Christian Spirituality

• To be a Christian involves doing things for others.
• When you did not do something for one of the least of these, you did not do it for God (Mt. 25:40-45).
• Christian spirituality's relevance is discussed in the modern context.
• Traditionally, social issues were considered the responsibility of lay people, while priests and religious figures were primarily concerned with other matters.

Traditional Types of Spirituality

• Ascetical spirituality involves mortification, sacrifices, fasting, and abstinence.
• Monastic spirituality isolates one in a monastery, separated from the world and material items.
• Mystical spirituality features quiet prayer, ecstatic joy, and union with God.

New Understanding of Spirituality: Vatican II [1962-65]

• A way of life rooted in prayer and constant relationship with God, aiming to build a society of equal dignity, justice, and love.
• Christian spirituality involves striving to integrate one's life through self-transcendence toward ultimate values, according to Sandra Schneiders.
• Christian spirituality is a conscious human response to God.

Components of Christian Spirituality

• Image of God: Consider your image of God and if there is a connection between your actions and your image of God.
• God's involvement in the world and relationships is called Immanence of God.
• God's immanence is a contrast with older views of God's remoteness, and involves the role of the Holy Spirit.
• God-consciousness is liberating and leads to justice and freedom for all through respect and equality.
• God-consciousness is not Domination nor Subordination (Patriarchal View).
• Nurturing, energizing, and promoting well-being of all is God's relation to Creation.
• In God's relation to creation, the relationship is based on respect, equality, and mutuality without control and domination.
• Grace is God's presence and empowerment in lives.
• Grace involves a personal relationship with God.
• Incarnational and Trinitarian aspects of grace.
• Historical affirmation is the value of earthly existence in Christian spirituality.
• Spirituality is integrated with historical and everyday life.
• Totality of Christian experience embraces the whole human experience.
• Totality of Christian experience highlights the religious dimension in everyday life.
• Integration of contemplation with active service is contemplation in action
• "Spirituality-of-being-in-the-world" is contemplation in action.

Body vs. Spirit

• Plato's philosophy says that the body is evil and must be purified in order to be holy, where holiness is only appropriate for the spirit.
• This idea is in contradiction with the authentic Christian faith.
• Christians believe in the importance of both body and spirit.
• Holiness is appropriate for both body and spirit as the body is an effective means for worship, faith expression, and spirituality.
• There is no dichotomy of body and spirit.
• Modern philosophers use the term "Embodied Spirit".
• Centrality of social justice in Christian spirituality.
• Relationship between spirituality and ethics.
• Reconciliation in spirituality involves balancing transcendence and immanence.
• Reconciliation in spirituality involves integration of spiritual and physical existence.
• The nature of modern Christian spirituality is inclusive.
• Modern Christian spirituality involves Ecumenical and inter-faith appreciation.
• Christian Spirituality = Discipleship
• Spirituality is faith + action "Faith without Works Is Dead" (James 2:14-26).

Lasallian Spirituality

• Lasallian Spirituality involves the spirit of Community, which is a strong sense of solidarity.
• Lasallian Spirituality involves the spirit of Faith, where one can see Christ in everything and everyone, as described by the prayer “Jesus may live in our hearts forever!".
• The spirit of Zeal is a strong sense of dedication to work and of compassion to those confided to one's care so one may "touch the hearts” of those that are aided.
• As St. John Baptist de La Salle put it, make no distinction between the duties of your profession and those that refer to your salvation and perfection.
• You are called by God to your work.
• You are co-workers with God.
• You work for the poor.
• Lasallian Spirituality is done through the movement of the Holy Spirit
• "I adore the Holy will of God in my regard.”