John 17 as a source for a spirituality of communion

Abstract

The principal aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the concept of "a spirituality of communion", with a special emphasis on unity, as envisaged by Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, and the themes in John 17. In the first chapter we explore the contents of John 17 through the narratological approach to Johannine narrative developed by D. F. Tolmie, in his monograph on Jesus' farewell discourse. We shall examine a number of Tolmie's categories discussing the structure of John 17, and touching upon its different themes. The next two chapters, refer to various documents, mostly authored by Chiara Lubich, thereby carrying out a historical critical analysis of Lubich's and her Movement's experience of "a spirituality of communion". The study concludes that this spirituality, based on various themes, particularly on the Christian relationship with the Trinitarian model of communion, finds its source in John 17, and is one that can be, and has been put into practice.