Spiritual Theology: -Spiritual Theology is the study of the spiritual life.

Having emerged as a separate branch in the mid 18th century, it is a relatively new branch of theological sciences, but all other branches of theology exist for and culminate to S.T. It is very practical, and its conclusions, which show us the heights of spirituality and what to strive for, are not optional for Christians. -The Spiritual Life is a work of God in the sense that he is the beginning of our spiritual lives, and they are continued by his love. Spiritual life is primarily God loving you. All creation is God's work, but our spiritual lives go beyond natural creation into the supernatural, which can not be expected or demanded. The supernatural life, or Christian life, is more than just cultivating the human soul, it has been set apart by a gift, namely Jesus Christ. He has merited for us what we ourselves could never earn. He is the vine, we are the branches. He is the meritorial cause for every supernatural and truly spiritual life. Because our lives are a spiritual work of God in and through Jesus Christ, we seek to be Holy, or one with God: we seek to share in His divinity, which is only possible in through with and by Him. Therefore, our spiritual lives are a work of God. -The ascetical dimension of the spiritual life is mans response to God, the effort of the man which involves training, such as that of an athlete, and should lead to the mystical. The mystical dimension of the spiritual life emphasizes divine activity. These are the terms under which spiritual theology emerged. -True spiritual life is necessarily relate to Jesus Christ because with his life he exemplified the perfect spiritual life, and with his death and resurrection he merited for us the option to share in God's glory, which is the ultimate goal of a truly christian spiritual life. The supernatural life both comes from and heads toward the cross, which has not been left in history, but is present today in the eucharist. -How do we explain the variety of spiritualities in the one Catholic tradition? -Our main sources for doing Spiritual Theology are Sacred scripture, which gives us special access to the account and life of Jesus, and Sacred Tradition, or the teachings of the church, the deposit of faith in the word of God, which is guarded by the magesterium, and can help us with our understanding of scripture. Also dogmatic and moral theology, the history of spirituality, such as the fruitfulness of Gods works and word in the lives of the saints, and our own personal experiences.

The Goal of Our Striving: -Why do we begin by considering the goals of the spiritual life? We do this because if we do not know where we are going, how can we know how to get there?

-What are the goals of the spiritual life? To get where God wants me to be = what Jesus did/does: 1. Usher in the Kingdom. "seek ye first.." 2. Baptize. Must be born of water and spirit to get into heaven 3. Life to the fullest, aka eternal life. Requires detachment from this world & obedience to 10 commandments. Essence of eternal life = beatific vision. Essentially to become God. -Where do these goals come from? These goals come from the life of Jesus, as described in the gospels. The work of God is accomplished in and through Jesus. -What is the glory of God? The glory of God, in scripture, is a splendor/light radiating from God. There is no need for the sun because the glory of God shatters darkness and illuminates all. The intrinsic glory of God is God himself - always perfect. Extrinsic glory is God's creation manifesting His truth beauty and goodness, which leads us to God in his intrinsic glory, but is still being accomplished. -Why do we distinguish between the intrinsic glory and extrinsic glory? It is important to distinguish the differences because extrinsic glory is still being accomplished; God is still communicating himself to us. We can be more like God and share in His creation more than any other creation because we are able to know and love, and to manifest His truth beauty and goodness, but it is a work in progress. -How is the glory of God a goal of the spiritual life? (1 Cor 10:31 - do all for the glory of God) The glory of God is a goal of the spiritual life in that everything that exists gives glory to God. The more Godlike it is, the more glory it gives, and we want to be God-like. We can be more like God than any other creation because we are able to know and love. -What is beatitude? Beatitude is the essence of eternal life: 1 cor 13: seeing His face. Beatitude surpasses what man has himself. It is a total gift, the joy of trinitarian life. Theologically beatitude refers to the fullness of spiritual being. -How is beatitude a goal of the spiritual life? Life in the fullest, as described in the gospel and exemplified by Christ, is a goal of the spiritual life - it is full communion with God, aka eternal life, aka beatitude. Our beatitude is the goal, and through it God is glorified -How are beatitude and the glory of God inter-related? Beatitude is to see God's face in the fullness of spiritual being, eternal life. The glory of God is intrinsically God in His perfection, which can only be fully encountered after the accomplishment of extrinsic glory. Once we have accomplished extrinsic glory, we will be perfect like God and able to share in eternal life and union with Him, in His

beatitude. Our beatitude is the goal, and through it God is glorified. -What is the ultimate goal of the spiritual life? Our beatitude. -What is the specific goal of the spiritual life? Conversion?

