SPIRITUALITY

OF SOCIAL
TRANSFORMATION
 t i s
h a Y ?
W ALIT
I T U
SP I R
 “refers to any
religious or ethical
value i.e.
concretized as an
attitude or spirit
from which one’s
action flow”

DEFINITION OF SPIRITUALITY
 SPIRITUALITY

FAITH ACTION
signifies a certain kind of unity

aith without good works is de

For Better Understanding…
. ZEN SPIRITUALITY
- a major school of Buddhism originating in 12th century China that
emphasizes enlightenment through meditation and insight

. BUDDHISM SPIRITUALITY
- a world religion or philosophy based on the teaching
of the Buddha and holding that a state of enlightenment
can be attained by suppressing worldly desires

. JEWISH SPIRITUALITY
- related to the practices of Judaism
- belonging or relating to a people descended
from the ancient Hebrews or the Jews

. MUSLIM SPIRITUALITY
- somebody who believes in and practises Islam

. CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
- somebody who believes that Jesus Christ was sent to
the world by God to save humanity, and who tries to follow
his teachings and example

N.B.
THE focus of our discussion is the Spirituality

according to the Christian tradition and

practice. Kinds of Spirituality
Spirituality is NOT
only for the older
people
Scope of Spirituality
…to the students who
•have the habit of writing
words or symbols of
praises at the top of their test
paper as a sign of offering or
probably adoration to God.
•wear or keep religious articles
as their way of connecting
with God.
Scope of Spirituality
…to the teachers who
•have their own unique way of
manifesting their prayer life in
their work.
•become more prayerful as they
approach a particular class or
group pf students.
• have the habit or ritual of offering
mass and prayers at the beginning
and end of every semester as a
sign of deliverance and thanksgiving.
Scope of Spirituality
Indeed… Spirituality is a
part of life for many
people of different walks
of life
“…that the practiced of devotion
should be adapted to each person
according to his/her duties and
occupation.”
St. Frances de Sales
Scope of Spirituality
 1. PRAYER
TRADITIONALLY defined as…

“lifting up of our heart

and mind to God.”

Elements of Spirituality
 PRAYER
is not only lifting of our heart and
mind but it is also listening and
waiting to God.
has two way process:
a. God’s action
b. our participation
Elements of Spirituality
 PRAYER
that is why it is best described as

“conversation with
God”
eans: speaking and listening to G

Elements of Spirituality
A. VOCAL PRAYER
- is the act of expressing
the thoughts and
concerns of our hearts to
God through the use of
our own words.

e.g. OUR FATHER, HAIL

MARY, GLORY BE etc.

Kinds of Prayer
B. MENTAL PRAYER
- a prayer wherein we use
our mind and imagination
to unite ourselves with
God.

e.g. meditation,
examination
of conscience etc.

Kinds of Prayer
 C. CONTEMPLATION
- A prayer of loving attentiveness

to God’s mysterious presence.

While mental prayer is more of
the active use of our
imagination
and mind, contemplative prayer
is more quiet, receptive and
affective. It is a prayer of the
e.g. 30 day prayer retreat
heart.
of
the priest and
religious Kinds of Prayer
 D. LITURGICAL PRAYER
- a prayer of the church
gathered in worship and
praise of God. The most
important liturgical prayer
for the Catholics is the
Mass or the Eucharist.

- other liturgical prayer is the liturgy of the hours

or “breviary”; prayer meeting; para-liturgical
prayers.
Kinds of Prayer
2. Sacrificial – Spiritual
Discipline
“Sacrifice is always
a part of Authentic
Christian
Spirituality.”
Elements of Prayer
2. Sacrificial – Spiritual
Discipline

In Modern times, it is
understood in a very
negative way. It is
conceived as hassle,
hindrance, obstacle, and an
opponent of happiness
Elements of Prayer
and
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual
Discipline
SACRIFICE comes from the
Latin word:
•Sacra means HOLY or SACRED
•Facere means TO DO or TO
ACT
In short, it is simply means
HOLY ACTION or SACRED
Elements of Prayer
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual
Discipline
Furthermore…
Sacrifice are means that can
lead us to become good or
become holy. They are not
really a hindrance or obstacle
to joy and happiness.
Elements of Prayer
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual
Discipline
Sacrifice as spiritual
discipline is traditionally
termed as “ASCETICISM”
comes from the
Greek word ASKESIS which
means
athletic exercise
By definition it is “aor practice
self-denying
way of life”
Elements of Prayer
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual Discipline

