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

2. Objectives Learn about the history of spirituality, with a focus on spirituality in the Christian/Catholic tradition. Learn about the history of spirituality, with a focus on spirituality in the Christian/Catholic tradition. Recognize the importance of understanding our tradition and how it impacts healthcare today. Recognize the importance of understanding our tradition and how it impacts healthcare today. Make practical connections between spirituality and Catholic Health Care. Make practical connections between spirituality and Catholic Health Care.

3. What is spirituality? Whatever gives meaning to your life. - Joe Driscoll Spirituality is how a person finds meaning and purpose in his or her life in a way that is reflected in behaviors. - Jerry Broccolo Spirituality is the practice of staying consciously connected with what makes us alive, with ourselves, and with one another and the great other. - Robin Carnes and Sally Craig

4. “Deepest values and meanings by which people seek to live.” - Philip Sheldrake Spirituality can be understood apart from religion, but for most, their sense of spirituality is shaped by their religion.

5. A Brief History of Spirituality

6. Use History to organize the discussion 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 (1900 – 2000) Modernity & Post-modernity (1900 – 2000)

7. Early Church 0 - 300 Christian Spirituality rooted in the Scriptures Christian Spirituality rooted in the Scriptures Grew out of Jewish heritage and ritual Grew out of Jewish heritage and ritual New Testament highlighted loving God, sacrifice of Jesus, the kingdom New Testament highlighted loving God, sacrifice of Jesus, the kingdom Always in context of community – but community itself was repressed in larger scheme Always in context of community – but community itself was repressed in larger scheme

8. Strong Themes in early Church spirituality Doctrine Doctrine Martyrdom Martyrdom Asceticism Asceticism Discipleship and transformation Discipleship and transformation

9. Monastic paradigm 300 - 1150 World happenings: World happenings: –Legalization of Christianity – Constantine in 313 –Monasticism spread in East and West –Monasteries established and rules –A time of unrest and conquering

10. Figures in this time St. Basil St. Basil St. Augustine St. Augustine St. Benedict St. Benedict The Hermits and the “Fathers” The Hermits and the “Fathers” –St. Antony 269 –Athanasius, Origen

11. Impact on Spirituality Temptation and avoidance of it Temptation and avoidance of it Asceticism Asceticism Leaders created “rules” – some more about love (Augustine) and others a combination of spiritual and practical (Benedict) Leaders created “rules” – some more about love (Augustine) and others a combination of spiritual and practical (Benedict) “Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace.”

12. Impact Focus on obedience, humility and conversion Focus on obedience, humility and conversion Penitentials created – theme of repentance Penitentials created – theme of repentance Sense of pilgrimage Sense of pilgrimage Spiritual Development/spiritual direction (Ireland) Spiritual Development/spiritual direction (Ireland) Cistercian movement – focus on humanism Cistercian movement – focus on humanism Human nature, dignity, virtue and love Human nature, dignity, virtue and love

13. During this time… Increased sense of the communion of saints Increased sense of the communion of saints Spiritual growth and guidance Spiritual growth and guidance Great works (classics) passed on through monasteries Great works (classics) passed on through monasteries Missionary work Missionary work

14. Medieval times 1150 - 1450 In the world: In the world: –12 th century Renaissance –Real flourishing of intellectual and spiritual pursuits –Rebirth of cities – building of Cathedrals –Establishment of Universities

15. Figures during this time and new groups Peter Lombard’s sentences Peter Lombard’s sentences St’s Dominic and Francis and Mendicant movement (focus on simplicity, begging for alms) St’s Dominic and Francis and Mendicant movement (focus on simplicity, begging for alms) Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas Beginning of lay movement with the Beguines Beginning of lay movement with the Beguines Mystics – including Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich Mystics – including Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich

16. Impact on Spirituality Growing separation between clergy and laity Growing separation between clergy and laity More space between church and state More space between church and state Sense of sacred was spreading into Churches, schools and even the city Sense of sacred was spreading into Churches, schools and even the city

17. Reformation 1450 - 1700 World happenings World happenings –Time of science/discovery –Discovery of the new world –Founding of Anglican Church –Lutheran Reformation

18. Some central figures Desiderius Erasmus – focused on bible, which inspired sense of piety. Desiderius Erasmus – focused on bible, which inspired sense of piety. Martin Luther – 95 theses (1517) Martin Luther – 95 theses (1517) John Calvin – humanism John Calvin – humanism

19. Other “characters” Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross – Carmelites Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross – Carmelites Francis de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal Francis de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal Vincent de Paul Vincent de Paul

20. Impact on Spirituality Spirituality had focused on externals – rituals, relics, pilgrimages and penances Spirituality had focused on externals – rituals, relics, pilgrimages and penances Clergy living high and not always educated or qualified Clergy living high and not always educated or qualified New conversation about works and grace New conversation about works and grace

