History of Spirituality History of Spirituality Presentation for Spiritual Care Champions Series Systematic Series December 2, 2008 Laura Richter, M.Div.

History of History of SpiritualitySpirituality

Presentation for Spiritual Care Champions Presentation for Spiritual Care Champions SeriesSeries

Systematic SeriesSystematic Series

December 2, 2008December 2, 2008

Laura Richter, M.Div. Laura Richter, M.Div.

ObjectivesObjectives

Learn about the history of spirituality, Learn about the history of spirituality, with a focus on spirituality in the with a focus on spirituality in the Christian/Catholic tradition. Christian/Catholic tradition.

Recognize the importance of Recognize the importance of understanding our tradition and how understanding our tradition and how it impacts healthcare today. it impacts healthcare today.

Make practical connections between Make practical connections between spirituality and Catholic Health Care. spirituality and Catholic Health Care.

What is spirituality? What is spirituality?

Whatever gives meaning to your life.Whatever gives meaning to your life. - - Joe DriscollJoe Driscoll

Spirituality is how a person finds meaning Spirituality is how a person finds meaning and purpose in his or her life in a way and purpose in his or her life in a way that is reflected in behaviors.that is reflected in behaviors.

- - Jerry BroccoloJerry Broccolo

Spirituality is the practice of staying Spirituality is the practice of staying consciously connected with what makes consciously connected with what makes us alive, with ourselves, and with one us alive, with ourselves, and with one another and the great other.another and the great other.

- - Robin Carnes and Sally Robin Carnes and Sally CraigCraig

““Deepest values and meanings by which Deepest values and meanings by which people seek to live.”people seek to live.”

- - Philip SheldrakePhilip Sheldrake

Spirituality can be understood apart Spirituality can be understood apart from religion, but for most, their from religion, but for most, their sense of spirituality is shaped by sense of spirituality is shaped by their religion. their religion.

A Brief History of A Brief History of SpiritualitySpirituality

Use History to Use History to organize the organize the discussiondiscussion Early Church (0 – 300)Early Church (0 – 300) Monasticism (300 – 1150)Monasticism (300 – 1150) Medieval (1150 – 1450)Medieval (1150 – 1450) Reformation (1450 – 1700)Reformation (1450 – 1700) Age of Reason (1700 – 1900)Age of Reason (1700 – 1900) Modernity & Post-modernity Modernity & Post-modernity

(1900 – 2000)(1900 – 2000)

Early ChurchEarly Church0 - 3000 - 300 Christian Spirituality rooted Christian Spirituality rooted

in the Scriptures in the Scriptures Grew out of Jewish heritage and Grew out of Jewish heritage and

ritual ritual New Testament highlighted loving New Testament highlighted loving

God, sacrifice of Jesus, the kingdomGod, sacrifice of Jesus, the kingdom Always in context of community – Always in context of community –

but community itself was repressed but community itself was repressed in larger schemein larger scheme

Strong Themes in early Strong Themes in early Church spiritualityChurch spirituality Doctrine Doctrine MartyrdomMartyrdom AsceticismAsceticism Discipleship and transformationDiscipleship and transformation

Monastic paradigm Monastic paradigm 300 - 1150 300 - 1150 World happenings:World happenings:

– Legalization of Christianity – Legalization of Christianity – Constantine in 313Constantine in 313

– Monasticism spread in East and Monasticism spread in East and WestWest

– Monasteries established and rulesMonasteries established and rules– A time of unrest and conquering A time of unrest and conquering

Figures in this timeFigures in this time

St. BasilSt. Basil St. AugustineSt. Augustine St. BenedictSt. Benedict The Hermits and the “Fathers”The Hermits and the “Fathers”

– St. Antony 269St. Antony 269– Athanasius, OrigenAthanasius, Origen

Impact on Spirituality Impact on Spirituality

Temptation and avoidance of itTemptation and avoidance of it Asceticism Asceticism Leaders created “rules” – some Leaders created “rules” – some

more about love (Augustine) and more about love (Augustine) and others a combination of spiritual others a combination of spiritual and practical (Benedict) and practical (Benedict)

““Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace.”prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace.”