Different Kinds of Spiritual Discipline

a.FASTING
• simply means not to eat foods for a day or a
meal.
• History of Christianity: practiced as away of
uniting oneself with the suffering Jesus and as a
preparation for prayer.
• Vat. II, 1964 : P. Paul VI reduced the time for
fasting into one hour before Holy Communion
and moderately fast on Ash Wed and Good
Friday.
• Today, many Christians are rediscovering fasting
both as discipline for prayer and a way of
Elements of Prayer
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual Discipline

Different Kinds of Spiritual Discipline

b. ABSTINENCE
• a practice of refraining from eating meat
• today, this practice is very popular
especially for those who want to reduced
in weight.
• but abstinence was originally a spiritual
act
• It is a way of disciplining the spirit

Elements of Prayer
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual Discipline

Different Kinds of Spiritual Discipline

c. SOLITUDE, RETREAT AND RECOLLECTION
• SOLITUDE means to find a time and place to be
alone before God.
• In the history of spirituality, DESERT is a symbol
of SOLITUDE.
• Today, many of us are already engrossed and
blinded by the busy, noisy, and artificial offering
of the urban world.
• SOLITUDE can help us open ourselves to God
who speaks to us in silence and in the beauty of
creation.
Elements of Prayer
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual Discipline

Different Kinds of Spiritual Discipline

c. SOLITUDE, RETREAT AND RECOLLECTION

• RETREAT is an extended
version of solitude
• Normally happens in three
days.
• RECOLLECTION normally
happens in in ONE to TWO days.
Elements of Prayer
 2. Sacrificial – Spiritual Discipline

Different Kinds of Spiritual Discipline

c. GOOD WORKS
• A very important element of
spirituality .
• e.g. Parable of the Good Samaritan.
• Mt. 6,1-4 “…when you give alms, do not
let your left hand know what your right
hand is doing…so that your almsgiving
may be in secret. And your Father who
sees in secret will repay you.”

Elements of Prayer
 SPIRITUALITY AND
HOLINESS
s?
e s
ol in
s h
t i
h a
W
cary thing to talk about…
Reasons:
a. worldly concept of holiness
i.e. hardships and
difficulties
b. to become martyr like
saints as holy people
and most of
them died a tragic death
c. some of us don’t want to
die moreover, we don’t want
to dieSPIRITUALITY AND HOLINESS
a tragic death.
rthermore…
• holiness connotes impossibility for
we are always tormented with sins
and temptations
• many of us don’t want to deal on
this and setting aside this holiness
“thing”.
• but we are all called to holiness as
ultimate objective of our spirituality
SPIRITUALITY AND HOLINESS
Vatican II…
“it is therefore quiet
clear that all
Christians in any
state or walk of life
are called to the
fullness of life and to
the perfection of
love, and by this
holiness a more
SPIRITUALITY AND HOLINESS
For better understanding…

Two things are being

emphasized:
1.We are all called to
become holy or
perfect.

2. Holiness can be
realized in our
earthly life.
SPIRITUALITY AND HOLINESS
SPIRITUALITY AND HOLINESS

•What is the meaning of holiness?

•How to become holy?
According to Catholic Encyclopedia:

• Holiness is equated to PERFECTION and

WHOLENESS
• these THREE words can be used
interchangeably, denoting one and the
same meaning

MOREOVER, Holiness derives from

Latin word “SANCTITAS”
HENCE, it is closely related with the
term “SANCTITY/SANCTIFICATION”
or even with the word “SAINT”

SPIRITUALITY AND HOLINESS

ON THE OTHER HAND:

Latin “SANCTITAS” is the rendering of

two Greek words “HAGIOSYNE” and
“HOSIOTES”
THESE two Greek words pertain to
holiness but of different emphasis:
HAGIOSYNE HOSIOTES

Holiness as Holiness as
separation from stability in the
anything worldy service of God

SPIRITUALITY AND HOLINESS

 SPIRITUALITY AND
HOLINESS
homas Aquinas defined holiness as….

