In Ahnung und Gegenwart Eichendorff makes no specific reference to the subject of happiness. Because of this, this theme must be explored indirectly through an analysis of the society and characters depicted in the novel. By abstracting those characteristics which Eichendorff describes as creating happiness in the society and the individual one can construct a thesis representing his views in this regard. In this novel Eichendorff contrasts two societies— the artificial permissive society of the court, whose attitudes he satirizes, and the wholesome rural society, whose attitudes he condones. The latter conserves the traditional Christian-Germanic virtues of "treue Sitte und Frömmigkeit" and, as such, one assumes, represents the author's ideal of the truly happy society. Eichendorff recognizes individual differences and realises that human beings seek happiness in many different ways. He realizes that men and women differ radically in this respect. Men seek happiness primarily through a career. Women seek it in love. Eichendorff also realizes the variation in human temperament which transcends sexual differences. He realizes that extroverts seek happiness actively in the world— possibly in some political commitment—and are likely to seek fulfillment through marriage. (This is true of Leontin.) Introverts, on the other hand, tend to seek fulfillment through their own inner resources—through the practice of art or religion. They are also more apt to sublimate their desire for human love into some aesthetic or spiritual ideal. (This is true of Friedrich.) But although Eichendorff does not prescribe any particular form of human fulfillment, he does prescribe the conditions under which happiness is to be sought. He is convinced that there are certain inner qualities which the individual must possess if he is to achieve it. These are the same qualities which motivate the ideal rural society, "treue Sitte und Frömmigkeit," morality and religion. Only by subjecting himself to these ordering influences can the individual attain peace and harmony, the fruits of happiness. If the individual does not subject himself to them, his life becomes disordered and he shatters on life. Morality is necessary to protect the individual from disturbing emotional experiences which may disrupt his life. Spirituality is necessary to ensure the inner equilibrium which is conducive to happiness. Eichendorff, however, does not present a facile, Victorian view of life. Although he stresses the necessity of morality and religion as bases of an ordered and happy life, he nowhere promulgates the naive view that all individuals are capable of exercising these virtues. He realizes that all individuals are limited by heredity and environment and that, consequently, "will-power" itself is an inherited, or acquired, characteristic. Not all individuals, when frustrated in their search for happiness have the capacity to restrain themselves by morality or sublimate themselves in religion. (Thus, Romana commits suicide, Erwin dies of a broken heart, and Rudolf escapes into a life of magic.) Eichendorff does not give preference to any particular form of human fulfillment. Nevertheless it is not unreasonable to assume that Friedrich, from whose viewpoint the novel is written, represents Eichendorff1s ideal of human development. Friedrich is a contemplative, a self-contained personality able to attain fulfillment through his own inner resources. He is able to experience the joy of creativity and that of an intimate relationship with God, profound human experiences unrelated to the vicissitudes of the external world. His happiness is thus more enduring than- that of those who seek it outside of themselves. And yet, although he is physically isolated from the world, he has the assurance of serving it in the most meaningful manner. Through his prayers as a religious he hopes to reawaken those forces of morality and religion which alone will restore happiness to his society. / Arts, Faculty of / Central Eastern Northern European Studies, Department of / Graduate

The name Diploma thesis is "Benedictine Rule for Laymen or Becoming an Oblate". The main goal of this thesis is the presentation of benedictione spirituality as it is lived in common daily life not only among the walls of monastery. It focuses mainly on benedictine oblate laymen. It shows that the Rule created in the sixth centurty is not obsolete and provides guidelines for getting closer to God through everyday labor and prayer. It is divided into three parts which cover historical and spiritual aspects benedictine rule regarding oblates. The first part describes beginnings of monasticism and life of Saint Benedict. The second part describes history of oblates since their formation. The last part focuses on role of oblates in the church, their spirituality and their life in the world.

The thesis offers a thorough comparison of two significant 17th century linguistic works: the book on Czech grammar by Vavřinec Benedikt from Nudožery, Grammaticae Bohemicae Ad Leges Naturalis Methodi Conformatae, & Notis numerisq illustratae ac distinctae, Libri duo, and the first printed Lithuanian grammar book by Daniel Klein, Grammatica Litvanica. The thesis places the tradition of Bohemian and Lithuania Minor grammar studies into the presented historical framework, it introduces Klein's and Benedikt's predecessors, and offers a detailed biography of both compared authors. It focuses on the preface of both works and the main linguistic section of each. The appendix contains Czech translations of the introductions of both grammatical works.

