Reclaiming Men’s Spirituality: Spiritual Direction of Men through the Lens of Saint John of the Cross
Ebook
Reclaiming Men's Spirituality is a study that investigates men's spirituality by exploring three research questions: Can a form of spirituality about men be identified and described, how can this spirituality be examined, and what is it that needs to be reclaimed? To answer these questions and at the same time remain committed to the importance of lived experience, this study opted to investigate the lives of men by attending to ten spiritual histories. The study is situated in Malta, and the ten spiritual histories provide access to various features, expressions, and contours that relate closely to men's being. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with ten spiritual directors who have men as spiritual directees. Their contribution clarifies the structure of men's spirituality, the effort required when directing male spiritual directees and the impact generated in the lives of men thanks to spiritual direction. To provide a frame of reference for the examination of all the gathered data, John of the Cross's spiritual framework has been chosen as the mystical instrument against which men's spiritualities are studied, leading to richer insights into the operations, motives, goals, and problems of such spiritualities.
“In a time of radical changes in masculinity and spirituality, Christopher Bezzina’s erudite study offers a fresh and impassioned approach to the perennial ‘Who am I?’ question which is at the back of both the perception of self and the existential understanding of the human spiritual dimension. Combining spiritual theory from John of the Cross and real-life attentive reading of men telling their stories, Bezzina manages to convincingly throw light on the dynamics at play in the painful process of the transformation of desire.”
—Charló Camilleri, OCarm, senior lecturer in moral and spiritual theology, University of Malta
“In this rich and nuanced study, Christopher Bezzina draws on the spiritual doctrine of St. John of the Cross to explore the life stories of men engaging in spiritual direction and their relationship to their spiritual directors. Bezzina offers important insights into men’s spirituality and the spiritual aspects of the construction of masculinities. His study is also relevant for anyone interested in the processes of spiritual direction more generally.”
—Charlotte Methuen, professor of ecclesiastical history, University of Glasgow
- Title: Reclaiming Men’s Spirituality: Spiritual Direction of Men through the Lens of Saint John of the Cross
- Authors: Christopher Felix Bezzina, George Pattison
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666763546, 9781666763522, 1666763527, 9781666763539, 1666763535, 1666763543
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666763546
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-02-21T21:42:57Z
Christopher Felix Bezzina holds a BA in social work and an MA in spirituality from the University of Malta. In 2022 he completed his doctoral research in theology and religious studies at the University of Glasgow.