Asceticism & Mysticism
Ascetica E Mistica · 60 articles · Principal contributors · All subjectsOther
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Ancrene Riwle (« Rule of the Anchorites ») (ANCRENE RIWLE (« REGOLA DELLE ANACORETE »))
ANCRENE RIWLE (« Rule of the Anchorites »). - Ascetic treatise by an unknown author, dedicated to recluses and hermits, composed before… -
Apparition (APPARIZIONE)
APPARITION. - A supernatural and sensory manifestation by which a spiritual or corporeal object makes itself present to the external or… -
Ascetical Theology (ASCETICA, TEOLOGIA)
ASCETICS, THEOLOGY. - Systematic doctrine concerning ascesis (v.). The formula "t. a." seems to go back only to the 17th century (in the… -
Asceticism (ASCESI)
ASCETICISM. - A methodical effort to repress the lower tendencies of nature in order to progressively realize spiritual perfection.… -
Benigno, Visdomini (BENIGNO VISDOMINI)
BENIGNO, VISDOMINI. - Abbot general of the Vallombrosans, born at Montevarchi in Tuscany to a noble family related to St. John Gualbert,… -
Carpenter, Alexander
CARPENTER, ALEXANDER. - English writer, author of a Destructorium vitiorum, begun in 1429, in which the life of the clergy is severely… -
Christian Perfection (PERFEZIONE CRISTIANA)
CHRISTIAN PERFECTION. - In its ideal content it entails the complete realization of the Christian life as opposed to its beginnings, that… -
Contemplation (CONTEMPLAZIONE)
CONTEMPLATION. - Etymologically it is the action of "gazing at length with great admiration and reflection." It can be either natural or… -
Contemplative Life (CONTEMPLATIVA, VITA)
CONTEMPLATIVE, LIFE. - A manner of life ordered to contemplation (v.), through the exclusion of external activities and concerns, not only… -
Corona
CORONA. - This is the name of a particular form of prayer, in which the Our Father and the Hail Mary are recited, repeated over, with the… -
Counsel, Gift of (CONSIGLIO, DONO DEL)
COUNSEL, GIFT OF. - One of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is classified among the intellectual gifts, since it enlightens the… -
Devotio Moderna
DEVOTIO MODERNA. - A movement of religious renewal which, having arisen in the Netherlands in the second half of the 14th century,… -
Devotion (DEVOZIONE)
DEVOTION. - I. GENERAL NOTIONS. - The word d. is not always rightly understood. This term is often confused with d. in the plural. The… -
Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother (ADDOLORATA, DEVOZIONE ALLA)
DEVOTION TO THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. - A devotion that commemorates the sorrows of the Virgin Mary during the various events of her earthly… -
Discernment of Spirits (DISCERNIMENTO DEGLI SPIRITI)
DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS. - Supernatural wisdom (discretio spirituum), recommended by Sacred Scripture (I Thess. 5:19-21), which allows one… -
Divine Presence (PRESENZA DI DIO)
DIVINE PRESENCE. - Respectful attentiveness to the presence of God, or "elevation of the soul," constitutes the fundamental act… -
Docta Ignorantia
DOCTA IGNORANTIA. - An expression deriving from letter 130 of St. Augustine to Proba, concerning the "quid oremus sicut oportet nescimus"… -
Ecstasy (ESTASI)
ECSTASY. - A psychological state of man "outside himself" (ἔκστασις, from ἐξίστημι). The term can apply either in a good sense or in a bad… -
Evangelical Counsels (CONSIGLI EVANGELICI)
EVANGELICAL COUNSELS. - Invitations, contained in the Gospel, to stable forms of virtue in the renunciation of natural goods that hinder… -
Flowers Of Virtue (FIORI DI VIRTÙ)
FLOWERS OF VIRTUE. - A classic work of civil and moral education, founded on the authority of the greatest theologians and philosophers;… -
