Conversations on Asian Theologies and Cultures 04062022

Abstract

In his first Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis wrote: “Popular piety enables us to see how the faith, once received, becomes embodied in a culture and is constantly passed on” (EG, 123). The Pope also greatly encouraged the Church to use popular piety as today’s “evangelizing power.” Ngắm Đứng (Standing Meditation) is a famous and precious Catholic popular devotion which has been practiced only in Vietnam since the seventeenth century. It is the Vietnamese people’s special and profound way of expressing faith in God, particularly in Jesus Christ. This presentation exemplifies an approach to doing contextual theology with sensitivity to the local practices of popular devotion. In particular, the Standing Meditation will be presented as a resource of theology in Vietnam’s context. In doing so, the speaker will portray some possible images of Jesus and elaborate some dimensions of popular Christian spirituality. In addition, in the light of the call of the Church for missionary evangelization, the speaker hopes to promote the Standing Meditation as an instrument for evangelization in Vietnam today.

About the Speaker

A native of Nghe An Province, Vietnam, Fr. Anthony Nguyen Huy Quyen is a member of the Society of Divine Word (SVD). He obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Loyola School of Theology, Quezon City, Philippines. He is currently working in the parish and mission area in Vinh Diocese. He is also teaching theology in some seminaries in Vietnam. His email address is anthuyquyen@yahoo.com.

About the Reactor

Fr. Bui Quang Minh, S.J. is the Director of the Philosophy Program in St. Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. His email address is quangminh.bui@jesuits.net.