Sr. Laurel M. O'Neal, Er. Dio.
My blogs
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Industry | Religion |
| Occupation | Hermit, theologian, pastoral assistant (St Perpetua's),spiritual director (member Spiritual Directors International), writer (spirituality and theology, Review For Religious) |
| Location | Diocese of Oakland: Lafayette, CA, United States |
| Introduction | I am a perpetually professed diocesan hermit and systematic theologian. Formerly Franciscan, I moved towards Benedictinism and desert spirituality eventually finding a home in Camaldolese Benedictinism (I am affiliated as an Oblate with Transfiguration Monastery in Windsor, NY). My major undergraduate and graduate (BA MA,ThD) work is all in systematic theology (minors or double majors in philosophy, and English). Where eremitism spills over into ministry, I am most excited about working to some limited extent in adult faith formation where the most profound questions are asked, where pastoral concerns drive one's intellectual work and the very best apologetic or "answering" theology can be done. I work regularly as a spiritual director and am a member of SDI. I also write for publication in the areas of spirituality and theology. I have a background in clinical lab (phlebotomist) and neurosciences (research assistant) as well as experience in hospital clinical pastoral work (chaplaincy) . Combining all these influences, I have been most interested in the idea of chronic illness as vocation, and especially as a possible instance of the eremitical vocation. |
| Interests | My dominating interest is systematic theology though I have a secondary interest in Scripture studies. (Let me be clear though, Scripture itself is primary in my life.) The Theology of the cross both intrigues me and drives my work on every level (emotionally, psychologically, intellectually, spiritually). I am likewise interested in theological linguistics. Currently I am working on the theology of Holy Saturday and its importance for living in liminal (in-between) times and situations. I am also interested in the theology of eremitical life, chronic illness as vocation, universalism (apokatastasis), the way the Holocaust demands a theology of the cross as an adequate answering theology, and the theology of divinization. I love classical music (I play 1st violin in the Oakland Civic Orchestra and some celtic fiddle), and science fiction. I also enjoy some fantasy literature (not least Harry Potter, and the work of Naomi Novik and Robin Hobb)! |
| Favorite Movies | Lord of the Rings Trilogy (not as good as the books of course), The Hiding Place, UP, Schindler's List, The Green Mile, The King's Speech, Of God's and Men, Tree of Life, The Help, The Life of Pi, Avatar, Calvary, Cabrini (just saw this 2024) |
| Favorite Music | Bach unaccompanied sonatas and partitas for violin, Beethoven symphonies, Mendelssohn symphonies, Mozart and Faure Requiems, St Louis Jesuits, most of Bernadette Farrell's work, Psalms for the Journey by Christopher Willcock, O Day of Resurrection (Camaldolese), Taize chants. |
| Favorite Books | Jesus and the Victory of God, Theological Linguistics (Gerhard Ebeling), the Eremitic Life (Cornelius Wencel, Camaldolese), The Privilege of Love (Camaldolese), Delio's the Humility of God and her book on Clare, Tillich's Systematic Theology, Almost anything by John Dwyer, John Haught, Sister Sandra Schneiders, or Tom Wright (and a million other theology books), Harry Potter series, Merton's Contemplation in a World of Action, and his essay on the Philosophy of Solitude in Disputed Questions. |