Theology as "sapientia fidei": Mutual influences between theology and spirituality

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Published: Jun 29, 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5752/P.2175-5841.2014v12n34p510
Keywords:
heology, experience of God, spirituality, trinity, prayer.

Main Article Content

Paulo Sérgio Carrara
Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia (FAJE) Instituto Santo Tomás de Aquino (ISTA)
Solange Maria do Carmo
PUC Minas ISTA

Abstract

The present article presents a reflection on the connection between theology and spirituality. It is known that scholastic theology became very speculative and rational reducing spirituality to popular piety and its devotions. Modern theologians have rediscovered the existential dimension of theology, once that, being the science of revelation, it seeks a rational language coherent with the Christian experience of God. Theology joins faith and reason – the experience of faith, nonetheless, comes before the rational reflection, which, in last instance, is in benefit of the experience in order to illuminate it and make it more faithful to the fundamental experience of revelation in Jesus Christ, found in the Scriptures. In this sense, spirituality emerges as an intrinsic aspect to theology. Theology, if it is to remain faithful to its mission, expresses itself existentially as sapientia fidei (the wisdom of faith). This article treats, therefore, of the evident relationship, many times forgotten, between theology (rational discourse) and spirituality (Christian experience of God) showing that theology only fulfills its role in service to the Church if it leads the believer to an experience of the undivided mystery of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

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Article Details

How to Cite
CARRARA, Paulo Sérgio; CARMO, Solange Maria do. Theology as "sapientia fidei": Mutual influences between theology and spirituality. HORIZONTE - Journal of Studies in Theology and Religious Sciences, Belo Horizonte, v. 12, n. 34, p. 510–533, 2014. DOI: 10.5752/P.2175-5841.2014v12n34p510. Disponível em: https://periodicos.pucminas.br/horizonte/article/view/P.2175-5841.2014v12n34p510. Acesso em: 14 aug. 2025.
Issue
v. 12, n. 34, abr./jun. 2014 - Dossiê: Religião, Mercado e Mídia
Section
Artigos/Articles: Temática Livre/Free subject

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Author Biographies

Paulo Sérgio Carrara, Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia (FAJE) Instituto Santo Tomás de Aquino (ISTA)

Possui graduação em Filosofia pela Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (1990) e graduação em Teologia pela Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia de Belo Horizonte - FAJE (1996). Fez mestrado em teologia com especialização em espiritualidade na Pontificia Faculdade Teológica Teresianum de Roma (2003) e doutorado em teologia pela Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia de Belo Horizonte (2010). Atualmente é professor de teologia na Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia de Belo Horizonte - FAJE (graduação e pós-graduação), no Instituto Santo Tomás de Aquino - ISTA (graduação e pós-graduação) e no Seminário Diocesano Nossa Senhora do Rosário - Diocese de Caratinga.

 

Solange Maria do Carmo, PUC Minas ISTA

Doutora em teologia pela faculdade jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia de Belo Horizonte (FAJE), professora no Instituto de Teologia e Filosofia Dom João Resende Costa da PUC-Minas e no Instituto Santo Tomás de Aquino (ISTA), em Belo Horizonte.