by Rev. Steve Wlusek, B.A., M.Div., M.A., Th.D. cand. (St. Michael’s College)
A parallel can be recognized between the liturgical actions of the Church’s celebration of the Eucharist and the key elements of the spiritual itinerary proposed by Carmelite mystics John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila. The emphasis that Teresa and John place upon the necessary elements of the spiritual journey, the sense of structure or order that is inherent within the soul’s path towards union with God, and the progression or movement from one spiritual plane to another reveal a close connection between the spiritual theology they present and the Church’s Eucharistic theology as expressed through its liturgical rites. This presentation will demonstrate that the spiritual theology of Sts. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila is founded upon principles underlying the Church’s Eucharistic liturgy, and will underscore the correlation between the spiritual journey of the worshiping community and that of individual believers.
