Saint Dumitru Stăniloae’s The Experience of God: Volume 4 - The Church: Communion in the Holy Spirit [FREE PDF]

As we see in this volume and others that constitute his Dogmatic Theology, Fr. Staniloae is both steeped in the ancient tradition and conversant with his contemporaries…The result in the present volume is a theological work focusing on the Church that draws on the voices of his tradition, studies the reflections of his contemporaries, and constructs a "traditional” synthesis that is unique and fresh. Fr. Staniloae’s work is characterized by that dual fidelity - to the past and to the present - that is the requirement of any theologian of any era. But it is infused by a sense of inspiration that is difficult to find in any modern theological writing. Fr. Staniloae’s readers are encountering a voice that is thoroughly reliable in that it is so learned and faithful. But it is a deeply person voice - creative and stunningly, disarmingly free. 

Chapter Titles

Chapter one: The Descent of the Holy Spirit and the Beginning of the Church

Chapter two: The Theandric Constitution of the Church

The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ and Christ as Her Head

The Foundation of the Church: God’s Incarnate Son

The Church Imprinted with Christ’s Sacrifice

The Church Pneumatized by the Spirit of the Risen Christ

Chapter three: Christ’s Threefold Ministry and the Priesthood of the Church

Christ’s Priesthood in the Church

Christ’s Priesthood in the Church through the Universal Priesthood

Christ’s Priesthood in the Church through the Serving Priesthood

The Three Stages of Priesthood

The Succession of Grace: Christ’s Priestly Work Continued through Other Ministries

The Serving Priesthood’s Role in Maintaining the Unity of the Church

A Detailed Explanation of the Bishop’s and Priest’s relationship with Christ

The Synodality of the Bishops and How the Church’s Sobornicity Depends upon It

The Serving Priesthood and the Visible Character of the Church

Chapter four: Attributes of the Church as the Body of Christ

The Unity of the Church

The Holiness of the Church

The Integral Sobornicity of the Church

The Apostolicity of the Church

Chapter five: The Working of the Holy Spirit: Divine Grace and Human Freedom

The Working of the Holy Spirit, or Divine Grace

The Human Person’s Free Cooperation with Grace

Gifts as Workings of the Spirit

Chapter six: The Human Person’s Salvation within the Body of Christ

Righteousness, Justification, Growth, and Ascent in the Spirit

The Human Person’s Rebirth and the Indwelling of Christ

The Gift of Salvation Appropriated through Faith and Good Works

The Easter season, also known as Eastertide or Paschaltide, constitutes the most significant period in our Catholic liturgical calendar.

It commences on Easter Sunday, the day celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and extends for fifty days until Pentecost Sunday.

This duration reflects the early Christian practice of observing one continuous feast of joy, often described as a single “great Sunday.”

During this time, the Church commemorates the culmination of Christ’s redemptive work, including His appearances to the disciples after the Resurrection, His Ascension into heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost.

The season emphasizes themes of victory over death, glorified life, and the outpouring of divine grace, with the frequent proclamation of “Alleluia” as a central expression of exultation.

The initial eight days form the Octave of Easter, during which each day holds the rank of a solemnity to prolong the solemn joy of Easter Sunday.

Liturgical elements include the use of white vestments as a symbol of purity, light and resurrection glory, along with the prominent placement of the Paschal Candle in the sanctuary until Pentecost.

Key observances within the season encompass Divine Mercy Sunday on the second Sunday of Easter and the Ascension of the Lord, typically celebrated forty days after Easter.

In its entirety, the Easter season invites the faithful to deepen their understanding of the Paschal mystery through prayer, scripture, and participation in the sacraments, underscoring that the Resurrection forms the foundation of Christian faith.

For the year 2026, this period spans from April 5 to May 24.

HE

33 Lord, help me to understand your teaching, then I will always obey it. 34 Explain your Law to me, then I will obey it. I will always love to do what it says. 35 Help me to live in a way that respects your commands. That is what makes me very happy. 36 Help me to love your rules. That is better for me than riches. 37 Turn my eyes away from useless things. Use your word to help me to live. 38 I am your servant. Please do what you have promised to do. You have promised to bless anyone who respects you. 39 I am afraid when people insult me. Your rules are good, so do not let me be ashamed. 40 I really want to obey your rules. Because you are righteous, please let me continue to live. — Psalm 119:33-40 | EasyEnglish Bible (EASY) EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 - Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. All rights reserved. Cross References: Exodus 33:13; Joshua 24:23; 2 Samuel 7:25; 1 Chronicles 22:12; Psalm 18:21; Psalm 25:4; Psalm 71:20; Psalm 112:1; Psalm 119:2; Psalm 119:20; Psalm 119:22; Psalm 119:25; Psalm 119:42; Isaiah 33:15; Hebrews 13:5

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oppressive, burning, terrible Grace, or, on the divine Absence which is also divine Love

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