Ascetics

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Ascetics (from ancient Greek ἄσκησις áskēsis "exercise, renunciation") describes the theoretical, also scientific research into asceticism . In the religious, especially in the Christian and there especially in the Catholic area, it is understood as a discipline of theology . It was therefore created in the 17th century under the name theologia ascetica - probably as a word formation analogous to theologia mystica ( mystical theology ). One also speaks of ascetic theology . Today, because it is more comprehensive, it is referred to as spiritual theology or theology of spirituality or has merged into it.

The subject of Christian ascetics is asceticism as a way of coming to terms with existence according to the standards of the Gospel through an intensive and methodical striving for perfection . Working with examples from the Bible and the history of the Church's faith, above all with the self-testimonies of the saints , the possibilities and conflicts of Christian everyday practice, virtues and vices , temptations and advice are ascertained. The focus is particularly on the mystical tradition. The aim is to make progress in following Jesus despite all difficulties and to master internal and external obstacles.

In the Roman Catholic field, ascetics presupposes a clear knowledge of church dogmas and the principles of morality, both for one's own path and for the guidance of others.

In 1919 a chair for "Mystical-Ascetic Theology" was established at the Gregoriana . In 1931 the ordination to the Apostolic Constitution Deus scientiarum Dominus provided for the auxiliary discipline Ascetica .

After the Second Vatican Council , ascetics is no longer listed as a separate subject in the church study regulations, but is integrated into spiritual theology .

Other religions have also developed comparable teaching traditions.

literature

  • Franz Ratte: Small practical ascetics for clerics, Luxembourg 1873
  • Franz Xaver Mutz: Christian ascetics with special consideration of priestly life, Paderborn 1907; 1909; 1913; 1918; 1920; 1923
  • Franz Xaver Eggersdorfer : The ascetics of St. Franz von Sales in its theoretical foundations, Munich 1909
  • Karl Keusch: The Ascetics of St. Alfons Maria von Liguori in the light of the doctrine of the spiritual life in old and new times, Paderborn and Freiburg / Switzerland 1924; 1926
  • Peter Vogt: (Christian) ascetics of the retreat of St. Ignatius detailed in sayings of the holy church fathers, Regensburg 1925
  • Alois Kahr: On the way to the sanctuary. A small ascetics for seminarians, Graz et al. 1928
  • Otto Zimmermann: Textbook of Ascetics, Freiburg im Breisgau 1929; 1932
  • Carl Heggeney: Plan of the Aszetik, Freiburg im Breisgau 1933
  • Friedrich Jürgensmeier: The mystical body of Christ as a basic principle of ascetics. Structure of religious life and striving from the Corpus Christi mysticum, Paderborn 1933; 1934; 1935; 1936; 1938
  • Adolphe Tanquerey : Outline of Ascetic and Mystical Theology. Desclée; Paris, Tournau, Rome 1935. (Orig. French : Précis de théologie ascétique et mystique. ) 6th edition 1928. (also online (French) ).
  • Petrus Maria Appel: Small Ascetics. Questions of inner life for laypeople striving for perfection, Leutesdorf am Rhein et al. 1949
  • Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange : The Christian's way to God. Ascetics and mysticism according to the three stages of spiritual life, Munich 1953
  • Richard Egenter : On the relationship between moral theology and ascetics, Munich 1957
  • Ignaz Weilner: From person to person. On the ascetics of the encounter in give and take, Würzburg 1960
  • Henri Sanson: Living with God in the World. An ascetics of active life, Freiburg [et al.] 1961

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Weismayer: Aszetik. I. History & Self-image . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 1 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1993, Sp. 1120 .