SALESIAN LITERATURE

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

ABBREVIATIONS

INDICATIONS

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

0.1. PROLOGUE

0.1.1. Greek Terminology

0.1. 2. Love in the Old Testament.

0. 1. 2.1. Vocabulary of Love

0.1. 2. 2. Human Love

0.1. 2. 3. Divine Love

0.1. 2. 4. Human's Love of God

0. 1. 3. Love in the New Testament

0.1. 3.1. Love in the Synoptic Gospels

0. 1. 3. 2. Love in Paul

0.1. 3. 2.1. Divine Love as Manifested to Human

0.1. 3. 2. Human's Response to God's Love

0.1. 3. 2. 3. Human's Love for Neighbour

0.1. 3. 3. Love in Acts

0.1. 3. 4. Love in Deutro-Pauline Letters

0. 1. 3. 5. Love in Pastoral Letters

0.1. 3. 6. Love in Catholic Letters and Revelation

0.1. 3. 7. Love in John

0. 1. 3. 7.1. Love in the Letters of John

0. 1. 3. 7. 2. Love in the Gospel of John

0. 2. Meaning of Spirituality

0. 2.1. Terminology

0. 2. 2. Spirit in the Bible

0. 2. 2.1. Spirit in the Old Testament

0. 2. 2. 2. Spirit in the New Testament

0. 2. 3. Levels of Spirituality

0. 2. 4. Characteristics of Christian Spirituality

0. 2. 4. 1. Trinitarian

0. 2. 4. 2. Christie

0. 2. 4. 3. Ecclesial

0. 2. 4. 4. Liturgical / Sacramental

0. 2. 4. 5. Scriptural

0. 2. 4. 6. Praxical / Practical

0. 2. 4. 7. Marian

0. 2. 5. Spirituality of Francis de Sales

0. 2. 5.1. Life of Francis

0. 2. 5. 2. Spirituality of Love

0. 2. 5. 3. Transcendent Love in the Spirituality of St Francis de Sales

0. 3. Aim, Originality and Scope of the Thesis

0. 4. Methodology of the Thesis

CHAPTER ONE: TRANSCENDENT LOVE

1.1. Nature of Love

1 .1 .1 . Love as the Life of the Soul

1.1.2. Love as a Guest

1.1.3. Love as Triumphant

1.1.4. Love as a Commandment

1.1.5. Love Seeks Spiritual Union

1.1.6. Human Love can Equal / Exceed the Love of Saints in Heaven.

1.1.7. Love Makes Lovers Equal

1.1.8. Love Demands Knowledge

1.1.9. Love Melts the Soul

1.1.10. Love Wounds the Heart

1.1.11. Love Unites

1.1.12. Love Begets Zeal

1.1.13. Love of God Includes and Surpasses all Other Virtues.

1.2. Types and Levels Love.

1.2.1. Types of Love

1.2.1.1 . Intellectual Love

1.2.1.2. Love of the Supreme Goodness of God

1.2.1.3. Imperfect Love

1.2.1.4. Perfect Love

1.2.2. Levels of Love

1.2.2.1. Gratifying Love

1.2.2.2. Benevolent Love

1.2.2.3. Compliant Love

1.2.2.4. Submissive Love

1.2.2.5. Disinterested Love

1.2.2.5.1. Disinterested Love as Transcendent Love

1,2.2.5.2. Transcendent Disinterested Love as Ascending and Descending Love (Inclusive Transcendence): An Interpretation.. Jacob's Ladder

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER TWO: GOD AS TRANSCENDENT LOVE

