Roberto Maria R. Buenconsejo, S.J. (Philippines)
Abstract:
This paper posits that the Spiritual Exercises function as a divinizing mystagogy, leading the retreatant toward a deeper understanding and contemplative engagement with the Christ-event. It frames the “unitive life” of the Triplex Via as “divinization,” despite these terms being absent in the Exercises. The path involves aligning oneself with God’s will through Christ, embracing a progressive self-emptying—kénosis—that ultimately leads to divinization.
Divinization begins as a latent gift and gradually intensifies as the retreatant advances through the Weeks, particularly through a deeper union with the Kenotic Christ. The First Week initiates the journey of restoring one’s divine image marred by sin. The Second Week deepens deification by introducing the Person of Christ, fostering a desire for “interior knowledge of the Lord Who has become man” (no. 104). The exercitant’s self-kenotic act of the Election marks the beginning of a unitive life, responding to God’s Self-dispossessing love that calls us to divinized existence. This journey of self-kénosis continues beyond the Election of the Second Week. The Third Week contemplations on Christ’s supreme Self-emptying on the Cross highlight God’s love: “For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son” (John 3:16). The Fourth Week confirms the Election, allowing the retreatant to rejoice in the Lord’s divinity revealed through His crucified and risen humanity. In the Contemplation to Gain (Attain) Love, the retreatant, filled with God’s love, is inspired to respond to divine Self-giving in the spirit of the Suscipe.
Overall, the Exercises serve as a “mystagogical pedagogy of love,” guiding us to cultivate profound love that compels active contributions to the world’s deification through daily, discerned acts of self-emptying.
Final Defense:
Board of Examiners:
- Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, S.J., S.T.D. (Adviser)
- Fr. Manuel Francisco, S.J., S.T.D. (Second Reader/Principal Examiner)
- Fr. Peter Knox, S.J., S.T.L., Ph.D.
- Ruben Habito, D.Litt.C.
Proposal Defense:
Board of Examiners:
1. Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, S.J., S.T.D. (Adviser)
2. Br. Joaquin Yap, Jr., S.W., D.Phil.
3. Ruben Habito, D.Litt.C.
Proposal Title: Divinization through the Kenotic Movement in the Spiritual Exercises