Spiritual Direction in the Early Christian East: Volume 116

by Irïnïe Hausherr, Kalistos Ware (Introduction), Anthony P Gythiel (Translator)

Overview

First published in French in 1955, Irénée Hausherr's classic study of spiritual direction in the early Eastern Church remains the standard resource on the subject to this day. A revival of the practice of spiritual direction has always proceeded periods of spiritual growth and it is hoped that contemporary interest in this ancient discipline may be deepened through contact with the ancient abbas and ammas who shared their experience of God by 'giving a word' to their disciples. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780879075163
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	05/01/1990
Series:	Cistercian Studies , #116
Pages:	474
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Irénée Hausherr, SJ, (1881-1978) was a Jesuit of Alsatian origin and specialist in Greek patristic and monastic spirituality.

Table of Contents

Contents
FOREWORD   vii
     Bishop Kallistos [Ware]
I.  INTRODUCTION   1
CHAPTER II.  THE SPIRITUAL FATHER   9
     1.  Father   9
     2.  Spiritual   30
CHAPTER III.  THE QUALITIES NEEDED TO BE A SPIRITUAL FATHER   51
     1.  Moral Qualities   51
     2.  Intellectual Qualities   77
     3.  Hierarchical Qualifications   99
CHAPTER IV.  THE DUTIES OF THE SPIRITUAL FATHER   123
     1.  Should One Accept Such a Role?   124
     2.  Praying for One's Spiritual Children   129
     3.  Carrying Part of the Burden   141
     4.  Loving One's Spiritual Children   148
CHAPTER V.  THE NEED FOR OPENNESS OF HEART   155
     1.  The Proper Focus of Such Openness   155
     2.  Treasons for this Disclosure   158
     3.  Testimonies of Some Great Spiritual Fathers   170
     4.  Exceptions to the Rule?   176
CHAPTER VI.  THE DUTIES OF THE DISCIPLE   185
     1.  Having a Spiritual Father   185
     2.  Faith and Submission   192
3.  'In Charitate'   208
CHAPTER VII.  THE REVELATION OF THOUGHTS IN PRIACTICE   223
CHAPTER VIII.  EFFICACY OF DIRECTION   243
CHAPTER IX.  SPECIAL CATEGORIES   267
     1.  The Direction of Nuns  268
     2. the Spiritual Direction of Lay Persons   306
GLOSSARY   333
LIST OF NAMES   345
TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS   357
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY   365
SUBJECT INDEX   400
NAMES INDEX   417
 

Editorial Reviews

Among the extensive literature dealing with spiritual direction that appears every year, this is, to our knowledge, the only comprehensive study of the subject from its source—early Christian monasticism.
Coptic Church Review


. . . The basic study on spiritual fatherhood.
Bishop Kallistos Ware

From the Publisher