Fruits Of The Holy Spirit (FRUTTI DELLO SPIRITO SANTO)
FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. - Supernatural works that St. Paul, Gal. 5:22-23, sets against the works of the flesh enumerated in vv. 19-21.… -
Hesychasm (ESICASMO)
HESYCHASM. - A system characteristic of Eastern asceticism, which from the mid-14th century increasingly became synonymous with Palamism,… -
Holy Hour (ORA SANTA)
HOLY HOUR. - A pious practice of reparation (v.) to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, originating from the revelations of Paray-le-Monial, when… -
Hortulus Animae
HORTULUS ANIMAE. - A group of prayer books widely circulated in the 1500s, especially in the Germanic countries (Seelengärtlein,… -
Imitation of Christ (De Imitatione Christi) (IMITAZIONE DI CRISTO (DE IMITATIONE CHRISTI))
IMITATION OF CHRIST (De Imitatione Christi). - A medieval ascetical work, one of the most sublime and most widely diffused in the world. It… -
Infant Jesus, Cult of the (BAMBINO GESÙ, CULTO DEL)
INFANT JESUS, Cult of the. - The cult of the B. G. [Child Jesus], not entirely unknown in the early Middle Ages, originated in the 12th and… -
Jurodivyj
JURODIVYJ. — A title given in Russia to ascetics who by their conduct seek the contempt of men and inner freedom in the divine service. Of… -
La Rochefoucauld, François de
LA ROCHEFOUCAULD, FRANÇOIS de. - Cardinal, b. in Paris on 8 Dec. 1558, d. on 14 Feb. 1645. Educated by his paternal uncle Jean, abbot of… -
Lega, Maria Teresa
LEGA, MARIA TERESA. - Born at Brisighella (Faenza) on 13 January 1812, died at Cesena on 27 January 1890. At the age of 21 she took the… -
Matilda, Queen, Saint (MATILDE, REGINA, SANTA)
MATILDA, Queen, Saint. - Born at Engern toward the end of the 9th century, died at Quedlinburg on 14 March 968. Of Vitichind origin,… -
Meditation (MEDITAZIONE)
MEDITATION. - A form of mental prayer (v.) in which the soul, through the attentive consideration of the truths of faith, moves the will to… -
Memorare, O Most Pious Virgin Mary (MEMORARE, O PIISSIMA VIRGO MARIA)
"MEMORARE, O PISSIMA VIRGO MARIA." - A prayer to the Most Holy Virgin, an expression of filial confidence in her, who never closes her ear… -
Montanari, Giacomo
MONTANARI, GIACOMO. - Minister General of the Conventual Friars Minor, b. at Bagnacavallo (Romagna) in 1570, d. at Venice on 4 Nov. 1631.… -
Morozzo, Carlo Giuseppe
MOROZZO, CARLO GIUSEPPE. - Bishop of Saluzzo, b. at Mondovì in 1645, d. at Saluzzo on 14 March 1729. Having entered the Reformed… -
Mysticism (MISTICA)
MYSTICISM. - A name that today generally designates either the state of mind of one who immerses himself in spiritual reality through… -
Negligence (NEGLIGENZA)
NEGLIGENCE. - It is generally opposed to diligence (v.), and is a carelessness of the will in one's own duty and in one's own actions. It… -
Philokalia (Φιλοκαλία) (FILOCALIA (ΦΙΛΟΚΑΛΊΑ))
PHILOKALIA (Φιλοκαλία). - 1. Name designating a collection of fragments, largely scriptural, of Origen, gathered by St. Basil and by St.… -
Piazza, Giuseppe
PIAZZA, GIUSEPPE. - Priest, among the finest of nineteenth-century Rome, b. at Velletri on 18 March 1815, d. at Rome on 23 April 1893.… -
Prayer (Ascetic) (ORAZIONE (ASCETICA))
PRAYER (ASCETIC). - I. DEFINITION. - An intimate converse of the soul with God and the saints, or a pious elevation of the mind to God (St.… -
Quietism (QUIETISMO)
QUIETISM. - A mystical-religious conception that tends toward the attainment of union, indeed of identification, with God, through an… -
Recrosio, Raimondo (Filippo)
RECROSIO, RAIMONDO (FILIPPO). - Barnabite, bishop, b. at Vercelli on 1 Oct. 1657, d. at Bolena (Nice) on 21 May 1732. He taught philosophy… -
