Theological Journal – October 2 Spiritual Growth

 

    

In a time when self-realization or self-actualization is the norm for human growth or maturity this word is needed. For those traditions that see theosis, or divinization, as the goal of Christian existence (rightly, I think) this warning is particularly acute.

“The spiritual life is sometimes spoken of as the seeking after perfection. If this be understood to mean that the man* aiming at spirituality is to set before him his own perfection as an object after which he is to strive, it is apt to lead to serious mistakes in the spiritual struggle. It is true that the development of a full spiritual life involves in its attainment man’s perfection; yet it is not precisely at this perfection that he must aim, but at God. God is the final end of man and therefore the object after which he must strain in all his spiritual and moral endeavors.”

*this article is about men, hence, the masculine language, but is true for all people

“Do You Want a Better Version of You… or Do You Want God?”                                                https://thosecatholicmen.com/articles/do-you-want-a-better-version-of-you-or-god/