Efflorescence of Relationships in Christ – Theological Fundament and Resonating Prospect

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/pch.14202

Keywords:

Christ, man, encounter, relationship, principle, mutual penetration in love, Mystical Body of Christ, contemplation

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to examine the potency contained in the mystery of Christ as Alpha and Omega of human history. The issue will be viewed through the prism of accidental encounters, etc. that is, those which in our earthly life have no visible importance or continuation. It is striking that our life largely consists of such contacts: thousands of people passing by every day seem to be accidental, “non-productive” and not important. Broken relationships belong to the same set as well. Thus, the real question is whether they have any deeper meaning or not. I will try to argue, by reference to spiritual theology, that life in Christ brings a real answer to this question. The apparently accidental encounters become, subsequently, relationships flourishing in Christ, on the basis that He is the one spiritual principle of all believers and the Head of the Mystical Body of the Church. In Him, our particular present encounters are purified and come into perfection to the state when they will appear as true and everlasting relationships. A man who is overlooked now turns out to be a real co-author of my eternal happiness. Although this sense will fully be realised in heaven, it can now be experienced by hope and the contemplation of the neighbour in God.

References

Augustine St., On Christian Doctrine, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/12021.htm (16.04.2023).

Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Spe Salvi, https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.html (01.05.2023).

Catechism of the Catholic Church, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P66.HTM (16.04.2023).

Catherine of Siena St., On Divine Providence, htps://universalis.com/20230429/readings.htm (30.04.2023).

Forest J., Tomasza Mertona życie z mądrością. Biografia, trans. J. Margański, Bydgoszcz 1997, Wydawnictwo Homini.

Garrigou-Lagrange R., The Three Ages of the Interior Life. Prelude of Eternal Life, trans. T. Doyle, Rockford Illinois 1989, Tan Books And Publishers, vol. II.

Godawa M., Joyful Transcendence in Christ. Preparation for Martyrdom in Saint Thomas More’s Spiritual Experience, in: J. Juhant, B. Žalec (eds.), Understanding Genocide and Suicide, Zürich 2015, LIT Verlag, pp. 135–141.

Góralczyk P., Życie na próbę, in: Z. Sareło (ed.), Postmodernizm — wyzwanie dla chrześcijaństwa, Poznań 1995, Pallotinum, pp. 52–59.

Grzegorz z Nyssy, Życie Mojżesza, trans. S. Kalinkowski, Kraków 2009, wyd. Wydawnictwo WAM.

International Scientific Conference Religion and Flourishing Man, Krakow 10.05.2023, The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, https://upjp2.edu.pl/konferencjei-wydarzenia/international-scientific-conference-religion-and-flourishing-man-145.html (22.05.2023).

John Paul II St., Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paulii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html (06.05.2023).

Klun B., Rosov pojem resonance v dialogu s fenomenologijo, „Bogoslovni vestnik” 82 (2022) 3, pp. 535–546.

Leo the Great St., A sermon 12 on the Passion, https://universalis.com/20230419/readings.htm (21.04.2023).

Merton T., Mistyka chrześcijańska. Trzynaście spotkań ze słynnym trapistą, trans. G. Gomola et al., Poznań 2019, Wydawnictwo W drodze.

Merton T., New Seeds of Contemplation, New York 1961, A New Directions Book (24th printing).

Merton T., Zapiski współwinnego widza, trans. Z. Ławrynowicz et al., Poznań 1994, Dom Wydawniczy REBIS.

New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012&version=NABRE (18.05.2023).

Petrus Damiani St., Hymnus de gaudio paradisi, in: Z. Kadłubek, Rajska radość. Święty Piotr Damiani, http://www.mediewistyka.pl/content/view/68/40/ (26.04.2023).

Platovnjak I., Svetelj T., Ancient Greek and Christian Understanding of Contemplation in Terms of a Resonant Attitude Towards the World, “Bogoslovni vestnik” 82 (2022) 3, pp. 623–637.

Roper W., The Life of Saint Thomas More c. 1556 by William Roper, https://thomasmorestudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Roper.pdf (24.05.2023).

Rosa H., Alienation and Resonance. Two Modes of Experiencing Time?, International Congress on Time 21–23 November 2019, https://timeworld2019.com/en/ (01.05.2023).

Sareło Z., Postmodernistyczny styl myślenia i życia, in: Z. Sareło (ed.), Postmodernizm — wyzwanie dla chrześcijaństwa, Poznań 1995, Pallotinum, pp. 9–27.

The Dialogue of the Seraphic Virgin Catherine of Siena, trans. A. Thorold, London 1907,

Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd., https://www.ccel.org/ccel/catherine/dialog.iv.v.xi.html (22.05.2023).

Thomas More St., A Godly Instruction [on How to Treat Those Who Wrong Us], https://thomasmorestudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/A-Godly-Instruction-Modernized.pdf (14.05.2023).

Vasiliauskaite A. (sr. Gabriele OSB), Blinstrubis S., The Anthropological Crisis of the XXI Century: The Expression and the Church’s Response to Its Forms in Catholic Schools, “The Person and the Challenges” 12 (2022) 2, pp. 69–93.

Wagner H., Dogmatyka, trans. J. Zychowicz, Kraków 2007, Wydawnictwo WAM.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-16

Issue

Section

Articles