Self-Emptying Love in a Global Context

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Care for the environment is an ever more pressing concern in today's world in which narrow self-interest has blinded us to the growing pollution of atmosphere and seas and the destruction of animal species caused by our indifference and neglect. Christianity has been blamed in part for this because of a misunderstanding of the Biblical call to "have dominion" over creation. Our spiritual tradition has indeed so focused on human salvation that the Earth has been seen simply as a transient environment that will be left behind in the end. In response, this little book highlights another spiritual tradition within Western Christianity that affirms that creation itself will also be transformed with humanity through the self-emptying love of God. God's dominion, after all, is service rather than despotic control, the raising up of the lowly of this Earth and of the Earth itself as part of a cosmic community. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are examined in this light as a call not only to join Christ in redeeming humanity, but also in extending Christ's care and love to "all creation" that longs "for the freedom of the children of God." "Sears and Bracken provide a valuable set of theological reflections that explore new possibilites in our understanding and practice of the Ignatian 'Exercises.' Their work admirably integrates the Ignatian heritage into the rich Catholic tradition of reverence for all creation as the temple of God's presence." --Howard Gray, SJ John Carroll University "The Ignatian 'Spiritual Exercises' are like a many-sided diamond. FathersSears and Bracken have looked at this diamond from an environmental perspective and furnished us with valuable insights for all who conduct and make Ignatian retreats." --Al Fritsch, SJ Director, Earth Healing Robert T. Sears, SJ, is Superior of Gonzaga Jesuit Community at Loyola University of Chicago. He is also adjunct professor at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola, a spiritual director, a counselor, and a writer on various aspects of healing. See his website: www.familytreehealing.com. He is co-author, with Al Fritsch, SJ, of Earth Healing: A Resurrection-Centered Approach. Joseph A. Bracken, SJ, is Professor of Theology emeritus at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Among his many publications are Christianity and Process Thought (2006), World without End (2005), and The One in the Many (2001).