Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which theological concept, elucidated by Henri Nouwen and exemplified in Mother Teresa's life, directly challenges the pursuit of worldly acclaim and material prosperity, advocating instead for a radical realignment of priorities?
Which theological concept, elucidated by Henri Nouwen and exemplified in Mother Teresa's life, directly challenges the pursuit of worldly acclaim and material prosperity, advocating instead for a radical realignment of priorities?
- Kénosis praxeology, advocating for the complete self-emptying to eliminate all vestiges of individual identity to achieve a state of undifferentiated unity with the divine.
- Downward mobility, promoting the renunciation of pride and ego in favor of divine love and selfless service to humanity, rejecting conventional measures of success. (correct)
- Vertical transcendence, focused on achieving spiritual enlightenment via hierarchical ascension through various levels of consciousness.
- Ascetic theosis, prioritizing the deification of the self through rigorous spiritual exercises aimed at transcending human limitations.
How does Mother Teresa's interpretation of holiness diverge from conventional understandings of achieving spiritual perfection or moral uprightness?
How does Mother Teresa's interpretation of holiness diverge from conventional understandings of achieving spiritual perfection or moral uprightness?
- Teresa viewed holiness as an innate quality, achievable through intense introspection and the cultivation of inner peace, independent of external actions or divine intervention.
- Holiness, according to Teresa, hinges on the complete eradication of personal desires and the attainment of a state of detached indifference to worldly suffering and injustice.
- Teresa contextualized holiness as a dynamic process of self-emptying (kenosis), profligate love, and dedicated service, fueled by divine grace and manifested through concrete actions toward humanity, especially the marginalized. (correct)
- Holiness, in Teresa's understanding, is primarily achieved through strict adherence to religious dogma, rigorous self-discipline, and the consistent performance of prescribed rituals.
What is the theological underpinning that informs Mother Teresa's audacious assertion that individuals are called not merely to emulate saints or prophets but to strive for a likeness to the "heavenly Father"?
What is the theological underpinning that informs Mother Teresa's audacious assertion that individuals are called not merely to emulate saints or prophets but to strive for a likeness to the "heavenly Father"?
- The assertion reflects a Gnostic perspective, positing that humans possess a latent divine spark that can be awakened through esoteric knowledge and rigorous spiritual exercises.
- It encapsulates the concept of _imago Dei_, suggesting that humanity is created in God's image, entailing a call to reflect divine attributes such as love, mercy, and compassion in their actions and relationships. (correct)
- It embodies a Pelagian inclination, emphasizing human free will and self-effort as the primary means of achieving moral perfection and ascending to divine status.
- The audacious claim is rooted in a pantheistic worldview, asserting the presence of the divine within all beings, blurring the distinction between creator and creation.
How does Mother Teresa's understanding of 'seeing Christ in everyone' challenge and subvert conventional notions of recognizing the divine or sacred?
How does Mother Teresa's understanding of 'seeing Christ in everyone' challenge and subvert conventional notions of recognizing the divine or sacred?
In what way does Mother Teresa's spirituality challenge the traditional dichotomy between action and contemplation, particularly in the context of religious life and service?
In what way does Mother Teresa's spirituality challenge the traditional dichotomy between action and contemplation, particularly in the context of religious life and service?
What is the underlying significance of Mother Teresa's choice of attire—the simple white sari with blue trim—in the context of her mission and her commitment to the poor?
What is the underlying significance of Mother Teresa's choice of attire—the simple white sari with blue trim—in the context of her mission and her commitment to the poor?
How does the transformation of Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu into Mother Teresa challenge conventional understandings of identity formation and spiritual development?
How does the transformation of Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu into Mother Teresa challenge conventional understandings of identity formation and spiritual development?
How might the concept of 'downward mobility,' as articulated by Henri Nouwen, intersect with liberation theology's preferential option for the poor, observed in Mother Teresa's ministry?
How might the concept of 'downward mobility,' as articulated by Henri Nouwen, intersect with liberation theology's preferential option for the poor, observed in Mother Teresa's ministry?
Why did Pope John Paul II's initial reluctance to expedite Mother Teresa's canonization process eventually give way to enthusiastic endorsement, and what implications does this shift have for understanding the Catholic Church's evolving criteria for sainthood?
Why did Pope John Paul II's initial reluctance to expedite Mother Teresa's canonization process eventually give way to enthusiastic endorsement, and what implications does this shift have for understanding the Catholic Church's evolving criteria for sainthood?
What theological and philosophical implications arise from Thomas Merton's epiphany at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, particularly in relation to Mother Teresa's ministry?
What theological and philosophical implications arise from Thomas Merton's epiphany at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, particularly in relation to Mother Teresa's ministry?
How does Mother Teresa's interpretation and application of Saint Augustine's dictum—"Fill yourself first [with God], and only then will you be able to give to others"—inform her understanding of the relationship between personal spirituality and social action?
How does Mother Teresa's interpretation and application of Saint Augustine's dictum—"Fill yourself first [with God], and only then will you be able to give to others"—inform her understanding of the relationship between personal spirituality and social action?
What are the key epistemic challenges in interpreting and applying Mother Teresa's teachings on holiness, considering the inherent limitations of language and human understanding in capturing transcendent spiritual realities?
