Growing into God: The Fathers of the Church on Christian Maturity: 6 (Patristic Theology)

Many studies of spiritual development exist under the heading of "Christian Perfection." However, John Gavin revisits such topics as asceticism, prayer, sacraments, virtues, and spiritual combat through scriptural and patristic texts that present the Christian life as one of growth from spiritual infancy to a particular fulfillment or end (telos): divinized humanity as formed and revealed in Jesus Christ.Thus, though Christian maturity does incorporate such things as physical and cognitive development, its true distinction lies in its gifted, supernatural end that does not exclude human freedom. Part One establishes the pillars of Christian maturity - form and finality; virtue and character; vocation and mission - and explores the opposition to maturation in the form of demonic infantilism.Part Two examines the means of maturity given to us in the life of the Church: the Scriptures, the Mysteries (Sacraments), and asceticism.Finally, Part Three reviews four figures of Christian adultho