Religious Experience (ESPERIENZA RELIGIOSA)
RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. - It is a certain "contact" that the human conscience can have with God, and, in a derived sense, it is the awareness… -
Revue of Asceticism and of Mysticism (REVUE D'ASCÉTIQUE ET DE MYSTIQUE)
REVUE OF ASCETICISM AND OF MYSTICISM. - A bimonthly journal, founded in Toulouse in 1920 by Fr. J. de Guibert, with the aim of studying… -
Ridolfi, Niccolò
RIDOLFI, NICCOLÒ. - Cardinal, b. in Florence on 16 July 1501, to Piero and to Contessina de' Medici, daughter of Lorenzo the Magnificent;… -
Rode, Johannes
RODE, JOHANNES. - Monastic reformer, b. at Trier ca. 1385, d. of plague at Montabaur on 1 Dec. 1439. He studied at Heidelberg from 1404; in… -
Rosary (ROSARIO)
ROSARY. - It is the Marian prayer composed of 15 decades of Hail Marys interspersed with the Our Father and the Glory Be. To vocal prayer… -
Scanaroli, Giovanni Battista
SCANAROLI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. - A distinguished churchman renowned for works of charity, b. at Modena in 1579, d. at Rome on 10 Sept. 1664.… -
Spiritual Combat (COMBATTIMENTO SPIRITUALE)
SPIRITUAL COMBAT. - Ascetical repression of temptations and vicious inclinations, attainment of the moral ideal. The struggle for life and… -
Spiritual Direction (DIREZIONE SPIRITUALE)
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION. - Assistance habitually given to a single soul, for the most part in connection with sacramental Confession, in order… -
Spiritual Exercises (ESERCIZI SPIRITUALI)
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES. - An expression that in a general sense applies to the whole set of spiritual practices tending toward personal… -
Spiritual Reading (LETTURA SPIRITUALE)
SPIRITUAL READING. - By spiritual reading is meant the reading of those writings that are conducive to the progress of the spiritual life,… -
Stigmata (STIMMATE (STIGMATE))
STIGMATA. - From the Greek στίγμα, meaning "brand, mark"; in Christian hagiography and mysticism, they are the marks of the wounds of Jesus… -
Temptation (TENTAZIONE)
TEMPTATION. - It generally means a test, by words or deeds, to discover the virtues or defects of a thing or a person. Considered in… -
Theocrasia (TEOCRASIA)
THEOCRASIA. - From the Greek θεός, god, and κρᾶσις, fusion, in its first meaning the term (used by Iamblichus, Vita Pythagorae, 33, 240,… -
Therapeutae (ΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΤΑΊ) (TERAPEUTI (ΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΤΑΊ))
THERAPEUTAE (ΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΤΑΊ). - A Jewish sect of the 1st century A.D. Its existence and its life are known only through a book by Philo (De… -
Via Matris
VIA MATRIS. - A devotional practice to Our Lady of Sorrows which, like the Way of the Cross, meditates on the sorrows that the Madonna… -
Vision (Mystical Intellectual Phenomenon) (VISIONE (FENOMENO MISTICO INTELLETTUALE))
VISION (Mystical Intellectual Phenomenon). - The term, which physiologically means the act of seeing, in the history of religions… -
Xerophagia (Ξηροφαγία) (XEROFAGIA (ΞΗΡΟΦΑΓΊΑ))
XEROPHAGIA (Ξηροφαγία). - A diet consisting solely of dry food (ξηρός) and water alone. It is a variety of fasting, according to St.… -
Zeitschrift für Aszese und Mystik (Geist und Leben)
ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR ASZESE UND MYSTIK (GEIST UND LEBEN). - A quarterly journal of spirituality, founded in December 1925 by the Fathers of the… -
Zeno, Jacopo
ZENO, JACOPO. - Humanist, bishop of Belluno and Feltre and then of Padua, b. in Venice in 1418, d. in April 1481. He spent his youth in the…