The Self-Giving One
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35312/y230rj83Keywords:
Jesus Christ, Vincent de Paul, Self-Emptying, HumilityAbstract
This article proposes a renewed Christological perspective by presenting Jesus as “the self-giving one,” drawing from key New Testament texts and their theological implications. Building on scriptural foundations such as 1 Timothy 2:6 and the recurring Gospel paradox of losing one’s life to save it, the paper highlights self-giving as central to the identity and mission of Christ. The study further engages the concept of anéantissement (self-emptying) within the French School of Spirituality, especially in dialogue with Vincent de Paul, whose practical and missionary spirituality embodies this dynamic. By integrating biblical exegesis, spiritual theology, and contemporary reflection, the article demonstrates that self-emptying is not loss but fullness of life in God. Ultimately, it proposes self-giving as a transformative path for Christian discipleship today, rooted in Christ and oriented toward mission, service, and love.
References
Bremond, Henri. 1921. in his classic treatise (Histoire du sentiment religieux en France, 3:3-4), first popularized the term French School of Spirituality.
Deville, Raymond. 1987. L’école française de spiritualité (Desclée).
Francis, Pope. 2014. “World Communications Day 2014 message.”
Francis, Pope. 2019. Christus Vivit (“Christ is Alive!”), released on March 25.
Gronbacher, Gregory Eran. 2016. Kenosis & Theology in https://www.patheos.com/blogs/opentablejudaism/2016/03/18/kenosis-theology/
Leo XIV. 2025. ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV TO CATHOLIC DIGITAL MISSIONARIES AND INFLUENCERS (29 July) https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2025/july/documents/20250729-missionari-digitali.html
Qasemzadeh, Zahra & Mostafa Mousavi Azam. 2021. “Decreation in Simone Weil’s Theology.” Religions & Mysticism, vol. 54, no. 1 (Summer/Autumn).
de Paul, Vincent. 1985. Correspondence, Conferences, Documents (CCD), translators: Helen Marie Law, DC (Vol. 1), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 1-14), James King, CM (Vol. 1-2), Francis Germovnik, CM (Vol. 1-8, 13a-13b [Latin]), Esther Cavanagh, DC (Vol. 2), Ann Mary Dougherty, DC (Vol. 12); Evelyne Franc, DC (Vol. 13a-13b), Thomas Davitt, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Glennon E. Figge, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), John G. Nugent, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Andrew Spellman, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]); edited: Jacqueline Kilar, DC (Vol. 1-2), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 2-14), Julia Denton, DC [editor-in-chief] (Vol. 3-10, 13a-13b), Paule Freeburg, DC (Vol. 3), Mirian Hamway, DC (Vol. 3), Elinor Hartman, DC (Vol. 4-10, 13a-13b), Ellen Van Zandt, DC (Vol. 9-13b), Ann Mary Dougherty (Vol. 11, 12 and 14); annotated: John W. Carven, CM (Vol. 1-14); New City Press, Brooklyn and Hyde Park, 1985-2014.
Rahner, Karl. 1970. Theological Investigations VIII.
Thurman, Judith. 2024. "The Supreme Contradictions of Simone Weil". The New Yorker (September 2).
Weil, Simone. 1951. Waiting for God (HarperCollins).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Robert P. Maloney, C.M. (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
License and Copyright Agreement
In submitting the manuscript to the journal, the authors certify that:
- They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
- That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- That its publication has been approved by all the author(s) and by the responsible authorities "tacitly or explicitly" of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
- They agree to the following license and copyright agreement.
Copyright
Authors who publish with Studia Vincentiana agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0)that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
