“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.” The Basic Elements of Theology and Practise of Spiritual Direction Cover Image

„Duch Páně je nade mnou.“ Základní prvky teologie a praxe duchovního vedení
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.” The Basic Elements of Theology and Practise of Spiritual Direction

Author(s): Vojtěch Kohut
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Nakladatelství Karolinum
Keywords: Spiritual Theology; Psychology; Trinity; Spiritual Direction; Interaction; Transference and Countertransference; Spiritual Itinerary

Summary/Abstract: The article introduces spiritual direction in relation to the mystery of the Trinity. Based on the existing terminology (direction, fatherhood and support), it distinguishes three basic dimensions of spiritual direction, defined according to their relation to the three divine Persons. It concerns the charisma of direction, discernment and fatherhood, which enables the Holy Spirit to work via spiritual director on the guided in order to become the follower of Jesus Christ in a more radical way, to resemble Christ and to be united with him. The relation with the persons of God determines also the requirements to the guided person (modesty, trust and good judgement) and to the director (knowledge, experience and prudence). This theological concept is complemented with anthropological observations: the author offers his own model for spiritual direction (with the personal and temporal structure of human being, the instances of censor and mirror and the dynamics of thoughts and Word), suggests the interaction between the guide and the guided and criticises the itineraries of spiritual development.

  • Issue Year: V/2015
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 179-197
  • Page Count: 19