21. Impact on Spirituality Rise of religious orders Rise of religious orders Breaking away from monastery – out in the community Breaking away from monastery – out in the community Service of the poor Service of the poor Helping others through service, education and healthcare Helping others through service, education and healthcare Also rise of Puritanism – Quakers Also rise of Puritanism – Quakers

22. Age of Reason 1700 - 1900 Big changes with Big changes with –The Enlightenment –Political revolutions France France America America –Industrial Revolution

23. Some important figures Kant – Lutheran who disproved God – reason was higher than nature real focus on conscience and ethics Kant – Lutheran who disproved God – reason was higher than nature real focus on conscience and ethics Wesley's (John & Charles) – Methodist spirituality Wesley's (John & Charles) – Methodist spirituality Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans John Henry Newman John Henry Newman Therese of Lisieux Therese of Lisieux

24. Impact of world happenings Real swing to the “new world” Real swing to the “new world” New missionary spirit (Africa, Asia and Latin America) New missionary spirit (Africa, Asia and Latin America) Focus on reason Focus on reason –Autonomy –Evolutionary theory –Social reform –Rapidly expanding cities –Growth of modern psychology

25. Impact on Spirituality Less great writers, more groups working through ministry Less great writers, more groups working through ministry More break-offs into other Christian traditions More break-offs into other Christian traditions Catholic Church losing authority, some religious orders suppressed Catholic Church losing authority, some religious orders suppressed But new focus within Catholicism on miracles and visions But new focus within Catholicism on miracles and visions

26. Modernity to Post-Modernity 1900 - 2000 World Happenings: World Happenings: –Death of European empires, fall of Soviet Union –World Wars –Increased communication and technology –Vatican Council

27. Some figures from this time Evelyn Underhill Evelyn Underhill Dorothy Day Dorothy Day Thomas Merton Thomas Merton Mother Teresa Mother Teresa

28. Modernity and Post- modernity themes Modernity Modernity –Focus on reason –Ordered view of world –Belief in human progress Post Modernity Post Modernity –No simple answers or optimism –World and families are fragmented –World understood as plural –Suspicion of universal truths

29. Impact on Spirituality Institutional religion declines Institutional religion declines Inter-religious dialogue increases Inter-religious dialogue increases New theologies and spiritualities emerge: New theologies and spiritualities emerge: –Liberation Theology –Feminist Theology –Ecumenical Theology – Taize –Charismatic movement

30. How Tradition Informs the Present

31. The impact of history on spirituality Trends in spirituality were always influenced by world happenings Trends in spirituality were always influenced by world happenings Major figures often began movements, some of which exist today Major figures often began movements, some of which exist today We are at the end of 2000 years of spirituality and all that has happened influences spirituality today We are at the end of 2000 years of spirituality and all that has happened influences spirituality today

32. Catholicism and Christianity are major influences on spirituality through history Catholicism and Christianity are major influences on spirituality through history Yet world no longer holds this as dominant Yet world no longer holds this as dominant Sense of global reality, pluralism Sense of global reality, pluralism

33. Spirituality has emerged apart from religion Spirituality has emerged apart from religion Post-modernity has changed attitudes and religious practices for Gen X and younger generations Post-modernity has changed attitudes and religious practices for Gen X and younger generations

34. Implications for Catholic Healthcare

35. Implications We are a Catholic Health Ministry We are a Catholic Health Ministry Our ministry is rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus Our ministry is rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus We often have signs of the charism of our founders and foundresses We often have signs of the charism of our founders and foundresses

36. Implications Spirituality does affect healthcare Spirituality does affect healthcare Personal spirituality affects Personal spirituality affects –Understandings of illness –Ability to heal –The way people make meaning

37. In our ministries We may still have people who enjoy ritual, devotionals and will find comfort in sacraments and religion We may still have people who enjoy ritual, devotionals and will find comfort in sacraments and religion There may also be patients and families who will want no connection to organized religion There may also be patients and families who will want no connection to organized religion Notions of spiritual care must be broader Notions of spiritual care must be broader Must be able to provide diverse and plural care in the ministries Must be able to provide diverse and plural care in the ministries May want to engage broader understanding of spirituality as that which gives life meaning May want to engage broader understanding of spirituality as that which gives life meaning

38. Real sense of connection and devotion to the sisters – will grieve loss of them Real sense of connection and devotion to the sisters – will grieve loss of them Important for lay leaders to have formation – personal sense of spirituality if ministry is to continue Important for lay leaders to have formation – personal sense of spirituality if ministry is to continue Understand role of the ERD’s in our ministry Understand role of the ERD’s in our ministry We may have associates who live out their calling/vocation in their work We may have associates who live out their calling/vocation in their work Some employees will not want overt mention of spirituality or religion Some employees will not want overt mention of spirituality or religion

39. Open Discussion Questions? Questions? Comments? Comments?

40. Some Resources A Brief History of Spirituality by Philip Sheldrake A Brief History of Spirituality by Philip Sheldrake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualit y http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualit y http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualit y http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualit y