THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY: IN SEARCH OF RECIPROCAL COLLABORATION

What is the contribution which the study of spirituality can offer to Theology? Is it possible to integrate these two disciplines in a harmonic symphony, and with what results? In this study, we are trying to give an answer to such questions, re-reading the historic tradition of an intimate collaboration, studying the reasons which lead to a separation between theology and spirituality, in order to attempt to sketch what would be, today, a truly spiritual theology. A theology rooted in spirituality would be a theology which grows organically, from its own knowledge of God and its talk about God Himself. Spirituality maintains theology in its proper vocation, keeping it from fleeing from its specific object. It is the role of Spirituality to give Theology this sense of the spiritually concrete, where the desire to know unites with the tendency of the heart to penetrate and encounter Mystery. The critical function of spirituality with respect to theology implies exposing theology to a profound questioning which enlivens the heart of the struggle of the community to remain faithful. Without this, theology would risk losing contact with the true God who gave it life.