ImpactImpact

Focus on obedience, humility and Focus on obedience, humility and conversionconversion

Penitentials created – theme of repentancePenitentials created – theme of repentance Sense of pilgrimageSense of pilgrimage Spiritual Development/spiritual direction Spiritual Development/spiritual direction

(Ireland)(Ireland) Cistercian movement – focus on humanism Cistercian movement – focus on humanism Human nature, dignity, virtue and loveHuman nature, dignity, virtue and love

During this time…During this time…

Increased sense of the Increased sense of the communion of saintscommunion of saints

Spiritual growth and guidanceSpiritual growth and guidance Great works (classics) passed on Great works (classics) passed on

through monasteriesthrough monasteries Missionary work Missionary work

Medieval times Medieval times 1150 - 14501150 - 1450 In the world:In the world:

– 1212thth century Renaissance century Renaissance – Real flourishing of intellectual and Real flourishing of intellectual and

spiritual pursuits spiritual pursuits – Rebirth of cities – building of Rebirth of cities – building of

CathedralsCathedrals– Establishment of UniversitiesEstablishment of Universities

Figures during this Figures during this time and new groupstime and new groups Peter Lombard’s sentences Peter Lombard’s sentences St’s Dominic and Francis and St’s Dominic and Francis and

Mendicant movement (focus on Mendicant movement (focus on simplicity, begging for alms)simplicity, begging for alms)

Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas Beginning of lay movement with the Beginning of lay movement with the

Beguines Beguines Mystics – including Catherine of Siena Mystics – including Catherine of Siena

and Julian of Norwichand Julian of Norwich


Growing separation between Growing separation between clergy and laityclergy and laity

More space between church and More space between church and statestate

Sense of sacred was spreading Sense of sacred was spreading into Churches, schools and into Churches, schools and even the city even the city

Reformation Reformation 1450 - 17001450 - 1700 World happeningsWorld happenings

– Time of science/discoveryTime of science/discovery– Discovery of the new worldDiscovery of the new world– Founding of Anglican ChurchFounding of Anglican Church– Lutheran Reformation Lutheran Reformation

Some central figuresSome central figures

Desiderius Erasmus – focused on Desiderius Erasmus – focused on bible, which inspired sense of bible, which inspired sense of piety. piety.

Martin Luther – 95 theses (1517)Martin Luther – 95 theses (1517) John Calvin – humanismJohn Calvin – humanism

Other “characters”Other “characters”

Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola Teresa of Avila and John of the Teresa of Avila and John of the

Cross – Carmelites Cross – Carmelites Francis de Sales and Jeanne de Francis de Sales and Jeanne de

Chantal Chantal Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul

Impact on SpiritualityImpact on Spirituality

Spirituality had focused on Spirituality had focused on externals – rituals, relics, externals – rituals, relics, pilgrimages and penancespilgrimages and penances

Clergy living high and not always Clergy living high and not always educated or qualifiededucated or qualified

New conversation about works New conversation about works and graceand grace

Impact on SpiritualityImpact on Spirituality

Rise of religious orders Rise of religious orders Breaking away from monastery – Breaking away from monastery –

out in the community out in the community Service of the poorService of the poor Helping others through service, Helping others through service,

education and healthcare education and healthcare Also rise of Puritanism – Quakers Also rise of Puritanism – Quakers

Age of Reason Age of Reason 1700 - 19001700 - 1900 Big changes withBig changes with

– The Enlightenment The Enlightenment – Political revolutions Political revolutions

FranceFrance AmericaAmerica

– Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution

Some important Some important figures figures Kant – Lutheran who disproved God Kant – Lutheran who disproved God

– reason was higher than nature – reason was higher than nature real focus on conscience and ethicsreal focus on conscience and ethics

Wesley's (John & Charles) – Wesley's (John & Charles) – Methodist spirituality Methodist spirituality

Jonathan Edwards and the PuritansJonathan Edwards and the Puritans John Henry Newman John Henry Newman Therese of Lisieux Therese of Lisieux

Impact of world Impact of world happeningshappenings Real swing to the “new world”Real swing to the “new world” New missionary spirit (Africa, Asia and New missionary spirit (Africa, Asia and

Latin America)Latin America) Focus on reason Focus on reason

– AutonomyAutonomy– Evolutionary theory Evolutionary theory – Social reform Social reform – Rapidly expanding cities Rapidly expanding cities – Growth of modern psychology Growth of modern psychology


Less great writers, more groups Less great writers, more groups working through ministryworking through ministry

More break-offs into other More break-offs into other Christian traditionsChristian traditions

Catholic Church losing authority, Catholic Church losing authority, some religious orders suppressed some religious orders suppressed