2.1. Knowledge of God.

2.1.1. Transcendental Knowledge of God in Contemporary Theology

2.1.1.1. Paul Tillich

2.1.1. 2. Karl Rahner

2.1.1. 3. John Macquarrie

2.2. Francis' Knowledge of God: Optimistic Knowledge of God

2.1.3. Knowledge of God through Faith

2.1.4. Knowledge of God through Hope

2.1.5. Knowledge of God through love

2.2. Attributes of God

2.2.1. God is Infinite

2.2.2. God is eternal

2.2.3. God is Simple

2.2.4. God is Simple Perfection

2.2.5. God is Creator

2.2.6. God is Providence

2.2.7. God is Self-communicative Grace

2.2.8. God is Jealous

2.2.9. God is the God of Human Heart

2.2.10. God as Impartial

2.3. Nature of God: God as Triune

2.3.1. Triune God Possesses Glory

2.3.2. Triune God as an Incomprehensible Mystery

2.3.2.1. God as the Father

2.3.2.2. God as the Son

2 3.2 2 1. The Son Proceeds from the Father

2 3.2 2 2 The Son is One with the Father

2.3 2 3. God as the Holy Spirit

2 3 2 3.1 The Holy Spirit is the Comforter

2 3.2 3.2 The Holy Spirit is the Source of Peace.

2 3 2 3 3 The Holy Spirit is Giver of the Seven Gift

2.3.3. Prayers as Directed to the Triune God

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER THREE: JESUS CHRIST AS THE REVELATION OF GOD'S TRANSCENDENT LOVE

3.1. Ontological Nature of Jesus Christ

3.1.1. Jesus as the Word of God

3.1.2. Jesus as True God

3.1.3. Jesus as Perfect God and Perfect Human

3.1.4. Jesus as the First Fruit of All Creation

3.1.5. Jesus as the Nazarene.

3.1.6 Jesus as Born of a W om an

3.1.7. Jesus as Born of Immaculate Conception

3.1.8. Jesus' Hypostatic Union Enables us to Contemplate God

3.1.9. Jesus' Humanity Perceives and can be Perceived

3.1.10. Jesus the Crucified

3.1.11. Jesus Died of Love

3.1.12. Jesus' Experience of Suffering and Bliss

3.1.13. Heart of Christ as the Throne of God's Love

3.1.14. Jesus' Heart Melted on the Day of Passion

3.1.15. Jesus as Risen from the Dead

3.1.16. Jesus is Hidden away with God in Heaven

3.1.17. Love as the Principle of Paschal Mystery

3.2. Operational Nature of Jesus Christ

3.2.1. Jesus as Saviour

3.2.2. Creation for the Saviour

3.2.3. Jesus as the King

3.2.4. Jesus as Prince of Peace

3.2.5. Jesus as Our High Priest

3.2.6. Jesus as Bridegroom

3.2.6. Jesus Brought More Grace to Human Race

3.2.7. Jesus' Redemption as Better than Original Innocence

3.2.8. Jesus' Redemption Offers Salvation to each Individual

3.2.9. Jesus' Redemption Enables us to Grow in Charity

3.2.10. Jesus Helps a Dying Person to Attain Eternal Bliss

3.2.11. Jesus' Human Actions are Infinite in Value

3.2.12. Jesus Shows his Love to a Devout Soul

3.2.13. The Counsels of Jesus Lead us to Salvation

3.2.14. Jesus Submits himself to his Father's Will

3.2.15. Motivating Power of Jesus' Love on Paul

3.2.16. Jesus' Passion and Death as Revelation of Perfect Love

3.2.17. Jesus' Love as Personal and Tender

3.2.18. Jesus Looks at a Person Lovingly

3.2.19. Jesus Sacrifices himself at Holy Communion

3.2.20. Jesus' Suffering as Incomparable

3.2.21. Jesus Deserves to be Loved Everywhere and Always

3.2.22. Characteristics of Jesus' Love

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER FOUR: THE CHURCH AS REVELATION OF JESUS' TRANSCENDENT LOVE

4.1. Reformers on the Church

4.1.1. Luther

4.1.2. Huldrych Zwingli

4.1.3. Calvin

4.2. Francis' Views on the Church

4.2.1. Church as One

4.2.1.1. Church as One Body United under One Visible Head

4.2.1.2. Church as One Body United in Doctrine and Belief

4.2.2. Church as Holy

4.2.3. Church as Catholic

4.2.4. Church as Apostolic

4.2.4.1. Apostolic Church as Infallible Guide ma Teacher

4.2.4.2. Apostolic Church as Hierarchical

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER FIVE: THE SACRAMENT AS REVELATION OF JESUS' TRANSCENDENT LOVE.

