Spirituality and Spiritualities

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION  CHAPTER I - NATURE OF SPIRITUALITY What is Spirituality Pluralism in Spirituality Authentic Spirituality CHAPTER II - DIFFERENTIAL CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY Spirituality According to Stages of Life Children's Spirituality Youth Spirituality Old Age Spirituality Spirituality According to States of Life Lay Spirituality Marital Spirituality Spirituality of Diocesan Priests Spirituality of the Religious Spirituality of the Secular Institutes Spirituality According to Religious Orders Augustinian Spirituality Benedictine Spirituality Franciscan Spirituality Dominican Spirituality Carmelite Spirituality Jesuit Spirituality CHAPTER III- FOR A CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY Spirituality of Change Postmodern Spirituality Towards a Spirituality for the Third Millennium CONCLUSION ABOUT THE BOOK-SPIRITUALITY AND SPIRITUALITIES Commencing with a discussion of the nature of spiritu-ality, the author explains why pluralism has to arise in spiritualities. He then elaborates what characteristics an authentic Christian spirituality would have, for instance, being faithful to the Gospel, catholic in its sweep, inculturated, related to nature, socially responsible, open and critical. Next the author discusses differential Christian spi-ritualities. First spiritualities according to the different stages of life are treated: those of children, youth, the elderly - each stage has its own needs and aptitudes, and the spiritualities have to be tailored to them. Following this, the spiritualities of different states of life are dealt with: those for the lay people, the married couples, the diocesan priests, the religious, and for those belonging to the secular institutes. According to each group's specific situation in life, the spiritualities have to vary to satisfy their special demands, and in consonance with each one's charism. Now a quick look at the spiritualities of various religious orders is given: of the Augustinians, Benedic- tines, Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, Jesuits. In the final section, the demands of a contemporary spirituality are explored. Today's life is characterised by multiform change, and the spirituality has to bear its stamp. Post-modern spirituality has to take into account the evolution of the 'global village', the information technology explosion, the emergence of sovereign Third World countries, and the awareness of the plurality of religions.