The Grace of "Nothingness"

Preface ix

Introduction xiii

Abbreviations xvii

Chapter 1: Nothingness: The Biblical and Dogmatic Underpinnings 1

The Relevant Principle: To Follow Christ in His Being of Grace 2

Theological Reflections 6

Christological Reflections 8

Reflections on Christian Anthropology 17

Reflections on a Proper Attribution to Each Person of the Blessed Trinity 22

Chapter 2: The Spiritual Setting: The Usage and Concept History of Being Nothing and Related Terms 25

Nothingness: Some Preliminary Thoughts from Blessed Columba 26

Nothingness: An Aid to Humility, With Regard to God-27; Nothingness: An Aid to Humility, With Regard to Yourself-28; Nothingness: An Aid to Humility, With Regard to Others-34

Nothingness in the Catholic Tradition 37

In the Apostolic Period: 2 Corinthians 12:11b-40; In the Patristic Period-44; During and After the Debate about Semipelagianism-44; In the Middle Ages-50; After the Protestant Controversies on Grace-58; In Modernity-64

Chapter 3: Applying Marmion's Spirituality to Your Life 73

The Objective Divine Plan: The Setting for a Spiritual Theology 73

The Interplay between the Objective and Subjective Aspects in Marmion's Spirituality-74; The Thrice- Holy God: The Objective Source of Marmion's Confidence in God-77

The Subjective Response: A Catholic's Three-fold Responsibility 80

To Tend toward God in Himself-81; To Acknowledge Our Unworthiness/Nothingness-89; To Have Confidence in God-119

On Union with God 143

Union with God is in the Ordinary, Not Extraordinary, Path of Grace-143; Union with God is the Fullness of the Father's Blessing, Not an Emptiness-148; Marmion on Union with God-152

Appendix 1: Christ in His Mysteries, 455-56 155

Appendix 2: Prayer 6 of Saint Th©r¨se of Lisieux 157

Bibliography 159