Friendship in Consecrated Life

Dr. Felix Podimattam is one of the best-known moral theologians in India & outside. Besides his full time job as a professor, he finds time to write books at an amazing rate. He has authored 136 books. Besides his Masters degree in Political Science from Mysore, he holds a Licentiate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, & subsequently a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy, Rome. His post-doctoral studies were pursued in Washington, DC, USA. He is the winner of Limca Book of Records 2014 Award for Literature. At present he is professor of Moral Theology at St. Francis Theological College, Kottayam, Kerala, India. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE NATURE OF CONSECRATED HETEROSEXUAL FRIENDSHIP 1. Explanation of Teilhard de Chardin 2. Romantic Love is Sexual Love 3. Romantic Love is "Falling in Love" 4. Romantic Love is Vulnerable 5. Romantic Love is Divine 6. Description of a Romantic Lover CHAPTER TWO PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS OF CONSECRATED HETEROSEXUAL FRIENDSHIP 1. The Evolution of Conscious Self and Love 2. Mutual Fulfilment of Woman and Man 3. The Need to Love and to be Loved 4. The Celibate's Need for Human Love 5. Sexualitv and Celibates 6. Is Love for God Sufficient? 7. Meaning of the Law of Universal Charity CHAPTER THREE THEOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CONSECRATED HETEROSEXUAL FRIENDSHIP. 1. Celibacv: A Transcendent Love Celebration 2. Insufficiencv of Homosocial Friendship 3. Theologians on Consecrated Friendship. 4. Church Authorities on Consecrated Friendship 5. Sacramentality of Heterosexualitv CHAPTER FOUR 1. Heterosexual Friendship and Christ 2. Heterosexual Friendship and the Saints 2.1. leterosexual Friendship and Saint Paul 2.2. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint |erome 2.3. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint Augustine 2.4. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint John Chrysostom 2.5. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint Francis of Assisi 2.6. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint Dominic 2.7. Heterosexual Friendship and Blessedjordan of Saxony 2.8. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint Catherine of Sienna 2.9. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint Bernard ot Clairvaux 2.10. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint Teresa of Avila 2.11. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint John of theCross 2.12. Heterosexual Friendship and Saint Francis de Sales 2.14. Heterosexual Friendship and Blessed John Paul II 3. Heterosexual Friendship and Other Holy Persons 4. Personal Testimonies CHAPTER FIVE MORAL ASPECTS OF CONSECRATED HETEROSEXUAL FRIENDSHIP 1. The Problem of Risks 2. The Problem of Particular Friendship 3. The Problem of Scandal 4. The Question of Asceticism 5. The Problem of Sexual Temptation 6. The Question of Censorship of Correspondence CHAPTER SIX SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF CONSECRATED HETEROSEXUAL FRIENDSHIP 2. Sacramental Value 3. Remedy against Selfishness 4. Powerful Aid to Prayer 5. Incentive to Fraternal Charity 6. Aid to Celibate Living 7. Spur to Apostolate 8. Ascetical Dimensions CHAPTER SEVEN PASTORAL ASPECTS OF CONSECRATED HETEROSEXUAL FRIENDSHIP 1. Awareness of Risks 2. Knowledge of the Difference between Good and Bad Friendship 3 Deep Prayer Life a Sufficient Psychosexual Maturity 5 Self-Discipline Prudence and a Sense of Realism Non-Exclusiveness 8' Guidance by a Third Party CHAPTER EIGHT LOVE-EXPRESSIONS BETWEEN CONSECRATED HETEROSEXUAL FRIEND 1. Traditional Opinion 2. Modern Opinion 3. Personal Opinion 4. Answer to Objections against Personal Opinion 4.1. True Asceticism Does not Consist in Hatred of theBody 4.2. True Asceticism Does not Consist in Total Selflessness 4.3. True Asceticism Does not Consist in Extreme Ascetical Practices 4.4. True Asceticism Does not Consist in Total Denial 4.5. True Asceticism Does not Consist in the Renunciation of All Pleasure 4.5.1. Some Thoughts on Pleasure and the AsceticalLife 4.5.2. Nature of Pleasure 4.5.3. Value of Pleasure 4.5.3.1. God of Joy, Pleasure, and Play 4.5.3.2. Pleasure, the Perfection of Action 4.5.3.3. Pleasure, the Servant of Virtue 4.5.3.4. The Divine Dimension of Pleasure 4.5.4. Value of Sexual Pleasure 4.5.4.1. Sexual Pleasure is Highly Valuable 4.5.4.2. Sexual Pleasure and Original Sin 4.5.5. Virtue of Sensibility 4.5.6. Asceticism in the Life of Jesus 4.5.7. A Proper Understanding of the Theology of theCross 5. Pastoral Reflections