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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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