Christocentric Spiritual Life: -How is Jesus Christ related to the goals of the spiritual life? Supernatural life is centered in Jesus Christ because in Him our goals (to be God-like, beatitude) are accomplished fully. -In what way is Jesus Christ unique? He is human and divine? The ONE mediator? -What is the relation between Christ's activity in history and the spiritual life? God does something objective in history by uniting himself to humanity, representing humanity on the cross, & making it personal for each individual human. The church focuses on the cross of jesus which speaks in a special way beyond his words of his all embracing love and fidelity to the church. The Church never ceases to relive his death on the cross, therefore celebrating the Eucharist. The church lives his mystery and draws unwarily from it. -What are the purposes of the incarnation? That God would become man to show us how to live, then die in our place, as the redeeming mediator between God and man. -How are they related to the spiritual life? If the goal of the spiritual life is to become like God then we must die to ourselves and rise again in Christ (aka baptism) and choose to follow the Way he has exemplified. -In what manner is Christ the Way? Jesus is the way in that no one comes to the father but through him. He is the mediator between God and Man because he removes our sins and restores our path to the Father. -What does it mean to be Christ-like? To be Christ-like is to have union with him and share in his attributes. This includes obedience to the will of God (love and obedience=inseparable) therefore Sinless, Compassion (to be moved/have something happen. Com-with. To move with. When something happens to one, it happens to you too, you are moved.), Willingness to suffer (esp for others) selfsacrifice, Forgives, forgives sins, love for sinners (tax collectors, prostitiutes, etc.) Mercy, Charity conforming our will to the will of God, therefore being obedient and compassionate, and wanting this for others as well. Humility - even as divinity, choses to die for others. Service. Embraces Poverty (JpII shows priority to being over having) the less you have the more you can be. Teacher of the truth, teaches not only in his words, but in his actions. Chastity, virginity for sake of the kingdom. Proves we are above animals. Not like the animals in that we can choose, and where we can choose we can love.

Healing. Prayer. Loved the Church. Love. Love of God=>Love of neighbor/humanity, and is most fundamental in being like Christ. -How is the "Christian mystery" related to our becoming Christ-like? The church lives his mystery, particularly the passion and eucharist, and draws unwarily from it. We are in this mystery because we are the body of Christ. We can only have a life like his through union with Him, which is accomplished primarily in the sacraments.

Grace and Theological Virtues: -What is the relationship between Jesus and grace? -What is sanctifying grace? and Can you explain the various parts of the definition of sanctifying grace? Sanctifying grace is the grace of transformation, it changes your being. It is an intimate relationship with God and the soul. It is sacramental. Because action follows being, sanctifying grace paves the way for actual and habitual grace. -What is the relationship between grace and the spiritual life? -What is actual grace? Actual grace is the grace of conversion. Actual in this sense refers to the present; this grace is current, active here in the moment. It stimulates the soul as a burning within us, and speaks right to our hearts. -What is habitual grace? Habitual grace is also active. It is a disposition - when you are in the state of grace (sanctifying) it should cause habitual grace, which by its active and habitual nature paves the way for virtue. -What is the relationship between sanctifying grace and habitual grace? Sanctifying grace, or to be in the state of grace, allows for habitual grace, or grace in action as a disposition which thus brings about virtue. -What are infused virtues? Infused virtues are the inclination from the inside to goodness. They enable us to do what Jesus said. The 4 cardinal virtues are Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance. -How do the infused virtues compare to natural/acquired virtues? -What are the theological virtues? Theological virtue is inclination not only to goodness but also to holiness. The 3 Theological virtue are faith, hope, and charity. Faith is entrusting one's self to God, a response to his invitation to know and love Him. God moves the will, and the will moves the intellect. Faith is powerful, but is also fragile. Hope is a combination of desire and trust. It is a confident expectation. It begs the question, do we really want God to be our happiness or do we want our

happiness in other things as well? Charity is the love of God poured into the heart of the believer. This infusion of love enables us to love God as He should be loved, and to love our neihbor as ourselves. Charity is the basis of all other virtues. Loving God for His own sake, having friendship with Him, is Charity. -What are the gifts of the HS? The HS is Himself a gift, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are infused dispositions in the powers of the soul that render the believer docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They are present in anyone in a state of sanctifying grace, and through habitual grace are basic components of the supernatural life. These include Understanding (deep insight, intuition) Knowledge, Wisdom, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, and Fear of the Lord. While we cannot force the HS to act, we must be docile to his will. -What is perfection? Perfection is the fulfillment of potential, and can be described in essential (state of grace), operative (acting in charity), and final perfection (beatific vision). Christian perfection consists in the fulfillment of the supernatural life made possible by the gift of grace. -What is perfection in terms of the spiritual life? Perfection in terms of the supernatural life is the fulfillment of the supernatural life made possible by the gift of grace. Striving for this, we must live out charity, seeking to increase it, so as to one day live eternally, in the beatific vision. While final perfection is not possible in this life, degrees of operative perfection are. The height of charity in this life is the mystical life.

