Jordan Aumann O.P.: Spiritual Theology In Spiritual Theology Father Jordan Aumann dispels the common misconception that ascetical and mystical theology is for the select few. He reminds us that "the real purpose of the study of the spiritual life is not to produce scholars but to form holy Christians."

Basing much of his work on St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa, Father Aumann proves that Christian perfection consists especially in charity, a charity richly rewarded in spiritual graces.

He presents the most complete and systematic treatment of spiritual theology since Vatican II. Comprehensive in scope, it meets the needs of seminarians, professors of spiritual theology, spiritual directors, and retreat masters. This classic will also appeal to the educated reader seeking a richer and fuller spiritual life.

JORDAN AUMANN, O.P. is a native of the United States and Director of the Institute of Spirituality at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He is also a Consultor for the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy and Catechetics and likewise a Consultor for the Sacred Congregation for Evangelization. Since 1977 he has been giving special courses in spirituality at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, where he is an honorary professor. He has likewise travelled extensively throughout the Philippines to give retreats to the clergy, and retreats and special series of lectures to religious and seminarians. Father Aumann has also written the book History of Spirituality published in the Philippines by St. Paul Publications.

Contents
PART ONE: DOCTRINAL FOUNDATIONS

Preface
1.Nature and Scope of Spiritual Theology
Terminology
Spirituality and Theology
Definition of Spiritual Theology
Theological Method
Sources of Spiritual Theology
Schools of Spirituality

2.The Goal of Our Striving
The Glory of God
Salvation - The Life of Glory
Sanctification

3. Our Life in Christ and Mary
Scriptural Testimony
Christ the Way
Christ the Truth
Christ the Life
Through Him, With Him, In Him
Mary - Mother and Mediatrix

4. The Supernatural Organism
Sanctifying Grace
Effects of Grace
Indwelling of the Trinity
Actual Grace
The Infused Virtues
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Fruits of the Spirit and Beatitudes

5. Perfection of the Christian Life
The Nature of Christian Perfection
Special Questions

6. Christian Perfection and Mystical Experience
Mystical Experience
The Mystical State and Christian Perfection
PART TWO: GROWTH IN HOLINESS
7. Conversion From Sin
The Psychosomatic Structure
The Struggle Against Sin
Temptations

8. Progressive Purgation
Purification of the External Senses
Purification of the Internal Senses
Purification of the Passions
Purification of the Intellect
Purification of the Will
Passive Purgations

9. Means of Spiritual Growth
The Sacraments
Meritorious Good Works
Prayer of Petition

10. The Theological Virtues
Faith
The Gift of Understanding
The Gift of Knowledge
Hope
The Gift of Fear
Charity
The Gift of Wisdom

11. The Moral Virtues
Prudence
The Gift of Counsel
Justice
The Gift of Piety
Temperance
The Gift of Fear
Fortitude
The Gift of Fortitude

12. Grades of Prayer
Vocal Prayer
Meditation
Affective Prayer
Prayer of Simplicity
Contemplative Prayer
Prayer of Quiet
Prayer of Union
Prayer of Conforming Union
Prayer of Transforming Union

13. Aids to Spiritual Growth
The Presence of God
Examination of Conscience
The Desire for Perfection
Conformity to God's Will
Fidelity to Grace
Plan of Life
Spiritual Reading
Holy Friendships
Spiritual Direction

14. Discernment of Spirits
Types of Spirits
Psychosomatic Phenomena
Extraordinary Mystical Phenomena

Published by
THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
Manila. 1989

Nihil Obstat:
Rev. John Kuzmich
Censor Librorum

Imprimatur:
+ William E. McManus Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend
October 17, 1979

The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat and the Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Copyright © 1982 by University of Santo Tomas
Published by UST Faculty of Theology
Printed by UST Printing Office

ISBN: 0-87973-588-0 (OSV)
ISBN: 0-7220-8517-6 (S & W)

Library of Congress Catalog
Card Number: 79-88516

Acknowledgments

The author and publisher are grateful to the following for permission to use their material in this work:

The Jerusalem Bible, ed. Alexander Jones (Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd., London, and Doubleday & Company, Inc., New York, @1966).

The New American Bible, sponsored by the Bishops' Committee of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., ©1970.

Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, ©1966.

Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents, ed. Austin Flannery, O.P. (Costello Publishing Co., Northport, N.Y., ©1975).

John G. Arintero, O.P., The Mystical Evolution in the Development and Vitality of the Church, 2 vols., trans. Jordan Aumann, O.P. (TAN Books, Rockford, Ill., ©1979).

Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P., The Three Ages of the Interior Life, 2 vols., trans. Timothea Doyle, O.P. (B. Herder Book Co., St. Louis, @1947).

St. John of the Cross, Complete Works of, 3 vols., trans. E. Allison Peers (Newman, Westminster, Md., @1957).

St. Teresa of Avila, Complete Works of, 3 vols., trans. E. Allison Peers (Sheed & Ward, New York, ©1946).

St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, ed. Thomas Gilby, O.P. (Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, and McGraw-Hill, New York, n.d.).


AUMANN