j.barciauskas's blog

SSCS member and the Society's Secretary/Treasurer Rachel Wheeler's new book Ecospirituality: An Introduction provides a resource for anyone seeking to understand the Christian spiritual tradition - its historical and contemporary teachings and practices - in the context of today's global ecological crisis. Her approach includes practical wisdom from other religious traditions and emphasizes the importance of experience. Here is the publisher's overview:

Rachel Wheeler covers the background for environmentally oriented spirituality in the Christian tradition, beginning with expressions of...

Edited by SSCS members Laurie Cassidy and M. Shawn Copeland, this volume includes essays by the contemplative theologian Constance FitzGerald, OCD, along with essays on topics like white supremacy, the climate crisis, and the Carmelite tradition by scholars of spirituality who have been inspired by her writings. Here is the publisher's description of the volume:

For some decades, the work of Carmelite theologian Constance FitzGerald, OCD, has been a well-known secret, not only among students and practitioners of Carmelite spirituality, but also among spiritual directors, spiritual writers...

In this article, SSCS member Rossano Zas Friz de Col, S.J., argues for the importance of Igantian spirituality in a society where religious practice and spiritual life have for many Christians become separate realities. Here is his summary of his argument's main points:

First, I will show the implications of what secularization means today by comparing the socio-religious context of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Sigmund Freud. This analysis will help develop the second point, establishing a relationship between these two socioreligious contexts by highlighting the importance of decision...

In Teresa of Avila, the Holy Spirit, and the Place of Salvation, the author André Brouillette SJ explores two themes in Teresa's writings essential to Christian spiritual theology. Here is the publisher's description:

Neither the Spirit nor salvation are easily understood, but they come together in the life and works of Teresa of Avila. Led by the Spirit, she shows both humanity and the church what salvation looks like. The saints testify in their flesh to the mystery of an encounter in history between the gift of God’s own self and a welcoming human will. They may speak clumsily at times...

From Diana L. Villegas, International Relations Committee Chair:

We share with you our third annual IRC Newsletter. It includes news of developments in the study of Christian Spirituality reported by our members residing in several countries, Australia,  Colombia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, and the USA.

Some people may have experienced the past year of a restricted homebound life as an opportunity to grow spiritually - more time to meditate, focus on the little details of their lives. For others, this may have been a time of soul-crushing isolation with little to inspire or energize their inner life. In this article, David Perrin offers his thoughts on what the pandemic could mean for our spiritual lives despite the many deprivations we've had to endure. The article's abstract is below. Prof. Perrin will be giving a public lecture based on the article; to attend it online, register on this...

The essays of the latest issue of Spiritus (Spring 2021; v. 21, n. 1) share a single theme: the relation between spirituality and COIVID-19. The journal's editor, Steven Chase, writes "In the midst of the experience and knowledge found in these essays, may you find peace and mercy even in the confusion, uncertainty, darkness, and suffering of this past year and in preparation for the time to come." His introduction, which offers brief summaries of each essay (including the Society's annual Presidential Address by Timothy Robinson), is available. (The poems in the issue also reflect...

Catherine of Siena's letters to people in every station in life including popes and other church officials had a profound impact on her times. In her open access article, Diana Villegas argues that Catherine's letters to Gregory XI communicate "a spirituality of papal governance." Here is the article's abstract:

Well known as a mystic, Catherine of Siena has been credited with pope Gregory XI’s return to Rome from Avignon, with convincing him to pursue a crusade and with playing a major role in making peace between the Papal League and Italian City states. This narrative ascribes these...

In this article, Professor David Perrin focuses on Paul Ricoeur's mimetic theory as a resource for research in Christian spirituality and spiritual theology. Here is the article's abstract:

A shorter version of this article was first presented at a conference titled The Study of Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Theology: Evolving Methodologies sponsored by the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality and The Forum of Professors of Spirituality Theology in Rome, Italy, September 25-28, 2019. The essay presents the mimetic framework ...

Fr. Joseph LaBelle's book has deep roots in Christianity's spiritual tradition as it draws on biblical, patristic, and medieval sources. But he also incorporates contemporary religious and secular sources to show how timeless (and contemporary) the seven virtues of discipleship are. Here is an excerpt from the book's introduction:

The book does not pretend to be a theological study of the proposed virtues, nor is it specifically a "how to" manual; rather, it examines the seven qualities through the practical (lived) Christian spirituality along the arc of its long history. The overall...