Biblical foundations of the ecclesial spirituality of communio

Abstract

The process of secularization and relativization of modern man’s life touches the believers in their experience of the Church. At the same time, there is a noticeable interest in spirituality, but often of an individualized and non-religious nature. Hence, the necessity arises to reflect on the proper understanding of the identity of the Church. The appropriate concept for describing this identity is communio. The article explains its proper understanding in the biblical key due to the ambiguity that occurs in publications in the field of theology, as well as in non-theological sciences. It acquires a special meaning in the theology of spirituality, by defining the character of unity between God and man. The analysis of the Old Testament reveals essential aspects of the communion arising from the covenant. The analysis of the New Testament shows that the fullness of communion was accomplished in Jesus Christ, and it finds its continuation in the Church. Therefore, Christians’ spirituality should be interpersonal, Christocentric, Christoformic and ecclesial. This process shapes moral life, reflected in individual, social, economic and even political life.