Contemporary Spirituality ed. by Robert Gleason (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 177 ContemJ>orary Spirituality. Edited by RoBERT GLEASON. New York: Macmillan, 1968. Pp. 343. $6.95. In the publishing trade this volume would be called a " non-book," because its contents should not have been put in a hard-cover book. The reasons for this are several: practically all the chapters of the book are reprints of articles that previously appeared in French, German, British or American journals; some of the articles orginally appeared fifteen years ago, so that one may wonder if they represent the thought of the author today. Moreover, the title of the book is misleading. It is not a treatment of contemporary spirituality in the Church today but a discussion of various problem areas of religious life. Actually, the sub-title of the book, " Current Problems in Religious Life," should have been used as the title. S. Lyonnet, S. J., opens the volume with a discussion of St. Paul's doctrine on freedom and the law, and he explains that, although the Christian is freed from the external law, he is nevertheless obliged to lead a holy and virtuous life because of the law of the Spirit. Because of this internal dynamism, the Christian is able to fulfill every Christian precept with complete liberty as a son of God. The next few chapters treat of the theological virtues. H. Holstein, S. J., takes up the question of faith, stressing its role as an experience of God, who is faithful to his promises. The Christian's experience of God's fidelity arouses a response of fidelity, obedience and hope in the soul of the believer. B. Olivier, 0. P., then discusses the meaning of Christian hope, which he sees as a communal virtue that has concrete existence in individual Christians. Finally, R. Gleason, S. J., elaborates several themes related to fraternal charity. After stating that love of neighbor is necessitated by man's very nature as a social being, he emphasizes the need of fraternal love on both the natural and supernatural levels of the Christian life. For Gleason, love is always a value; "even if it be a guilty love, it is still a great invitation to grace, so long as it is a genuine love." (p. 36) Approaching the problem of how the Christian can love Christ in his neighbor, Gleason rejects the explanation whereby we love our neighbor "as if" he were Christ. Rather, he maintains that, in probing to the utterly unique depth of the other person as person, we find God, who gives and sustains that uniqueness of person, and if the person be in grace, we actually find the Trinity dwelling in the soul through grace. (cf. p. 39) Approaching the specific problems of religious life, K. Rahner, S. J., poses numerous intriguing questions concerning the meaning of religious poverty and its adaptation to the modern world. One of the themes he repeats constantly is that, as long as the religious community is not poor, its members cannot be said to be living poverty. Rahner tends to reject the identification of poverty with dependence on the superior for the use 178 BOOK REVIEWS of material goods. Yet, he sees the need to provide a theology of poverty which will contain the essential notes of economic insecurity, witness and service to the People of God in the apostolate. Rahner recognizes also the need for an ascetical element in the practice of poverty, and in this respect he calls for an " asceticism with regard to consumptibles and luxuries." This can be observed if religious and their communities restrict themselves to legitimate needs and necessities. Treating the question of celibacy, B. Haring, C. SS. R., limits himself to a discussion of various types of celibacy and thus justifies the celibate life which is freely accepted under the vow of chastity. The problems related to religious obedience are treated in the next three chapters. T. Dubay, S.M., takes up the question of the psychological possibility of intellectual obedience; K. Rahner, S. J., offers some reflections on the nature of religious obedience; J. McKenzie, S. J., explains the concepts of authority and power in the New Testament. Doubtless, the attentive reader will see...