The Divine Milieu is a revolutionary book of Christian spirituality. So revolutionary, in fact, that religious superiors disallowed publication. Tho Teilhard, as everyone called him, finished writing it around 1929, it wasn't brought to light until his death, in French in '57 in English translation in '60. Even today few understand it & many are suspicious because it appears to fly in the face of traditional piety. But, while utterly contemporary & revolutionary, it's Christian to its core. It's joyful, hopeful & enthusiastic, as any Christian spirituality should be. It expresses a love of nature, a delight in scientific discovery, a rejoicing in progress & an almost childlike trust in a benevolent cosmos evolving in the unconditional love of a benevolent, forgiving God. It may offer the only integrative spirituality that can satisfy contemporary experience. Translator's Note Preface Introduction 1 The divinisation of our activities The Christian problem of the sanctification of action An incomplete solution: human action has no value other than the intention which directs it The final solution: all endeavour cooperates to complete the world in Christo Jesu Communion through action The Christian perfection of human endeavor Detachment through action 2 The divinisation of our passivities. The extent, depth & diverse forms of human passivities The passivities of growth & the two hands of God The passivities of diminishment Attachment & detachment The meaning of the cross The spiritual power of matter 3 The divine Milieu The attributes of the divine Milieu The nature of the divine Milieu The growth of the divine Milieu Epilogue Translations from the Latin Index
The Divine Milieu is a revolutionary book of Christian spirituality. So revolutionary, in fact, that religious superiors disallowed publication. Tho Teilhard, as everyone called him, finished writing it around 1929, it wasn't brought to light until his death, in French in '57 in English translation in '60. Even today few understand it & many are suspicious because it appears to fly in the face of traditional piety. But, while utterly contemporary & revolutionary, it's Christian to its core. It's joyful, hopeful & enthusiastic, as any Christian spirituality should be. It expresses a love of nature, a delight in scientific discovery, a rejoicing in progress & an almost childlike trust in a benevolent cosmos evolving in the unconditional love of a benevolent, forgiving God. It may offer the only integrative spirituality that can satisfy contemporary experience. Translator's Note Preface Introduction 1 The divinisation of our activities The Christian problem of the sanctification of action An incomplete solution: human action has no value other than the intention which directs it The final solution: all endeavour cooperates to complete the world in Christo Jesu Communion through action The Christian perfection of human endeavor Detachment through action 2 The divinisation of our passivities. The extent, depth & diverse forms of human passivities The passivities of growth & the two hands of God The passivities of diminishment Attachment & detachment The meaning of the cross The spiritual power of matter 3 The divine Milieu The attributes of the divine Milieu The nature of the divine Milieu The growth of the divine Milieu Epilogue Translations from the Latin Index