The Living Water: Theology of Prayer

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course introduces students to the study of theology through a focus on what traditionally has been called "spiritual theology." What is the goal of the spiritual life? What practices, relationships, and stages does the spiritual journey involve? How is it reasonable to think that one can live a human life with a divine "format," even now, by living in union with God who is love? Why does that form of living satisfy the deepest thirst of the heart, and what does it have to do with changing the world? We will study the scriptural and sacramental basis of spiritual theology, and we will focus on certain historical developments in spiritual theology that are especially relevant in the modern world, such as the theologies of St. Teresa of Avila and St. Ignatius of Loyola. The title of the course echoes a scriptural image that St. Teresa of Avila used as she developed her theology of prayer: "Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water" (Jn 7:38).