SIN: -What is sin? Disorder in the will; an offense against God. -What are the 6 essential characteristics of all sin? Sin is always a violation of a known commandment, revolt against God himself, a doubt of Gods love and truthfulness, frustration with the limits of human freedom, a preference for an inferior good, and self-exultation aka pride. -How is sin opposed to the spiritual life? Rather than bring one closer to God, sin sets oneself against God. It is love of self and contempt of God - a proud exultation. -What is the difference between mortal sin and venial sin (in themselves, and in relation to the spiritual life?) Mortal sin is a grave matter, done with full knowledge, and full compliance, and venial sin lacks one of these three. In the spiritual life, mortal sin cuts the ties between us and God, whereas venial is more of an additional blotting out of the clarity with which we may see Him. -What is an imperfection?

Conversion and Purgation: -What is conversion? Conversion is to become more christ like. This is a two fold process: putting off the old and putting on the new. Our hope is through conversion to join in union with Christ, and to live like Him. -How is purgation part of conversion? Purgation is the means by which we put off the old self to become more like Christ. -What is the relationship between conversion and the gift of grace? Grace is necessary for conversion. Actual grace prompts the soul to seek sanctifying grace which allows for habitual grace, which is the transformative grace necessary for conversion to take place. Conversion is begun, continued, and completed by Grace through our Lord. -What are the basic principles for explaining purgation? Purgation is explained through 4 basic principles: The first is embracing the mystery of suffering. The pinnacle of suffering is Christ on cross (Romans 6: die with him-live with him). Secondly, to turn away from the world and stop desiring anything from it which rivals with God for our love ("repent and believe"-Jesus). Third, Detachment, and 4th mortification. -What is detachment? Detachment is a holy indifference - in the pursuit of God, everything else is less important. This is the ability to say that I want solely what God wants for me, and nothing else. It allows us to measure everything: Does this bring glory to God and help save my soul? -What are the signs of attachment? -What is the 'world' in context of conversion and detachment? The world in this case is not so much the physical things around us as what is in our hearts, such as the desire to be popular, wealthy, or anything other than God, that rivals with Him for our love. Through the process of conversion all of these things become less important, or unimportant at all so that we may love the lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. -What is mortification/why is it part of conversion? Mortification is the desire to conform your life to Christ's, mortify external self, internal, intellect, and will; it is to withdraw from creatures: purify our hearts and give everything over to Love. The old self must be crucified to make room for the new: mortification. Mortification is similar to penance: both exterior and interior, concern behavior, and are experienced through bodies, but we must really mortify our desires. Notes on mortification: 1. stop fulfilling sinful desires; 2. don't hurt yourself- doing too much is bad, it indulges desire to do penance; consistent mortification

is better than periodic. 3. don't do mortifications that interfere with our duties/Gods will; mortification is never an end in itself, it cant be done for its own sake. Mortification must be done for greater charity: conversion.

Conversion and Positive Means of Growth: -What is 'growth' in the spiritual life? Positive growth in the spiritual life is conversion; becoming more Christ-like. -What is a sacrament? Sacraments are the primary means for growth. -What is the relationship between sacrament and mystery? -Why are the sacraments essential to the spiritual life? -Can you explain the sacraments in terms of the spiritual life? -Why are there seven sacraments? -Why is the Eucharist the "source, center and summit" of sacramental life? -What is a meritorious good work? -What is the basis of merit? -What is merit? -What is the relationship between merit and grace? -How does the merit of Christ enter into our meritorious good works?

Prayer: -What is prayer? Inter-personal communication with God. According to St Therese, a surge of the heart; a simple look towards heaven, a cry of recognition and love, embracing trial and joy. According to St Augustine and the CCC it is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for Him. The 5 fundamental forms of prayer revealed in scripture are: blessing/adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. -Why is prayer essential to the spiritual life? Prayer is essential to the spiritual life in that through it we foster a relationship with the Lord and come to know Him more. The better we know Him the more we can be like Him. -How is prayer a battle? Prayer is a battle -What is the connection between our everyday actions and the quality of our prayer? When one's prayer is of good quality, it enables a change in us. That communication with God opened the door

for an outpouring of Grace through which we are able to live in and with charity, causing our every day actions to be more charitable. -Explain the essential characteristics of each type of prayer, and how ascetical and mystical prayer differ? -What are some examples of extraordinary mystical phenomena?