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Spirituality and Virtue in Christian Formation: A Conversation between Thomistic and Ignatian Traditions
Author(s) -
Austin SJ Dr Nicholas
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
new blackfriars
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-2005
pISSN - 0028-4289
DOI - 10.1111/nbfr.12191
Subject(s) - virtue , discernment , spirituality , conversation , philosophy , narrative , experiential learning , relation (database) , epistemology , theology , sociology , pedagogy , linguistics , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , database , computer science
This paper reflects on Christian formation, the growth of the disciple into the image of Christ, from two traditions, the Thomistic and Ignatian. The Thomistic tradition offers a rich theological theory of virtue, but seems to require a more convincing narrative of how ‘infused’ virtue develops in the Christian life. The Ignatian tradition offers a more experiential spirituality, but today needs to explain how spiritual experience can be lived out. It is argued that the two traditions can be seen as mutually complementary, and that, by understanding the relation of virtue to the practice of spiritual discernment, a fuller account of Christian formation is possible.