Evangelization is the most important mission and responsibility of the Church and the main characteristic of her very existence. The church evangelizes because it is her duty to proclaim and to testify for the Gospel. The new evangelization is necessary most of all in such places where the Christian tradition has lost its living sense of faith, where people have lost their feeling of being members of the Church, or they have retreated from Jesus Christ. This topic has proved to be very important and pressing. Since the times of the Second Vatican Council, the Popes, namely Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, have been expressing their opinions on this subject. They have been searching for new language, new ways, new forms of evangelization. This thesis aims to show that there is a noticeable development of approaches of individual pontiffs to evangelization. Keywords The new evangelization; The evangelization; John Paul II.; Benedikt XVI.; Francis; The church.

The submitted dissertation's main object is an in-depth study of the portals created by the lodge of Benedikt Ried at Prague Castle and a group of portals that reflected the lodge's stimuli in Bohemian towns in the first half of the 16th century. The first all'antica portals in Moravia and Italianate works in Prague towns were also researched with the aim to analyse and better understand the contact of local "Gothic" tradition and incoming Italianate forms ca. 1500 in the area of interest on a wider theoretical background. The thesis consists of two parts. First, the key theoretical concepts of how to interpret the contact of the "Gothic" with the "Renaissance" relevant to the object of empirical study are introduced. As recent theoretical thought showed, the tendency to revise the interpretation of formal syncretism and pluralism in European architecture ca. 1500 stemmed, among others, from the need to correct several patterns common in former research methods, i.e. the presumption of stylistic unity, the effort to identify one principle through the "classical stylistic phase" supposed to be common to all artworks of a given time period, and the simultaneous use of the term "Renaissance" for both a set of stylistic features and a historical era connected with the idea of progress. All these were...

Univ., Diss.--Hannover, 1997.

The thesis deals with selected baroque paintings that hang in the cloister of the Cistercians monastery and in the monastery's church of the Virgin Mary's Ascension in Osek. It aspires on approaching the paintings of less known baroque artists of Václav Antonín Lihm, Gerard Angelmayer and Benedikt Kern. It also aspires on setting their artistic production into the situation at the monastery. The first part describes the monastery in Osek as an important clerical centre that has ineffaceably inscribed itself into the landscape of Northern Bohemia as well as into the history of Czech Art by its baroque reconstruction. The thesis then introduces individual painters in their relation to the monastery as well as their other production. What follows is the description of respective paintings from the church and the cloister. Particular attention is paid to the scenes from the life of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and to other saints of Cistercian Order. Graphic artworks that may be used for paintings are also included. Identified findings are summarised at the end of the thesis. Keywords Benedikt Kern, Gerard Angermayer, Václav Antonín Lihm, monastery in Osek

Diploma thesis "Prayer in St. Benedict's monastic rule and interreligious dialogue" is focused on the St. Benedict prayer presentation and its importance in the interreligious dialogue. The prayer should be considered as an essential parts of each Christian religious life. Christian life represented and described by St. Benedict, is the life of prayer. Benedict monastic rule has application, however, thanks to the generally applicable principles outside the monastery and should be suitable part of the spiritual experience of every Christian. The main goal of this thesis it to show the importance of real prayer and way of life in prayer for interreligious dialogue by Benedictine monks in the time of Bede Griffiths, Thomas Merton, John Main and Laurence Freeman, representing experience regarding interreligious dialogue with Hindu and Buddhist monks about the contemplation, prayer and different religious traditions. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Trilogy Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI from the perspective of fundamental theology In this thesis, the author aims to finding interesting topics in the trilogy, Jesus of Nazareth of Pope Benedict XVI and their contribution to fundamental theology. The author takes into account the other sources from theological work of Joseph Ratzinger and his production as Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI. Work represents the view of Joseph Ratzinger on the use of empirical methods, particularly the historical-critical method in the study of the Scripture, the historical credibility of the Gospel of John and his authorship and the internal process of the text in Church. The thesis also discusses the benefits of the Gospel of John for internal knowledge of Jesus Christ and draws conclusions from the empirical reductionism for understanding Jesus' divinity. The author then discusses the topic of truth and love as the possibility of recognizing their source in God. Marginally mentions the role of the Virgin Mary and her helping to the study of Scripture and deepen relations between Christians and Christ.

Trilogy Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI from the perspective of fundamental theology In this thesis, the author aims to finding interesting topics in the trilogy, Jesus of Nazareth of Pope Benedict XVI and their contribution to fundamental theology. The author takes into account the other sources from theological work of Joseph Ratzinger and his production as Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI. Work represents the view of Joseph Ratzinger on the use of empirical methods, particularly the historical-critical method in the study of the Scripture, the historical credibility of the Gospel of John and his authorship and the internal process of the text in Church. The thesis also discusses the benefits of the Gospel of John for internal knowledge of Jesus Christ and draws conclusions from the empirical reductionism for understanding Jesus' divinity. The author then discusses the topic of truth and love as the possibility of recognizing their source in God. Marginally mentions the role of the Virgin Mary and her helping to the study of Scripture and deepen relations between Christians and Christ.