Izvorni znanstveni članak
The Role of Prayer and Asceticism in Personal and Community Life of the Order of Discalced Carmelites
Franjo Podgorelec
orcid.org/0000-0002-1088-7878
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The author believes that the justified conciliar emphasis on the centrality of the liturgy for the spiritual life of the faithful is often understood in an exclusive manner, which is one of the reasons for the decline of interest for individual prayer and even more so for asceticism in contemporary ecclesial context.
He elaborates the given topic on the basis of the teachings of three Carmelite Doctors of the Church. More space is given to St. Theresa of Avila in the discourse on prayer, while in the development of asceticism greater attention is given to St. John of the Cross and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Both themes are presented through four perspectives: theologal, absolute, dynamic and the perspective of adjustment. Central importance is given to the theologal perspective, because all the others in a certain way proceed from it as logical consequences.
Carmelite spirituality is imbued with the idea of closeness and union with God, which is gradually achieved through love. The union here is not only the objective, but a starting point, as well. With God dwelling in the soul, man is already in communion with Him. To live in this awareness of God's closeness and friendship is a permanent longing of Carmel. Prayer is nothing else than an exercise of that friendship with God, and the asceticism is the process of conformation to the Friend, by removing everything that He does not like.
Ključne riječi
prayer; asceticism; theologal life; union; spiritual development; contemplation; spiritual aridity
Hrčak ID:
153294
URI
Datum izdavanja:
24.2.2016.
Posjeta: 1.360 *