5.1. Background Influence

5.1.1. Reformers

5.1.11. Luther

5.1.1. 2. Sacraments in John Calvin

5 1. 2. The General Council of Trent

5 2 Teaching of Francis

5 2 1. Form of the Sacramento

5.2 2. Intention for the Sacraments

5 2 3. The Seven Sacraments

5 2 3 1 Baptism

5 2 3 2 Confirmation

5.2.3.3. Penance and Reconciliation

5.2.3.4. Holy Eucharist

5.2.3.5. Anointing of the Sick

5.2.3.6. The Holy Orders

5.2 .3.7. Marriage

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER SIX: SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION AS REVELATION OF GOD'S TRANSCENDENT LOVE

6.1. Reformers

6.1.1. Luther

6.1.2. Huldrych Zwingli

6.1.3. John Calvin

6.2. Francis on Scripture and Tradition

6.2.1. Scripture

6.2.1.1. Scripture as the Word of God

6.2.1.2. Integrity of the Scripture

6.2.1.3. Truth and Canonicity of the Scriptures

6.2.1.4. Francis on Reformers' Violation of the Integrity of the Scriptures

6.2.1.5. Scripture has to be Accurately Translated and Correctly Interpreted

6.2.1.6. Danger of Corrupting the Integrity of the Scripture through Translations

6.2.2. Tradition

6.3. Francis and Certain Relevant Themes of the Bible

6.3.1. Suffering

6.3.2. Cry of the Poor

6.3.3. Surrender to God

6.3.4. Friendship

6.3.5. Divine-Human Love in the Song of Songs

6.4. Methods of Interpreting the Holy Scripture

6.4.1. Literal Sense

6.4.2. Allegorical Sense

6.4.3. Anagogical Sense

6.4.4. Tropological sense

6.6 Francis' Mode of Interpretation of Scriptures

6.6.1. Francis Interprets the Old Testament for Understanding the New Testament

6.6.2. Francis Uses Scriptural Formulas

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER SEVEN: PRACTICE OF TRANSCENDENT LOVE

7.1- Practice of Love in Prayer

7.1.1. Meditation and Contemplation

7.1.2. Different Degrees of Union in Prayer

7.1.3. Requirements of Growth in Prayer

7.2. Practice of Love in Fasting

7.3. Practice of Love in Virtues

7.3.1. Theological Virtues

7.3.2. Evangelical Virtues (Counsels

7.3.2.1. Chastity

7.3.2.2. Poverty

7.3.2.3. Obedience

7.3.3. Moral Virtues.

7.3.3.1. Patience

7.3.3.2. Gentleness.

7.3.3.3. Humility

7.3.3.4. Simplicity

7.3.4. Salesian Virtues

7.3.4.1. Optimism

7.3.4.1.1. Love as the Foundation of Optimism

7.3.4.1.2. Optimism in Responding to Vocation

7.3.4.1.3. Optimism in Crisis

7.3.4.1.4. Optimism in Evangelization

7.3.4.1.5. Optimism in the Power of Mass Media

7.3.4.1.6. Optimism in the Development of Science

7.3.4.1.7. Optimism in the Project of an Open Monastery

7.3.4.1.8. Optimism in the Holiness of All

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER EIGHT: MARY AS MODEL OF TRANSCENDENT LOVE

8 1 Life of Mary

8 2 Purity and Virginity of Mary Surpasses that of the Angels

8 3. Mary as a Beautiful Flower

8 4 Mary as Astonishment of the Heavenly Hosts

8 5 Mary as the Blessed Mother of God

8.6. Mary as Divine Spouse and Lover Par-excellence

8.7. Mary as more Humble than Others

8 .8 . Mary as the Lesser Light

8.9. Simeon Prophesied of Mary's Suffering

8.10. Mary as Model of Religious Life

8.11. On Mary's Death

8.12. Mary as an Excellent Creature Redeemed by God

8.13. Martha and Mary Represent Blessed Virgin Mary

8.14. Mary as an Embodiment of Admirable Unions

8.15. Mary as Full of Grace

8.16. Mary as Queen

8.17. Mary as Intercessor

CONCLUSION

GENERAL CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX