‘GOD mediation’ website: an online network for the apostleship of interior life

In matters of spiritual life it is necessary to unceasingly evaluate one’s behaviour “in order to make sure if one is not running, or had not run, in vain” (Galatians 2:2) (cf., John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, Book 2, Chapter 22, n. 12-13). Without sound knowledge founded on Revelation and Tradition, both the Christian individuals as well as their spiritual directors, can never be sure on the authenticity of one’s spiritual journey.

They will resemble two blind people guiding each other (cf. Matthew 15:14), both risking to fall into the pit (cf. John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, Book 2, Chapter 18, n. 2).  Without such knowledge, as Saint John of the Cross explains, Christians “reach the summit much later, expend more effort, and gain less merit… [They] resemble children who kick and cry and struggle to walk by themselves when their mothers want to carry them; in walking by themselves they make no headway, or if they do, it is at a child’s pace” (John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, Book 1, Prologue, n. 3).

The aim of this website

Taking all this into consideration, and encouraged by the Church who invites theologians to “seek out more sufficient ways […] of presenting their teaching to human persons of their times; (Gaudium et Spes, n. 62)”  we hope that the knowledge shared on this website will help individual Christians (directly or through the guidance of their spiritual director) to improve their actual ways of practising their relationship with God and orientate them towards a more mature practice; specifically by offering knowledge (fides quae) that might enrich their collaborating with the God’s grace (fides qua).

Therefore, the knowledge and courses on this website are intended to help the individuals as well as their spiritual directors, to help discern their actual experience of relating to God (fides qua), through the knowledge from Revelation and Tradition (fides quae). This is important since as stated by the Congregation for the Clergy, “maturation and growth in the faith require […contemporarily the fides quae and fides qua] comprehensive and coherent development” (General directory for Catechesis, n. 92). Such knowledge needs to be ‘interdisciplinary’. As stated by Pope Francis, “A theology – and not simply a pastoral theology – which is in dialogue with other sciences and human experiences, is most important for our discernment on how best to bring the Gospel message to different cultural contexts and groups” (Evangelii Gaudium, n.133).

Why ‘GOD Mediation’?

God is revealed in time through mediation. For quite a long time, God sent agents to serve as ‘mediators’ (middle-persons) between Him and the people. Then He sent his son as ‘The Mediator’ between God and Humanity. After his death and resurrection, Jesus left the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that he will continue being mediated throughout history. This website intends to contribute to this process of mediation within the Church.

Division of the website

This website is divided into four main sections:

Life in God

The section ‘Life in God’ is intended to offer knowledge that might help the person: a) to discover oneself in God, b) to relate with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, c) to find one’s personal mission, d) to offer practical means of relating to God according to age and life status, and d) to provide role models that can inspire one’s relationship with God.

Prayers

The section ‘Prayers’ is intended to be developed into an encyclopedia of prayer that will include the basic Christian prayers, liturgical prayers as well as prayers of the saints.

Resources

The section ‘Resources’ is intended to offer and put together different resources that might help promote the relationship with God. This will include links to church documents, links to mobile applications, links to free e-books, Links to other websites as well as studies and research in the area of the apostleship of interior life.

Courses

This section is intended to offer ‘online spiritual retreats’ and courses related to the ‘apostleship of interior life’.

Contributors

This website is open for anyone that has knowledge and experience in the apostleship of interior life. So those interested in contributing articles or retreats through this website are welcome to contact the website administrator. The ‘spiritual retreats’ and the ‘online courses’ can be offered in any language.

Website coordinator

Godmediation.world was created by Fr Dominic Sultana during the COVID-19 lockdown. This project was in his heart since the 14th of December 2005, the feast of Saint John of the Cross.

Born in 1980 Fr Dominic hails from Malta. Following his call for the priesthood, he entered the local Diocesan Seminary and was ordained a priest in 2005.  For the past fifteen years, he committed his life to research and to put into practice ways and means of spreading the Gospel effectively. This was a journey that led him to travel for study, ministry and experience in different countries including Malta, Italy, USA, Ireland, Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He is a Doctor in Sacred Theology (Rome), obtained a 3-year diploma in Spiritual Counselling and is also an Advanced Practitioner in Cognitive Coaching. He also trained with renowned motivational speakers among others: Anthony Robbins, Robert J. Garmston, Claudio Belotti, Alessio Roberti and Jenny Edwards.

His thesis for the Licentiate in Theology with a specialisation in Spiritual Theology (equivalent to a two-year Masters degree) is ‘Mediators of God’s Mysteries: Resources and Techniques for Spiritual Coaches to Stimulate Growth in Christ’ (2007), and the title for his Dissertation for the Doctorate in Sacred Theology is ‘Catholic Principles for The Practice of Imitating Christ by means of reading the Gospels: An interdisciplinary study according to the hermeneutical approach of Sandra M. Schneiders’ (2012).

It was during his study in Rome that he met Fr Louis Jorge Gonzalez OCD, who introduced him to the pastoral and hermeneutical approaches in the study of Spiritual Theology. This journey would not have been possible without the tuition of Fr Gonzalez, who has mentored and guided Fr Sultana as a person, and whose valuable mastery in the subject in question served as the major contribution towards the completion of this project. In fact, it was his expertise in the field that motivated Fr Sultana to work in this area and make it his mission to continue promoting this pastoral approach in spirituality. Through godmediation.world, which he thus dedicates to Fr Gonzalez, Fr Sultana aims to build bridges between the brightest minds in the field of the Apostleship of interior life so that together they can design, create and produce resources intended to facilitate every persons’ encounter with God.

At the moment Fr Sultana is also appointed as vice-rector at Ta’ Pinu National Shrine in Malta, where he dedicates most of his time serving as a confessor and spiritual director to many. He also offers retreats to groups as well as individually guided retreats, including the retreat of Saint Ignatius. For the past four years, he also hosts a weekly program on Radio Maria Malta, in which he attends questions probed by listeners regarding topics that relate to their relationship with God.  The name of his program is ‘Labyrinth: What helps and hinders in our relationship with God’.

Fr Sultana’s focus is that of offering practical resources and insights for 1) the practice of spiritual direction as well as for 2) the human and spiritual growth of the Christian.