- Feb 5, 2002
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Those who have studied the history of spirituality are aware of the mighty shift that occurs in the West between what might be called devotio antiqua or devotio monastica and devotio moderna (originating in 14th-15th centuries). The former is, to speak colloquially, a “bread-and-butter” spirituality: liturgy and lectio divina are the main courses — public divine worship and private reading (of Scripture, of Church Fathers, of commentaries on the Psalms) accompanied by vocal prayer, as kindling for contemplation; and all of it tightly surrounded with bodily asceticism. This, broadly speaking, just is monastic spirituality.[1]
Once the shift toward a new spirituality began, it was, one might say, destined to arrive at the modern concept of “mental prayer” and, more particularly, something like Ignatian exercises. In this brief study I have no intention of attacking devotio moderna as such, much less Jesuit or Carmelite trends, but rather would like to consider what happens when a certain kind of attitude toward mental prayer begins to detract from and ultimately undermines the value of vocal and therefore liturgical prayer. It seems to me that this is a key development for understanding the progressive neglect and denigration of the liturgy until it became seen as more or less raw material for devotional exploitation.[2]
The recently deceased Greek Orthodox theologian Kallistos Ware (1934–2022), may he rest in the Lord’s peace, makes an excellent point about why the early monks of the Church undertook such extreme, and to us often shocking, austerities:
Continued below.
New Liturgical Movement: The Denigration of Vocal Prayer in the Name of “Mental Prayer”: A Recipe for Disaster
Once the shift toward a new spirituality began, it was, one might say, destined to arrive at the modern concept of “mental prayer” and, more particularly, something like Ignatian exercises. In this brief study I have no intention of attacking devotio moderna as such, much less Jesuit or Carmelite trends, but rather would like to consider what happens when a certain kind of attitude toward mental prayer begins to detract from and ultimately undermines the value of vocal and therefore liturgical prayer. It seems to me that this is a key development for understanding the progressive neglect and denigration of the liturgy until it became seen as more or less raw material for devotional exploitation.[2]
The recently deceased Greek Orthodox theologian Kallistos Ware (1934–2022), may he rest in the Lord’s peace, makes an excellent point about why the early monks of the Church undertook such extreme, and to us often shocking, austerities:
Continued below.
New Liturgical Movement: The Denigration of Vocal Prayer in the Name of “Mental Prayer”: A Recipe for Disaster
