Research Catalog

Title

Five models of spiritual direction in the early church / George E. Demacopoulos.

Author

Demacopoulos, George E.

Publication

Notre Dame, Ind. : University of Notre Dame Press, c2007.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

x, 274 p.; 23 cm.

Summary

Five Models of Spiritual Direction in the Early Church explores the struggles of five clerics (Athanasius, Gregory Nazianzen, Augustine of Hippo, John Cassian, and Pope Gregory I) to reconcile their ascetic idealism with the reality of pastoral responsibility. Through a close reading of Greek and Latin texts, George E. Demacopoulos explores each pastor's criteria for ordination, supervision of subordinate clergy, and methods of spiritual direction. He argues that the evolution in spiritual direction that occurred during this period reflected and informed broader developments in religious practices.

Subject

• 30-600
• Spiritual direction
• Asceticism > History > Early church, ca. 30-600
• Pastoral theology
• Asceticism > History > Early church, ca. 30-600

Genre/Form

History

Note

• Based on the author's dissertation (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2002, entitled: A monk in shepherd's clothing : Pope Gregory I and the asceticizing of pastoral direction.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 233-253) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Athanasius of Alexandria and ambivalence regarding spiritual direction -- Gregory Nazianzen's struggle for synthesis -- Augustine of Hippo and resistance to the ascetic model of spiritual direction -- John Cassian and the spiritual direction of the ascetic community -- Pope Gregory I and the asceticizing of spiritual direction.

ISBN

• 0268025908 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 9780268025908 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2006028979

OCLC

• 71312732
• SCSB-11687318

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library