But new focus within Catholicism But new focus within Catholicism on miracles and visionson miracles and visions

Modernity to Post-Modernity to Post-ModernityModernity1900 - 20001900 - 2000 World Happenings:World Happenings:

– Death of European empires, fall of Death of European empires, fall of Soviet UnionSoviet Union

– World WarsWorld Wars– Increased communication and Increased communication and

technologytechnology– Vatican Council Vatican Council

Some figures from this Some figures from this timetime Evelyn UnderhillEvelyn Underhill Dorothy DayDorothy Day Thomas MertonThomas Merton Mother Teresa Mother Teresa

Modernity and Post-Modernity and Post-modernity themesmodernity themes ModernityModernity

– Focus on reasonFocus on reason– Ordered view of worldOrdered view of world– Belief in human progress Belief in human progress

Post ModernityPost Modernity– No simple answers or optimismNo simple answers or optimism– World and families are fragmented World and families are fragmented – World understood as plural World understood as plural – Suspicion of universal truths Suspicion of universal truths


Institutional religion declinesInstitutional religion declines Inter-religious dialogue increases Inter-religious dialogue increases New theologies and spiritualities New theologies and spiritualities

emerge:emerge:– Liberation TheologyLiberation Theology– Feminist Theology Feminist Theology – Ecumenical Theology – Taize Ecumenical Theology – Taize – Charismatic movementCharismatic movement

How Tradition How Tradition Informs the PresentInforms the Present

The impact of history The impact of history on spirituality on spirituality Trends in spirituality were always Trends in spirituality were always

influenced by world happenings influenced by world happenings Major figures often began Major figures often began

movements, some of which exist movements, some of which exist todaytoday

We are at the end of 2000 years of We are at the end of 2000 years of spirituality and all that has happened spirituality and all that has happened influences spirituality todayinfluences spirituality today

Catholicism and Christianity are Catholicism and Christianity are major influences on spirituality major influences on spirituality through historythrough history

Yet world no longer holds this as Yet world no longer holds this as dominantdominant

Sense of global reality, pluralismSense of global reality, pluralism

Spirituality has emerged apart Spirituality has emerged apart from religionfrom religion

Post-modernity has changed Post-modernity has changed attitudes and religious practices attitudes and religious practices for Gen X and younger for Gen X and younger generationsgenerations

Implications for Implications for Catholic HealthcareCatholic Healthcare

ImplicationsImplications

We are a Catholic Health MinistryWe are a Catholic Health Ministry Our ministry is rooted in the Our ministry is rooted in the

healing ministry of Jesushealing ministry of Jesus We often have signs of the We often have signs of the

charism of our founders and charism of our founders and foundressesfoundresses

Implications Implications

Spirituality does affect healthcareSpirituality does affect healthcare Personal spirituality affectsPersonal spirituality affects

– Understandings of illnessUnderstandings of illness– Ability to healAbility to heal– The way people make meaning The way people make meaning

In our ministriesIn our ministries

We may still have people who enjoy ritual, We may still have people who enjoy ritual, devotionals and will find comfort in devotionals and will find comfort in sacraments and religionsacraments and religion

There may also be patients and families who There may also be patients and families who will want no connection to organized religionwill want no connection to organized religion

Notions of spiritual care must be broaderNotions of spiritual care must be broader Must be able to provide diverse and plural Must be able to provide diverse and plural

care in the ministriescare in the ministries May want to engage broader understanding May want to engage broader understanding

of spirituality as that which gives life of spirituality as that which gives life meaningmeaning

Real sense of connection and devotion Real sense of connection and devotion to the sisters – will grieve loss of themto the sisters – will grieve loss of them

Important for lay leaders to have Important for lay leaders to have formation – personal sense of formation – personal sense of spirituality if ministry is to continue spirituality if ministry is to continue

Understand role of the ERD’s in our Understand role of the ERD’s in our ministryministry

We may have associates who live out We may have associates who live out their calling/vocation in their worktheir calling/vocation in their work

Some employees will not want overt Some employees will not want overt mention of spirituality or religionmention of spirituality or religion

Open Discussion Open Discussion

Questions? Questions? Comments? Comments?

Some ResourcesSome Resources

A Brief History of Spirituality by A Brief History of Spirituality by Philip SheldrakePhilip Sheldrake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualityality

History of Spirituality History of Spirituality Presentation for Spiritual Care Champions Series Systematic Series December 2, 2008 Laura Richter, M.Div.

Documents