apply the image of Spouse to the individual human person, and not just to the Church as a whole? Or is this more of a medieval Latin development, concomitant with shifts in Latin understandings of spirituality and the Eucharist?
Regarding the Bridegroom and the Bride, God the Son is the analogue of the male/man, and the Church (and perhaps the individual human person) is the analogue of the female. Just as the husband is the "active" principle and leads and imprints himself on his wife, and the wife is conformed to the husband, so Christ is the active principle, and the individual human person is conformed to Christ.
While the literal application of this imagery may be useful to female religious, I question its effectiveness for men. (As opposed to its being used as a theological metaphor to help our understanding of our communion with Christ and the Holy Trinity.)
And the individual human person has a filial relationship with God the Father by being sons in the Son. A logical consequence of the first, perhaps, our being conformed to Christ.
Would we say that the individual soul is the bride of the Holy Trinity as a whole? Or of the Father? I don't think so, even though it may be claimed that Israel is the bride of God the Father in the OT? It would be even more problematic if the human person were called to have a "conjugal" relationship with God the Father and a "filial" relationship as well. I believe the latter is literal, even if by analogy, while the former is only a metaphor or figurative language. So as I start reading through John Paul II's catechesis (and not the popularizations put forth by others) I will be keen to see how he parses this out.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Monday, July 10, 2017
Sunday, July 09, 2017
CWR: Eamon Duffy’s “Reformation Divided” revises assumptions, offers deep historical insights by Michael B. Kelly
Among the very significant contributions in Reformation Divided are the three chapters devoted to Thomas More, who has suffered from much hagiographical treatment, both good and ill.
Among the very significant contributions in Reformation Divided are the three chapters devoted to Thomas More, who has suffered from much hagiographical treatment, both good and ill.
Saturday, July 08, 2017
Thursday, July 06, 2017
A Two-Tier Spirituality?
CWR: Spiritual direction and the role of the laity by Russell Shaw
In the writings of Saint Teresa of Avila we have a glimpse of the two-tier spirituality that has been taken for granted by most spiritual writers for a long time. It might be put like this: The goal for priests and religious is to be holy, the goal for lay people is to be good.
In the writings of Saint Teresa of Avila we have a glimpse of the two-tier spirituality that has been taken for granted by most spiritual writers for a long time. It might be put like this: The goal for priests and religious is to be holy, the goal for lay people is to be good.
Wednesday, July 05, 2017
Tuesday, July 04, 2017
Monday, July 03, 2017
Sunday, July 02, 2017
CWR: Why did Robert Cardinal Sarah decide to devote a book to silence?
The Introduction to Cardinal Sarah’s The Power of Silence, by French journalist Nicolas Diat, reveals the book could never have existed without a young French monk who was paralyzed and unable to speak—and yet formed a deep and abiding friendship born in silence, that grew in silence, and continues to exist in silence.
The Introduction to Cardinal Sarah’s The Power of Silence, by French journalist Nicolas Diat, reveals the book could never have existed without a young French monk who was paralyzed and unable to speak—and yet formed a deep and abiding friendship born in silence, that grew in silence, and continues to exist in silence.
Saturday, July 01, 2017
A Jesuit Now in Charge of the CDF
A good Jesuit or a bad one? Will he be a Jesuit first and a Catholic second when advising the Jesuit Pope? What would Malachi Martin have to say about this latest development (and the newest superior general of the Society of Jesus)?
Pope names Archbishop Luis Ladaria as Müller’s successor to head CDF The Spanish Jesuit has served as second-in-command at the CDF since 2008.
Pope names Archbishop Luis Ladaria as Müller’s successor to head CDF The Spanish Jesuit has served as second-in-command at the CDF since 2008.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Rorate Caeli: BREAKING - EXCLUSIVE IN ENGLISH: Pope dismisses Cardinal Müller from CDF
Just not a good fit for the Bergoglio papacy? Or is there more to it?
In difesa dei "dubia" dei quattro cardinali, messi in castigo dal papa
After the Academy for Life, A New Face for the Institute of the Family
Just not a good fit for the Bergoglio papacy? Or is there more to it?
In difesa dei "dubia" dei quattro cardinali, messi in castigo dal papa
After the Academy for Life, A New Face for the Institute of the Family
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