Introduction to Basic Spiritual Theology

The study of God through contemplation and reasoning.

Faith seeking understanding. This refers to the process of using reason to explore and deepen one's faith.

God's self-disclosure to humanity, typically through scripture, tradition, or events.

The branch of theology that studies the history of the Church and its teachings.

The focus of Christian theology, where God fully revealed himself.

The branch of theology that deals with the life of the spirit, its virtues, and its relationship with God.

Character traits that are considered good and virtuous.

A set of four fundamental virtues that are essential for a good life: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.

A way of life focused on experiencing God through Jesus Christ, emphasizing faith, charity, and other Christian virtues.

A collection of beliefs and practices passed down from one generation of Christians to the next.

The ability to believe in God despite lacking physical evidence.

The desire for Heaven and the belief that you will achieve it.

Unconditional love for God and others, motivated by God's love for us.

Virtues that guide our relationship with God.

The Bible, especially the stories of Jesus, serves as a primary source for understanding Christian spirituality.

The study of Christian belief.

The study of how to live out your Christian beliefs.

A historical term for spiritual practices aimed at Christian perfection.

A historical term for experiences of direct union with God.

The understanding that spiritual theology draws from both biblical teachings and personal spiritual experiences.

Living in accordance with spiritual principles rather than merely focusing on outward actions.

The study of spiritual theology helps prevent Christian practice from becoming merely external actions without a deeper spiritual connection.

The moral virtue that perfects the will and inclines it to give to each and to all what is due to them.

Justice towards God is called the “virtue of religion.”

Justice towards men disposes one to respect the rights of each.

The moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.

Strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life.

The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions.

The moral virtue that perfects the intellect and inclines one to act in all things according to right reason.

Prudence leads to action based on rational thinking rather than impulsive behaviour.

A quality that makes a person good, leading them to perform morally upright actions with an inner disposition.

A lasting tendency to act in a certain way. Unlike impulses, it's deep-seated and affects how a person acts.

A settled habit of mind that reflects a person's character and influences their actions. It's who a person fundamentally is.

Principles of morality inform our actions. Virtue aligns with those principles, creating a good moral life.

The virtue of a person is visible in their outward actions and how they treat others. This reflects their internal character.

Christian virtues aim to make a person more like Christ by consistently acting in a way that reflects his teachings.

Christian virtues are rooted in the grace received through Christ's sacrifice, promoting divine love and goodness.

The study of how Christian theology has evolved over time, exploring the historical development of beliefs and practices.

This branch of theology focuses on understanding the Bible's message, its historical context, and its relevance to today.

It analyzes and organizes Christian doctrines into a coherent system, creating a logical framework for understanding key beliefs.

This branch explores the practical implications of Christian beliefs in everyday life, focusing on how faith and practice interact.

Spiritual Theology traditionally belonged to systematic theology, which is further divided into dogmatic and moral theology.

The defining features of Spiritual Theology, including its concept, scope, and main characteristics.

The early theologians and Church Fathers already wrote about the spiritual life, but it wasn't until the Council of Trent in the 16th century that a need arose for a more specialized study of spiritual matters.