What are the key epistemic challenges in interpreting and applying Mother Teresa's teachings on holiness, considering the inherent limitations of language and human understanding in capturing transcendent spiritual realities?
In assessing Mother Teresa's spiritual legacy, particularly regarding her emphasis on 'downward mobility,' how can one reconcile the inherent power dynamics involved in charitable work and the potential for perpetuating systemic inequalities?
In assessing Mother Teresa's spiritual legacy, particularly regarding her emphasis on 'downward mobility,' how can one reconcile the inherent power dynamics involved in charitable work and the potential for perpetuating systemic inequalities?
How might a Foucauldian analysis of power and discourse challenge or complicate traditional hagiographical accounts of Mother Teresa's life and work?
How might a Foucauldian analysis of power and discourse challenge or complicate traditional hagiographical accounts of Mother Teresa's life and work?
Considering the historical and socio-political context of Mother Teresa's ministry as a missionary in Calcutta, how might postcolonial theory inform a more nuanced understanding of her work?
Considering the historical and socio-political context of Mother Teresa's ministry as a missionary in Calcutta, how might postcolonial theory inform a more nuanced understanding of her work?
Flashcards
Deepest Heartfelt Desire
Deepest Heartfelt Desire
The desire to grow more saintly and enter into a deeper relationship with God.
Mother Teresa's Holiness
Mother Teresa's Holiness
Recognizing and acting on the desire for holiness from a young age.
Canonization
Canonization
The process of declaring someone a saint in the Catholic Church.
Downward Mobility
Downward Mobility
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Becoming Holy
Becoming Holy
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Second Step to Holiness
Second Step to Holiness
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Third Step to Holiness
Third Step to Holiness
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Key to Sustaining Love in Action
Key to Sustaining Love in Action
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Study Notes
- Holiness is about wanting to be holy, as highlighted in a conversation between Thomas Merton and Robert Lax.
- Merton initially aimed to be a good Catholic, but Lax suggested he should aspire to be a saint, achievable through the desire to be one.
- Mother Teresa, known as the "saint of the gutters" for her assistance to the poor, recognized her desire for holiness early in life, rediscovering it by age eighteen after a brief period of setting it aside.
- Her goal was to live a holy life, pleasing to God and serving humanity, even when God seemed absent.
- Mother Teresa's sanctity was recognized after her death on September 5, 1997, leading to calls for her canonization.
- Pope John Paul II, despite initial reluctance, expedited the process due to his admiration for her.
- The investigation into her life led to her beatification in October 2003.
- She was declared Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016.
- Mother Teresa is remembered as a small nun dedicated to the poor, often seen in a white sari with blue trim, the habit of the Missionaries of Charity, and a blue-bordered scarf with a crucifix.
- Her physical appearance included a lined face, thick fingers, and misshapen feet, a result of years of labor.
- She was approximately 4 feet, 11 inches tall.
- Her expressions in photos vary from somber to joyful, with a smile that lights up her face.
- Early photos of Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu reveal thick, dark hair and a graceful forehead, features that changed when she became a nun.
- Her eyes remained a constant luminous feature, reflecting both joy and suffering.
- Anjezë's soul possesses a holiness and commitment to God.
- Mother Teresa's life captivated the world and teaches us how to grow into our birthright as creatures made in God's likeness.
- She quoted St. Augustine, advising to "Fill yourself first [with God], and only then will you be able to give to others."
- God's will is for us to become holy and surrender to divine stirring.
- She counseled her Sisters to remember the work is not ours and we must not spoil it.
Downward Mobility
- Henri Nouwen described as "downward mobility," is the rejection of pride to love God and humans.
- "downward mobility" aligns with Christian mystics like St. Paul, St. Francis, and St. Teresa of Avila, involving a rejection of worldly success and an inward focus on discerning God.
Achieving Downward Mobility
- Achieved "Not by reading plenty of books...but by accepting humiliations” and accepting life's events without bitterness.
- The words to be holy involve divesting oneself of non-Godly things, renouncing personal will, and becoming a generous slave to God's will.
- Nouwen's concept of downward mobility may have been influenced by a conversation with Mother Teresa, where she advised him to spend an hour a day adoring God and avoiding wrongdoing.
The First Step to Becoming Holy
- According to Mother Teresa, is to will to be holy through self-emptying and downward mobility.
- Mother Teresa taught to commit to being holy with God's blessing through regular prayerful adoration.
The Second Step to Holiness
- Is profligate love, which becomes easier after self-emptying.
- Emptying oneself of pride clears spiritual vision, allowing one to recognize others as lovable, breaking down a heart of stone with compassion.
- Thomas Merton experienced an epiphany on a street corner, realizing his love for all people.
Realization
- A person could not be alien to one another, awakening from a dream of separateness.
- One realizes the immense joy of being human, a member of a race in which God became incarnate.
- There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.
- Mother Teresa helped rejected people see themselves as radiant carriers of God's likeness.
The Third Step to Holiness
- Is putting love into action, dedicating oneself to a life of service.
- Mother Teresa urged aiming high to be like our heavenly Father.
- Sustaining love in action involves seeing Christ in everyone.
- People should undertake works of mercy out of love.
- The girl Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu had an intuition of God, leading to her self-emptying love and service.
- Two decades after taking the habit, she found her true calling in selfless service to the poor.
- Her path to sainthood can be traced in photographs spanning eighty years.
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