Radical and Free: Musings on the Religious Life - Softcover

O'Leary SJ, Brian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 191024838X ISBN 13: 9781910248386

Publisher: Messenger Publications, 2016

Synopsis

This book is the result of two preached retreats I gave to mark the recent Year of Consecrated Life (2015). However, the origin of the material goes much further back, drawing on my teaching experience both at Manresa Centre of Spirituality and at Milltown Institute (covering a period of thirty years). In both places I had taught courses on religious life – its history, theology, and most of all its underlying spirituality. Indeed, I have always used history and theology (and other disciplines such as psychology and anthropology) in service of exploring and renewing the spirituality of religious life.

Another way of saying this is that I am above all interested in values (as appreciated, appropriated, and articulated). This lies behind my decision to structure the talks (now the book) almost entirely around the vows. After an initial chapter on the origins of religious life, I devote two chapters each to poverty, chastity, and obedience. My emphasis is not on the vows as such (dealing with questions that Canon Law might raise) but on the motivating values that the vows express. Only these values can explain why people enter and flourish in religious life. All religious, without distinction, are called to be “radical and free”.

About this edition

• Publisher: Messenger Publications
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 191024838X
• ISBN 13: 9781910248386
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96