A Practical-Theological Phenomenology of Joy: Learning from L’arche

Abstract

In recent years, joy has received renewed attention as a central theological concept. However, voices from lived experience are largely lacking in this discussion. This article studies the question of what joy looks like and what its essence is in one particular exemplar of joy, i.e., the L’Arche communities. Based on fieldwork, which included participant observation and interviews in four L’Arche communities, as well as an interview with the founder of L’Arche, Jean Vanier, this article proposes a practical-theological phenomenology of joy.

Keywords:

• joy
• L’Arche
• Jean Vanier
• Henri Nouwen
• disability
• community

Acknowledgments

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation or the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.

We are grateful for the L’Arche communities in Inverness (now Highlands), Manchester, Trosly and Kenya for welcoming us in their communities and participating in this project. We have learned much more from them than any academic article can ever express.

Notes

1 L’Arche was founded in Trosly-Breuil, France, in 1964 by Jean Vanier. There are currently about 150 communities worldwide. https://www.larche.org/en/in-the-world#all, last accessed October 31st 2018.

2 For example, this is depicted within Henri Nouwen’s account of his time spent with Adam, a core member of L’Arche Daybreak (Toronto). Nouwen (1997).

Additional information

Funding

This publication was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, through the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.