The Study of Spirituality

Presentation Overview

• Author
• Chapter relevance
• Personal relevance
• Southwestern relevance
• Glossary
• Relevant sections
• Concluding praxis

I am A Latino/a Theologian, Franciscan scholar, Full Professor of Spirituality and Director of Educational Technology, I am native of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and Hijo de Gilberto Cavazos DeLeon and María Emma González de Cavazos.

As a Latino Spiritualogian, I have a particular concern for the relationship of Christian spirituality, Catholic social teaching and pastoral ministry.
My academic research interests include methods for the study of Christian Spirituality, medieval spirituality, Franciscanism, Hispanic/Latin@ spirituality and Spiritual Formation.

PERSONAL DATES
Date of Birth: 11 August 1957
Place of Birth: Harlingen, TX, USA
Parents: Gilberto Cavazos and Ma Emma
Brothers: Sergio, Jose Luis, and Gustavo
Religious Life: Order of Friars Minor
Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in USA
Investiture: June 28, 1979
First Vows: 11 August 1980
Solemn Vows: 17 September 1983
Ordination to the Deaconate: 25 April 1984
Ordination to the Ministerial Priesthood: 8 June 1985

EDUCATION
1975 – 1976 Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi, Tx
1976 – 1978 Univ. St. Thomas Religious Education Maj.
1978 – 1979 Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies Quincy
1981 – 1985 MA of Divinity,Catholic Theological Union
1987 – 1992 Master of Arts in Religious Studies: Specialization in Youth Evangelization, Incarnate Word
1993 – 1996 Licentiate in Theology: Specialization in Spirituality from Pontificium Atheneum Antonianum
1996 – 2000 Doctorate in Theology: Specialization in Spirituality from Pontificium Atheneum Antonianum

What is spirituality?

Chapter Relevance

• Significant, deductive work.
• Incorporates key historical developments and figures.
• Offers a plentitude of models, methods, and context by which to study spirituality and theologize.

Personal Relevance

• Study of Spirituality as methodological and systematic.
• Contextual Spirituality integrates the broader body.
• A more full understanding of the people I serve.

Southwestern Relevance

• Models of Spirituality: 7 Spiritual Classics
• Socio-Spiritual Method
• 5 Methodological Components
• Honorable Mention: The Light Hearted Academic Nature of Southwest Theology.

Common Terms

• Spiritual
• Spirituality
• Spiritualogian
• Popular Cath/Religion
• Context

Relevant Sections

• Description of Spirituality & Spiritualogian
• Spirituality in Latino/a Theology
• Classic Themes in Latino/a Theology
• Socio Spiritual Method

I am a Franciscan and a Spiritualogian. A lot of people know what a Franciscan is, but very few people know what a spiritualogian is. "I coined this word a few years ago (around 2002) to distinguish theologians who specialize in the field of Spirituality from Theologians of Spirituality who work in the field of Spiritual Theology
Spiritualogians are scholars dedicated to the advancement of the academic discipline known as spirituality."

To be clear, spiritualogians are Christian theologians, not anthropologists, psychologists or scholars of sociology. I need to point this out, because spirituality is studied by these various academic fields, however with different methods and different goals.
Spiritualogians are not simply interested in the social, psychological and religious dimensions of spiritualities. We are interested in the spiritual growth, formation and development of the Christian faithful.

Contributing Tios & Tialogians

• Eduardo Fernandez
• German Martinez
• Michelle Gonzalez
• Elizabeth Frazier
• Anita de Luna MCDP
• Jeanette Rodriguez
• Saumel Solivan
• Carmen Nanko-Fernandez
• Jeanette

Stephen Bevans

While this form of theology remains valid (it is the form of this essay), theology might also be done in the form of hymnody, archtecture, poetry, reflection on local proverbs, film, blogging, faith sharing, etc. Secondly, a contextual perspective points to the fact that theology is done most effectively by the subjects of a particular context, and not by outsiders (like foreign missionaries), although the “outside” perspective does have its place. In the same way, professional theologians are understood more in the role of “midwives,” to ordinary Christian people, who are the real theologians.
See GCG 424: Art Form

Gustavo Gutierrez

Virgilio Elizondo

Classic Themes

• Lo Cotidiano
• Mestizaje
• Justice and Liberation
• Familia
• Popular Religion
• LA Church
• Fiesta & Suffering

Socio-spiritual method

GCG pg 433

Concluding Praxis

"In Closing, I need to affirm that while I value socio-implication in the study of the spiritual classics, we need to remember that spirituality " is not just a social or an anthropological reality; it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the cotidiano of the believer"