Solidarity from the Christian Spirituality Perspective: from the Patristic Period to Our Times

Autor u svom radu o solidarnosti iz perspektive kršćanske duhovnosti ističe teologalno-antropološki vid solidarnosti kako ga nalazimo u Bibliji i u otačkom teološkom promišljanju. Naime, solidarnost koja se uspostavlja između Boga i čovjeka te između ljudi međusobno ima svoje uporište u čovjekovoj strukturi odnosnosti, a zajedništvo s Bogom - koje je u korijenu svih odnosa čovjeka prema drugim ljudima i prema svemu stvorenju - jest temeljem i modelom svakog drugog oblika solidarnosti. Na temelju otačkih tekstova pokazuje kako se pod solidarnošću razumijeva životni stav pojedinca i čovječanstva koji promiče zajedničko dobro shvaćeno kao razvoj i rast cijeloga čovjeka i sviju ljudi, a ne prihvaća logiku podjele i nadmoći, pohlepe na račun drugoga. Sva kršćanska duhovnost i sav vjernički život, od apostolskih vremena do danas, imaju svoje uporište u Bibliji, bez koje se ne mogu ispravno razumjeti temeljne dimenzije kršćanske duhovnosti. No, to nije posve dovoljno jer mi kršćani vjerujemo da »božanske riječi rastu zajedno s onim tko ih čita« (sv. Grgur Veliki), a pogotovo s onim tko ih ozbiljno i velikodušno živi, te je i sama biblijska poruka obogaćena evanđeoskim životom tolikih kršćana kako to zorno pokazuju i dokazuju primjeri raznovrsnih oblika ostvarivanja kršćanske solidarnosti kroz povijest, napose kad je riječ o svetim očima, monaštvu i redovništvu. Aktualizacija nekih promišljanja i modela ostvarenih u povijesti kršćanstva, kako je naznačeno u 4. dijelu teksta, može itekako pomoći u današnjem teološkom promišljanju, a napose u traženju i ostvarivanju novih modelaThe author in his article »Solidarity from the Perspective of Christian Spirituality« considers the contemporary concept and significance of solidarity as an important sign of the times, and that there is a progressive development of a new personal and social awareness of responsibility towards one another, especially an awareness of various categories of the needy not only at the level of Christian responsibility, but also socially, economically and politically. The author is foremost concerned with the theologal-anthropological aspect of solidarity as it is found in the Bible, and which the holy fathers theologically examine. They show how the faith experience in God who is in solidarity with man, influences the believer and gives him a motive to live in true solidarity with mankind. The history of salvation is a gradual revelation of God who reveals himself to man as a God of solidarity who gradually enters a person\u27s life, and who in Christ Jesus, completely accepts him mutually shares with man all that is human, except sin. Having created man, God calls him to become a partner in the careful governance of the world (cf. Gen 2:15). In as much as he is the image of God (cf. Gen 1:26) man is a co-speaker that God endows him to himself. He is a co-speaker who, being the only creature among creation, is able to hear God who speaks and answers him, and enters with him into a communal relationship. Solidarity established in this way between God and man, has its foundation in the per son\u27s structure of relatedness and community with God. This is the source of man\u27s relationship with other people and creation and is also the basis and model for every other form of solidarity. Therefore, we are allowed to concede that solidarity is not a directive, it is not only an urgent need for the present moment, but is a question of authentic Christian life. Based on this reality of faith, the holy fathers compose their theological reflections and teach that God\u27s solidarity tends to be realised in two ways. Firstly, to share life with all that is, all that has and that does (to be for someone or something), and being completely generous in giving of self (to be for someone or something). The Holy Fathers have it in mind to formularise this into a real form of solidarity (1st and 2nd part of article). On the basis of patristic texts, it is suggest that solidarity is understood as an individual\u27s attitude towards life and mankind, promoting the general good understood to be the development and growth of the whole person and all people, while not accepting the logic of division, superiority or greed to the detriment of others. Even though all Christian spirituality and religious life, stretching from the apostolic times until today, is based on revelation, without which the basic principles of Christian spirituality cannot be correctly comprehended, indeed, even this is not adequate because as Christians we believe that »divine words grow in unison with the one the reads them« (St. Gregory the Great). This is especially true of so many Christians who seriously and generously live these words, enriching the biblical message by an evangelical life as shown by various historical examples of Christian spirituality, being particularly manifested through the lives of the holy fathers, monasticism and religious life. The author offers a brief outline primarily of a variety of accomplishments of solidarity through nearly fifteen centuries. From available sources it is evident that theological discourse in that period is not as intense as in the patristic times, although being astonishingly creative. As Christianity in that period influenced all areas of the life of persons and nations, it is clear that Christians for unique situations, looked to innovative types of responsible solidarity, evident from the brief history outline from the apostolic times till now (3rd part of the article). Some of the considerations and models realised in the history of Christianity, as is pointed out in the 4th part of the article, can obviously be of help in contemporary theological discourse, especially when it comes to seeking and actualising new models of Christian solidarity for our times