Edna Mary Mac Donald – “Towards a Theology of the body: an analysis of the letters of Maria Dominica Mazzarello” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”

Firstly, I will state my position regarding a feminist Christian spirituality in relation to embodiment.

Secondly, I will situate the figure of Maria Mazzarello within the context of Italian spirituality by succinctly exploring some major notions of nineteenh-century Italian asceticism with its particular impact on women.

In the final section a critique of the autobiographical works of Maria in reference to embodiment spirituality will be explored.

The analysis will highlight two issues: how Maria broke with convention on significant philosophical and consequently theological ascetical orientations, and it will also indicate the retrieval of an embodied spirituality.

Contents:

• Introduction
  • Embodiment and Christian Spirituality
  • Nineteenth-century Italian Catholic Ascetical Practice
  • The Century of Asceticism
  • Nineteenth-century Italian Asceticism and its Impact on Women
  • A Theology of the Body: an Analysis of the Autobiographical Works of Maria Domenica Mazzarello
  • Care for the Body not Distrust of the Body
  • The Body Viewed Within the Realm of Selfmotivational Choices and Constant Re-evaluation of Life-style, not an Obstacle to Overcome through the Practice of Purity
  • The Body Considered Within the Notion of a Developing Self invested in Material Conditions not as a Punitive Understanding of the Spiritual Experience
• Conclusion

Reference time period: 1800 – 1880

Reference institution:
Institute of Salesian Studies