Asceticism of the East and West Christian tradition focused on evangelical counsels in the work of Tomas Cardinal Spidlik

The aim of the thesis is to compare the Eastern and Western Christian ascetic practices focused on obedience, chastity and poverty, i.e. the evangelical counsels, in the work of Cardinal Špidlík. It is exactly Špidlík's work that is a significant source for this subject. As an expert of the Eastern tradition and at the same time a member of the Jesuit order, Cardinal Špidlík, the theologian of the undivided Church, is very well familiar with both spiritualities. Subsequently I analyze the possibilities of layman to live according to these counsels, which is also a bonding line of the whole thesis. Last but not least, this thesis aims to reflect through secondary literature the Špidlík's concept of evangelical counsels and also the possibilities of laymen to live according these counsels. Keywords christian spirituality, asceticism, obedience, poverty, chastity, layman, evangelical counsel