Christian Perfection and the Mystical Life Spiritual Theology (THE 390)

I. Christian Perfection Meaning of the term Per factum To be “fully baked”

Types of perfection Essential/substantial perfection – sanctifying grace Operative perfection – charity Final perfection – transforming union Secondary perfection – elicited acts of virtues other than charity Instrumental perfection – evangelical counsels

II. Charity is the primary element in Christian Perfection Measure of perfection = measure of charity in a soul As charity produces its acts more intensely, the perfection of the Christian life is intensified. The other virtues and their perfection are required

Double Command and Double Act of Charity There is only one infused virtue of charity by which we love God and neighbor Same formal motive Matthew 25 Example of Mother Teresa

Affective vs. Effective Charity affective – by which we are attached to God and love Him above all. Effective – by which we serve God and do what He commands Perfection consists primarily in affective charity and secondarily in effective charity Nature of love – express in deeds – (cf. Jn. 3:16)

Increase in charity In this life, no limit Unlimited obediential potency Fixed at moment of death – no change and time of meriting will have ended

III. The Evangelical Counsels and Christian Perfection Perfection consists essentially in the precepts perfection of charity is demanded by precept (Dt. 6, Mt. 5, etc.) precepts legislate against things contrary to charity not all are bound to the effective practice of the counsels but all are bound to the affective practice of the counsels

Perfections consists only instrumentally in the counsels counsels remove the obstacles that impede facility in the operation of charity Poverty, chastity and obedience – holocaust Poverty, chastity and obedience and the triple concupiscence Consecrated Life as Gift before Sacrifice

The Obligation to Pursue Perfection Obligation is to strive for the eminent development of the entire supernatural organism (Sanctifying Grace, Virtues and Gifts) and not merely the base or essential perfection of the state of grace Scripture: Dt. 6:5 Mt. 22:32 Mt. 5:48 Eph. 1:4 1Thess. 4:3

Magisterium LG 40 Obligation is to tend to and not to arrive at immediately at any given point in one’s life The deliberate refusal to advance in holiness would constitute a transgression against the precept

Obligations vary according to state: all Christians – obliged to tend to perfection according to their state in life religious and consecrated – have additional obligation because of their public vow. They must use the evangelical counsels faithfully to tend to perfection diocesan priests – in virtue of their priestly ordination and ministerial office, he is obliged to tend to perfection and surpass in perfection the laity and religious.

V. Grades of Perfection Three Ages of the Spiritual Life infancy – age of beginners adolescence – age of the proficient maturity – age of the perfect

Three-fold perfection Absolute on part of lover and loved – God loved as much as He is lovable (impossible to anyone except God Himself) Absolute on part of lover – always tending in affective charity as much as is possible (impossible in this life, but our lot in beatific vision) Totality on part of neither, but removal of all hindrance and resistance to love – lot of the perfect in this life

Degree of Charity/Perfection Different degrees for different souls (“many mansions” (Jn. 14:2) Why? Eph. 4:7 “God’s will” Call vs. Predestination Objective holiness vs. subjective holiness

Antecedent vs. Consequent will of God antecedent – called to perfection and given the sufficient grace to reach a particular degree of charity consequent – including person’s free choices in response to call, only certain one’s are chosen to reach such perfection in this life

VI. Mystical Experience Nature of mystical experience the constitutive element of mystical experience is the actuation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit the experience of the divine is secondary to the actuation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit experience of divine is frequent manifestation of the actuation of the Gifts

virtues are practiced to a heroic degree However, it is also absent at times at onset of mystical experience during passive purgations virtues are practiced to a heroic degree passivity characterizes this state awareness of divine action on soul is often present

Mystical Activity and Contemplative Prayer Any actuation of any Gift of the Holy Spirit constitutes a mystical act Contemplative prayer is result of the actuation of particular Gifts of the Holy Spirit, namely, the Gift of Wisdom and Understanding

But mystical acts will vary from person to person depending on whether their life is more active or contemplative – some receive a predominance of the active Gifts while others the contemplative Gifts. St. Ignatius vs. St. Teresa of Avila

Mystical State An isolated act does not constitute a state Mystical state consists in the predominance of the rule of the Gifts Even in the mystical state, the activity of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is never permanent and uninterrupted. ascetical and mystical activity can be present and required at every stage of the spiritual journey