of life are presented in terms of beauty, truth and witness. Discourse on the Christian States of Life should take place in terms or “perceiving” God’s beauty leading to answering God’s call, “recognizing” the realism behind every Christian calling and “choosing” a way life that would be clearly distinct to that proposed by the world. Study-Unit Aims: - To provide a comprehensive foundation of the Christian "call of Christ". - To locate each of the diverse "states" within the wider spectrum of ecclesial theology and ecclesial existence. - To identify the source of each "state" vz. the "call of Christ". Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - distinguish between the different "spiritualities" that emerge from the "states of life" within the Christian Tradition. - analyse the longstanding tradition of theological and spiritual reflection on these "states of life" starting from Sacred Scripture down to contemporary theological speculation. - define, classify, and relate the names of major theologians, especially of the last century, who developed the theology of the "state of life". 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - examine the characteristics of each "state" with regards to "call". - construct and deconstruct a proper theological language in relation to each of the "states" of the Christian call. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - The Christian State of Life, tr. Sr Mary Frances McCarthy (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1983) [first published 1977]. - The Laity in the Life of the Counsels: The Church's Mission in the World (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2003). - Howsare Rodney. Balthasar: A Guide for the Perplexed (London: T&T Clark, 2009). Supplementary Readings: - First Glance at Adrienne von Speyr, tr. Antje Lawry and Sr Sergia Englund, OCD (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1981). [originally Erster Blick auf Adrienne von Speyr, (Einsiedeln: Johannes, 1968)] - A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen, tr. Sr Mary Theresilde Skerry, HSAS (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1985). - Two Sisters in the Spirit: Thérèse of Lisieux and Elizabeth of the Trinity, tr. Donald Nichols, Anne Elizabeth Englund, and Dennis Martin (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1992). - O'Donnell John. Hans Urs Von Balthasar. Outstanding Christian Thinkers (London: Continuum, 2000). - Oakes Edward T. The Pattern of Redemption: The Theology of Hans Urs Von Balthasar (London: Continuum, 1997). - ______ and Moss David, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Hans Urs von Balthasar (Cambridge: University Press, 2004). - Riches John, ed. The Analogy of Beauty: The Theology of Hans Urs Von Balthasar (London: T&T Clark, 1986). |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: General religious knowledge | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Jimmy Bonnici Charlo Camilleri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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