THEOLOGY
OF COMMUNION AND
THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
Prof. Samuel H. Canilang cmf
Introduction:
Why a theological reflection on the religious community?
The title of this course is "Theology of Communion and the Religious Community." However, although we are going to deal with Christian communion in general, our focus will be the religious community. Why is their need to reflect theologically on the religious community? It is the conviction of the religious themselves, and this is confirmed by the Magisterium of the Church, that the religious community emerges in history not purely out of human initiative and purely for humanistic motives. The religious community is born of a call, a call from God. In other words, the religious community is fruit of a response, a human response. The document Fraternal Life in Community (FLC1a, c) states:The love of Christ has gathered a great number of disciples to become one, so that like him and thanks to him, in the Spirit they might, throughout the centuries, be able to respond to the love of the Father, loving him "with all their hearts, with all their soul, with all their might" (cf. Deut 6:5) and loving their neighbors "as themselves" (cf. Mt 22:39).
Born not "of the will of the flesh," nor from personal attraction, nor from human motives, but "from God" (Jn 1:13), from a divine vocation and a divine attraction, religious communities are a living sign of the primacy of the love of God who works wonders, and of the love for God and for one's brothers and sisters as manifested and practiced by Jesus Christ.
The religious community, therefore, is a theological reality. It is fruit of a dialogue between God and human beings. Both its profoundest origin and ultimate goal are theological. Hence, we need to study and reflect on it in faith.
Objectives of the Course.
The objective of our course is to reflectively study the theological character of the origin, existence and purpose of the religious community. Hence, in this course we shall treat the following: (1) the biblical foundation of the religious community with special attention to its evangelical inspiration; (2) the theologico-spiritual growth of the religious community within the history of the Church; and (3) the identity of the religious community in the contemporary Church and its mission in today's world.
Table
of Contents:
BIBLIOGRAPHY (download)
1. THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY TODAY (download)
1.1. INTRODUCTION
1.2. DOUBLE TENDENCY: COMMUNITARIANISM AND INDIVIDUALISM
1.3. THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN THIS CONTEXT2. KOINONIA IN THE SCRIPTURES (download)
2.1. LEXICOLOGY
2.2. KOINONIA IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
2.3. THE QUMRAN COMMUNITY
2.4. KOINONIA IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
2.5. THE COMMUNITY OF THE APOSTLES AROUND JESUS
2.6. THE FIRST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (JERUSALEM)3. HISTORICAL ITINERARY OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY (download)
COMMUNITY CREATED BY THE GOSPEL
Celibacy, Anchoritism and Community
The Origin of Community Life
Religious Community Throughout History4. UNDERSTANDING AND LIVING THE GIFT OF COMMUNION IN CONSECRATED LIFE TODAY (download)
4.1. INTRODUCTION
4.2. A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS: CONFESSIO TRINITATIS
4.3. A COMMUNITY OF BROTHERS/SISTERS: SIGNUM FRATERNITATIS
4.4. A COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES AND PROPHETS: SERVITIUM CARITATIS
4.5. CONCLUSION5. SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Mission and Communion in Consecrated Life (Samuel H. Canilang, CMF) (download)
The Moderator's Role in the Community (José Rovira, CMF) (download)