Brother André Marie’s Theology Weblog

By Brother André Marie, M.I.C.M. Dedicated to Saint Joseph the Betrothed, Patron and Protector of the Universal Church

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Entries Tagged as 'Spiritual Theology'

Grace Perfects Nature

April 12th, 2008 · No Comments

Rationalists, for whom the supernatural order is a mere fantasy, contend that the Catholic concept of grace alienates man from his nature. The opposite error was advanced by certain modern Catholic theologians who broke with tradition and made grace virtually implicit in nature.

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Tags: Spiritual Theology · Grace

Why is the Holy Ghost called “Holy”?

January 14th, 2008 · No Comments

The following is from Blessed Columba Marmion’s masterful Christ, the Life of the Soul. In the larger context, Abbot Marmion is considering the mystery of holiness, first in God, then in men. After speaking of holiness considered as an attribute of God (i.e., in the Divine Nature), he goes on to consider holiness in the […]

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Tags: Spiritual Theology · The Holy Trinity

Catholics, Protestants, Grace, and the Spiritual Life

January 3rd, 2008 · 3 Comments

This paper answers the following question: Given what Catholics believe about grace, merit and justification, why is it much more logical for Catholics to have treatises on progress in the practice of the presence of God and growth in mystical prayer than Protestants?
To answer this question, we must first contrast the two positions on grace, […]

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Tags: Apologetics · Spiritual Theology · Grace

Mysticism and Controversy

November 22nd, 2007 · No Comments

This article was originally published on the Spero News site.
It is a wonderful sign that the study of serious mystical theology is gaining momentum in Catholic circles. We have much cause for joy in the revival of the deep, fortifying works of spiritual masters such as St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, […]

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Tags: Spiritual Theology

Imitating Christ’s Humility: Philippians 2

November 3rd, 2007 · No Comments

The Challoner edition of the Douay-Rheims Bible gives a good description of Philippians 2 at the head of the chapter: “He recommends them to unity and humility, and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.” In broad overview, what St. Paul delivers in this chapter one of his many exhortations to unity, but […]

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Tags: Sacred Scripture and Tradition: Sources of Revelation · Spiritual Theology · Christology

Christ’s Theandric Role in our Sanctification

October 6th, 2007 · No Comments

Here is the assignment: “The Church teaches that Christ is truly human and truly divine. Comment on the significance of each of the aspects of the mystery of Christ with regard to our sanctification and our salvation.” The title I gave it for the blog uses the word “theandric,” which Father John Hardon, S.J. […]

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Tags: Spiritual Theology · Sacramental Theology · Christology

The Divine Missions and the Indwelling of the Three Persons of the Trinity in the Souls of the Just

September 16th, 2007 · No Comments

The eternal processions in the Blessed Trinity - the Son’s generation from the Father and the Holy Ghost’s spiration from the Father and the Son - are reflected in creation in the temporal missions of the Son and the Holy Ghost. A divine mission involves a temporal “sending” of one divine Person by another […]

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Tags: Spiritual Theology · The Holy Trinity

The Relationship between the Virtues and the Gifts of the Holy Ghost

September 1st, 2007 · 2 Comments

The gifts of the Holy Ghost resemble the infused virtues in a number of ways. Both are operative habits which have God as their efficient cause and the perfection of man as their final cause. Both reside in the human faculties and have right behavior as their material object.
Where they differ is in their motor […]

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Tags: Spiritual Theology