Tesi Claretianum
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Bibin Joseph
A Christological Approach to Religious Vows as Ascent to Christian Perfection. In the Light of St. Gregory of Nissa's
Tesi di Dottorato difesa il 28/06/2023
Moderatore: George Lanithottam
Censore 2: Carlos GarcÃa Andrade
Esaminatore: Joseph Elamparayil
While in the Church all – laity, ordained ministers and consecrated persons – are called to a life of perfection in Christ, the consecrated life is called “the state of perfection”. Cappadocian Father St Gregory of Nyssa’s ascetical treatise The Life of Moses provides a route map for Christians in general, and consecrated persons in particular, to live their life of Christian perfection as a progressive participation in Christ. In it, the story of Moses, from his birth in Egypt to his death having seen the Promised Land, is presented as a journey to Christian perfection. Moses represents a virtuous soul who follows the example of Christ and progressively participate in him by means of the “three theophanies” – burning bush, heavenly tabernacle and God’s back – through which Christ reveals himself. This thesis focuses mainly on these three theophanies/stages and interprets them as consecrated persons’ progressive participation in Christ through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and the attainment of Christian perfection.