Food and Spirituality: Contemplation of God's Love While Eating

Ivan Platovnjak

doi:10.26142/stgd-2021-005

Published: 2021-12-16

Vol. 48 (2021)

Food and Spirituality: Contemplation of God's Love While Eating

Ivan Platovnjak

Gdańsk Studies

Section: Artykuły

https://doi.org/10.26142/stgd-2021-005

Abstract

How are food and spirituality connected? How can food and the time we eat help us to live more integrally in a deeper personal relationship with God and also with ourselves, other people, food and all creation? How can we live Christian spirituality more integrally through food? In this article, the author attempts to answer these and other questions that arise in relation to food. First, he describes his personal experience with food. Then he presents an understanding of food in the light of Scripture and the Eucharist. In the second chapter he shows the importance of prayer before eating and the blessing of food, and what we can do to make the whole time of eating a time of deeper encounter with God and his self-giving love. In the last chapter, he shows a practical exercise of contemplation of God's love while we eat, which can help us to become more and more like God, who also gives himself for us through food.

Keywords:

food, eating, God's love, contemplation, prayer, spirituality

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Ivan Platovnjak, Erika Prijatelj, Vinko Zovko, The Understanding of Ascesis in Christianity , Gdańsk Studies: Vol. 52 (2023)
Ivan Platovnjak, Emotional and Spiritual Healing After Abortion in the Rachel's Vineyard Retreat , Gdańsk Studies: Vol. 50 (2022)
Ivan Platovnjak, Popular Piety: Living or “Dead” Tradition? , Gdańsk Studies: Vol. 42 (2018)
Ivan Platovnjak, Erika Prijatelj, Lifelong Catechesis as a Response to People's Life Needs , Gdańsk Studies: Vol. 51 (2022)

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Platovnjak, I. (2021). Food and Spirituality: Contemplation of God’s Love While Eating. Gdańsk Studies, 48, 81–92. https://doi.org/10.26142/stgd-2021-005

Cited by / Share

References

Avsenik Nabergoj, I., Biblične in antropološke podlage Avguštinovih metafor hrane [Biblical and Anthropological Foundations of Augustine's Food Metaphors], »Bogoslovni vestnik« 77/2 (2017), p. 405-421.
Google Scholar

Avsenik Nabergoj, I., Literarne oblike v Svetem pismu in odmevi v poznejši judovsko-krščanski kulturi [Literary Forms in the Bible and Echoes in Later Judaeo-Christian Culture], Ljubljana 2021.
Google Scholar

Citterio, E., Il “sentimento religioso” nella pratica della direzione spirituale, in: L'intelligenza spirituale del sentimento, ed. B.P. Vy̌seslavcev et al., Roma 1994, p. 187-224.
Google Scholar

Guindulain, D. Attracted by God: 49 Spiritual Practices, Barcelona 2019, http://www.cristianismeijusticia.net/en/attracted-god-49-spiritual-practicesb [12.08.2021].
Google Scholar

Horvat, S. – Roszak, P., Is Religion Only Utilitarian? Evolutionary Cognitive Science of Religion Through a Thomistic Lens, “Theology and Science” 18/3 (2020), p. 475-489. Doi; https://doi.org/10.1080/14746700.2020.1786222.
Google Scholar

Ignacij Lojolski, Duhovne vaje [Spiritual Exercises], Ljubljana 1991.
Google Scholar

Iwański, D., Speaking About Biblical Wisdom, “Collectanea Theologica” 77 (2007), p. 51-60.
Google Scholar

John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Dies Domini, Vatican 1998, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1998/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini.html [09.08.2021].
Google Scholar

Kutarna, A., Hierarchy and Likeness—Ways to Union with God in Pseudo-Dionysius and Aquinas, “Biblica et Patristica Thoruniensia” 13 (2020), p. 189-198.
Google Scholar

New International Version (NIV). https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible [05.08.2021].
Google Scholar

Paul VI, Encyclical Mysterium Fidei, Vatican 1965, https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_03091965_mysterium.html [08.08.2021].
Google Scholar

Pevec Rozman, M, Pomen in vloga religije v sodobni postmoderni družbi in iskanje bistva religioznega fenomena [The Meaning and Role of Religion in Postmodern Society and the Question of the Essence of the Religious Phenomenon], »Bogoslovni vestnik« 77/2 (2017), p. 289-301.
Google Scholar

Platovnjak, I. – Roblek, J. Moliti s telesom, dušo in duhom. Molitveni priročnik [Pray with Body, Soul and Spirit. Prayer Manual]. Ljubljana 2005.
Google Scholar

Platovnjak, I. − Svetelj, T., Anatheism − an incentive to discover the importance of discipleship in Christianity, »Bogoslovni vestnik« 78/2 (2018), p. 375-386.
Google Scholar

Platovnjak, I., The understanding of spirituality among Slovene Catholics on the basis of the survey "Sacrifice in Christian spirituality", »Synthesis philosophica« 35/1 (2020), p. 217-234.
Google Scholar

Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation
Google Scholar

Gaudete Et Exsultate, Vatican 2018, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html [10.08.2021].
Google Scholar

Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato si’, Vatican 2015, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html [11.08.2021].
Google Scholar

Roszak, P. – Seryczyńska, B., A Pilgrim Blessing -an Alluring Folklore Expression of Piety? Theological Insights from the Camino de Santiago, “Bogoslovni vestnik” 80/3 (2020), p. 685-696.
Google Scholar

Skralovnik, S., Otvoritev biblične arheološke razstave Od puščave do mize [Opening of the Biblical Archaeological Exhibition From Desert to the Table], “Edinost in dialog” 73 (2018), p. 277–284.
Google Scholar

Skralovnik, S., Pomen hrane v Svetem pismu: “Človek ne živi samo od kruha.” (5 Mz 8,3) [Meaning of Food in the Bible: 'Man does not Live by Bread Alone'. (Dt 8:3)]. “Božja beseda danes” 25 [i.e. 26]/1 (2019), p. 12-14.
Google Scholar

Stegu, T., Žrtev in pashalna skrivnost ter homilija na Slovenskem [Victim, the Paschal Mystery and Homily in Slovenia], »Bogoslovni vestnik« 76/2 (2016), p. 393-403.
Google Scholar

Tasca, M., Hrana, ki hrani − za zdravo in sveto življenje. Pismo generalnega ministra vsem bratom Reda [Food that Nourishes − for a Healthy and Holy Life. Letter from the Minister General to all the Brothers of the Order], Ptuj 2015.
Google Scholar

Zyzak, W., Co mam czynić, aby osiągnąć życie wieczne? Duchowość chrzescijańska na świeckiej drodze życia [What shall man do to gain eternal life? Christian spirituality in the life of lay people], Kraków 2008.
Google Scholar

Žalec, B., Rezilienca, teologalne kreposti in odzivna Cerkev [Resilience, Theological Virtues, and a Responsive Church], »Bogoslovni vestnik« 80/2 (2020), p. 267-279.
Google Scholar