“a virtue by which
man’s mind
applies itself and
all its act to God”
 SPIRITUALITY AND
HOLINESS
•St. Thomas Aquinas agrees
with the two aspects of
holiness.
(hagiosyne and
hosiotes)
•his definition greatly touches
on the concept of holiness as
separation and assigned to
the virtue of religion the
 PLATO (427-347 BC)

 Plato was one of the most famous

philosophers of Ancient Greece.
 the first to use the word "philosophy",
which means "love of wisdom".
 He was born in around 428 BC to a
wealthy family in Athens.
 In 387 BC, he founded the Academy, which
is often described as the first European
university.
DOCTRINE OF PLATO
 Philosophy of Plato

 Plato did not believe in creation from nothing

(creatio ex nihilo)
 Stressing that actual things are copied of
transcendent ideas.
 These ideas are the object of true knowledge
apprehended by reminiscence (memories)
 He believed that God and world to be separate
 God as absolute and ultimate transcendent
reality above and beyond the world of senses
DOCTRINE OF PLATO
 Philosophy of Plato
 In order to arrange the world,
God employs a “craftsman” known
as
“demiurge” or “lesser-god”
 His idea greatly influenced the
heretical impulse of early Christian
thinkers.
 In short, his idea is keeping God and
his creation, spirit and matter,
separate.
 DOCTRINE OF PLATO
PLATO’S philosophy on
DUALISM

SPIRIT BODY

PERFECT IMPERFECT

MATERIALISM
IDEALISM

For better understanding…

 PLATO’s Philosophy on DUALISM

BODY VS SPIRIT

EVIL HOLY

-has to be purified
Holiness is only
-not capable for Appropriate
holiness for the spirit
furthermore…
• This idea is very much 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
• Body can be an effective means for
worship, faith expression,
spirituality or holiness
• No dichotomy of body and spirit.
• Modern philosophers used now the
term CHURCH’s
“EMBODIED SPIRIT”
TEACHING on BODY vs SPIRIT
ACTIVITY
 HOW do you exercise your spirituality as
a student?
 What are your habits of prayer and
good works?
 Reporting-Presentation will follow.
…can be in a form of:
Singing
Acting
Dancing
  HOW do you express your prayer as a
student?

 WHAT are your ways to strengthen and

deepen your prayer life?

 Reporting-Presentation will follow.

=can be in a form of:
a. Singing
b. Acting
c. Dancing

ACTIVITY
HOLINESS means PERFECTION
As Jesus Christ commands….

“Be perfect, therefore as your

heavenly Father is perfect.”
Mt. 5,48

Here, Jesus is commanding

the disciples to extend the
boundaries of their community
by modeling themselves on the
HOLINESS AND PERFECTION
 Jesus is also bringing the Old Testament
to fulfillment by recalling a command
from Deuteronomy 18,13…
“You shall be blameless before the
Lord your God” or “You must
remain completely loyal to the
Lord your God.
• Septuagint (Greek version of the Bible) the word
“blameless” in Greek translation is “teleios”
• The same word (teleios) which is translated as
“perfect” in Mt 5,48
• In other words, both Mt. and Dt. the notion of
perfection
connotes fidelity and love
• Same word used in Gen. 6,9 describing Noah as
blameless and holy
HOLINESS AND PERFECTION
•Therefore, holiness is not completely
an other-worldly thing.
•Holiness is doable in this world, we
just have to be faithful and
loyal to the Lord
As the saying goes:
“we are not called to become
successful but we are called to
become faithful”
Fr. Thomas Green also said:
“the just man sins seven times a day-
but their fundamental
option is for God.”
Fr. Karl Peschke in his
book Christian Ethics
said:

