This thesis investigates the new meaning of the desert by Charles de Foucauld and its influence on the history of Christian spirituality. The new meaning of the desert has begun with Charles de Foucauld. Foucauld's life seems like the lives of the Des...
This thesis investigates the new meaning of the desert by Charles de Foucauld and its influence on the history of Christian spirituality. The new meaning of the desert has begun with Charles de Foucauld. Foucauld's life seems like the lives of the Desert Fathers' in early Christianity, however Fouauld's purpose is different from Desert Father's. Accordingly, this thesis shows the desert's meaning has expanded by comparing how Foucauld and Desert Fathers understood the desert and desert spirituality.
Desert Fathers thought that desert is the place of extreme situation cut off from the world, the suitable place to purify and train, and the place to battle against evil. Through these things the desert becomes a place to meet God (Chapter 2).
The meanings of desert understood by Foucauld summarize into two. One is that desert is the poorest and humblest place. The other is that it's the place of practicing love and mission. The lowest place is not only to stay, but also to practice love for the afflicted. We can learn how Foucauld understood the desert through his life and spirituality. Foucauld's unique vocation, "Nazareth life", guided him to the desert, the lowest place. Desert change "Nazareth life" spirituality from contemplative spirituality to unified spirituality of contemplation and action. Foucauld practiced love and mission enthusiastically and actively in desert(Chapter 3).
The life of Foucauld has began to emphasize new aspect of desert. Entering the desert is not separating from the secular world, but entering into its lowest place. Accordingly, we can regard the lowest place of secular world as desert, and we can think whole world as one great desert because of the structural imbalance, reality of poverty and idolization of material. This is desertification of the city.
The Foucauld's understanding of desert implies that the desert is not only a contemplative place but also a practicing place. This conversion of meaning indicates that the life of practicing love is important in Christian spirituality life. Foucauld's life progressing from contemplative life to active life demonstrates the importance of active life. Foucauld didn't neglect contemplative life, which indicates the desert has both contemplative and active meaning. Therefore the desert is mystic place which requires to live unified life of contemplation and action.
Foucauld's desert spirituality contributes to the world through many movements of the communities following his instructions. Their character is living among the poorest in everyday life and helping them. They emphasize city desert, and live to be an oasis in it. Finally, this new desert spirituality present christian to live a desert spirituality within the life of this world(Chapter 4).