Mayéutica

The article deals with Augustine’s idea about Creation and Ecology in the first two commentaries that the Bishop of Hippo wrote, namely, De Genesi contra manicheos and De Genesi ad litteram opus inperfectum. The article stresses that in those Works, St. Augustine underlines that the triune God is the creator of all things. The article also stresses God’s omnipotence, the Creation ex/de nihilo, and also the ecological ideas that Augustine presents in those commentaries, such as the Philocalia as a path to discover the Beauty of God in his works; the Order of the Creation in which all creatures are necessary and are interconnected between them; the Creation as a House in which God as the paterfamilias takes care of all things; the human being as the one who has to take charge of Creation in the Name of God, and how all Creation is directed towards God.

The article offers a study of the Ascensional Psalms 119 to 125. First of all, the article presents the Latin Text used by Augustine, making a reconstruction of the Psalm’s Text, based on what Augustine comments in his explanation of the Psalms. After that, the Psalms are studied in a Biblical Context, to present afterwards the interpretation that Augustine makes of the Psalms, highlighting the Topic of Hope according to Augustine’s interpretation.

The article presents a brief description of the background and the times of the Ascensional Psalms (Ps. 119-133). Then the sense and the main content of Augustine’s commentary on the Psalms is dealt. The article also presents Augustine’s doctrine on Prayer, as it is presented in the Commentary to the Ascensional Psalms. Finally, the article presents some conclusions.

The article deals with the philosophy of Jankélévitch, in which words such as unknowable, what cannot be expressed are present, and it brings the idea of ambiguous, unfathomable, not separable. This does not mean that his philosophy deals with a chaotic or fruitless reality of what cannot be expressed, but it means that he proposes, in his description of reality, another way of watching the World beyond the real, touchable and specific World, inviting us to contemplate and experience the “I-do-not-what” which surrounds us, which is expressed especially through art. This article addresses a comparison between the mystical experiences of John of the Cross (1542-1591) and the concept of what cannot be expressed of the philosopher Vladmir Jankélévicth (1903-1985). First of all, a brief biography of John of the Cross is presented, stressing his historical context and the “Place” which he describes. Then the article makes an analysis of the poem “Ectasis of High Contemplation”, to stress the elements which are present in the poem, and that help us to approach to Jankélévicth’s philosophy.

The article deals with Augustine as interpreter of History and at the same time as a engaged pastor of souls. In the first part it offers a summary of the historical facts that happened in Rome between the years 410-411, stressing Augustine’s interpretation. In a second place it presents the way in which Augustine answered to the moment of trial, and which supposed a crisis for the theology. Its addresses also the topic of the Two Cities and its contemporary importance, searching to encourage a theological discernment for the times of trouble. Finally the engagement of Augustine with History is stressed.