“in order to become

holy a man or a
woman must first
live a life in all the
humanity and
fragility of human’s
actual condition.”
This implies a
greater
capacity for
concern, for
suffering, for
understandin …and also for
g, and for humor, for joy,
and for
sympathy
appreciation of
the good and
beautiful things in
• Perfection is a goal in which
every Christian must strive,
however this perfection as a goal
is not a possession from the
beginning.
• St. Paul in his letter to the
Philippians
(3,12-14), he said that “he has
not yet attained the goal of
perfection, but still pressing on to
it…”
• Hence, one ought not to be
discouraged by the perceptions of
one's shortcomings and
imperfections.
• Only one reason to be frightened
Fr. Peschke also stressed that striving after
holiness is a kind of dialectic between
IDEALS and REALITY.
Ideals can only be realized in each
individual context or situation i.e.
each one becomes perfect
according to his/her own situation
or profession
In the same manner, our spirituality should
be in harmony with our profession and
situation in life.
 Therefore, “being a La Sallian and
health worker, it is necessary for us
to understand and conform to the
spirituality and ways to holiness
that are appropriate to us.”

What is La Sallian
Spirituality?
1.The spirit of COMMUNITY – a strong
sense of solidarity
2.The spirit of FAITH – a strong sense of
seeing Christ in everything and everyone
as expressed in the prayer, “Jesus may
live in our hearts forever!”
3.The spirit of ZEAL – a strong sense of
dedication to our work and a strong
sense of compassion to those confided
to our care and that it may lead us to
“touch the hearts” of those with whom we
work with and lead them to God.
La Sallian Spirituality (excerpts from the work of Bro. Gerard
4. A practical spirituality…
from the words of St. John Baptist de La Salle:
“make no distinction
between the duties of your
profession and those that refer
to your salvation and
perfection. Be convinced that
you will never achieve your
salvation more surely nor
acquire perfection that by
fulfilling well the duties of your
profession, provided you do so
La Sallian Spirituality (excerpts from the work of Bro. Gerard
Some sustaining metaphors of La Sallian
Spirituality:
a. you are called by God to your work
b. you are co-workers with God
c. you work for the poor
d. through the movement of the Holy
Spirit
“I adore the Holy
will of God
in my regard.”
La Sallian Spirituality (excerpts from the work of Bro. Gerard
CRITERIA FOR A
HEALTHY
SPIRITUALITY
Mystagogical and not Moralizing
• a spirituality is mystagogical if
it leads into the mystery of
God and the mystery if
human
person
• concerned with experiencing
the life which God has given
us
• it should not be faultfinding
and condemning
• naturally, no spirituality can
exist without morality but
2. Liberating and not Excessively
Demanding
• spirituality leads people to freedo
as
children of God
• it leads us to the exercise of
freedom and a
deeper love and understanding of
oneself
• it promotes the exercise of
freedom with
responsibility
• in the course of the exercise of
3. Unifying and not Divisive
• a healthy spirituality
unites us with all people
• it unites us with the weak
and strong, with the sick
and healthy, with the rich
and the poor, with the
ordinary and exceptional
• a healthy spiritual life
calls for a healthy human
4. Oriented to the world
and not withdrawn from it
• a true spirituality
faces the demands of
everyday ordinary life
and work
• a spiritual person can
perform his work
well with energy,
creativity and
enthusiasm
• spirituality must have
a healing and
5. Seeking God and not Feelings

• a real spirituality fosters

our attachment to God
and not just to a warm
inspiring feelings
• it leads us to love
• this love leads us to a
different attitude with
regards to others and also
to a new relationship with
6. Comprehensive and not
one-sided• in a healthy spirituality the
entire person must be
addressed, be grasped and
changed by God’s
transforming power
• true spirituality touches
the human intellect, will and
feelings, the conscious
and unconscious, the
masculine and the
7. Humble and not
Proud
• humility is the no.
genuine spirituality
1 criteria of

• Gal. 5,22 “the fruits of the spirit is

love, joy peace, kindness….self-
control.”
• wherever those fruits exist, there
the Spirit of God is at work
• but whenever narrowness and fear,
hardness and judgment are found,
the spirit of God is not at work but our
own spiritMerry Christmas!!!