Actualization of the conditions of possibility for hospitality, according to ‎Jean-‎Louis Chrétien, in biological individuals of human origin who present ‎‎severe or profound intellectual disability‎

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34019/2236-6296.2025.v28.48905

Keywords:

Jean-Louis Chrétien, Hospitality, Fragility, Severe or profound disability

Abstract

This article examines the conditions of possibility for hospitality, as ‎articulated by Jean-Louis Chrétien, as they are actualized in individuals with ‎severe or profound intellectual disabilities. Chrétien’s philosophical ‎framework emphasizes the relational dynamic between humanity and the ‎divine, proposing that divine hospitality is accessible to all human beings. ‎The study identifies five key conditions for such a divine encounter: a ‎response to God's call, the communal dimension of hospitality, the role of ‎prayer, the significance of the human body, and the centrality of fragility. It ‎is argued that individuals with severe intellectual disabilities can participate ‎in this divine hospitality by virtue of their inherent humanity and ‎vulnerability. The excess of God, as the primary agent of the relational ‎dynamic, places all human beings on equal footing. The article further ‎contends that Chrétien’s concepts must be reinterpreted in order to ‎accommodate the conditions of possibility applicable to these individuals, ‎suggesting that asymmetrical relationships grounded in respect and love ‎may suffice for genuine encounters with the divine. Ultimately, the work ‎underscores the role of divine grace and the mystery of faith as essential to ‎understanding the possibility of hospitality in the context of profound ‎disability.

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Author Biography

Alvaro Diaz-Ruiz, Perkins School for the Blind, International Programs

Alvaro Diaz-Ruiz is Director of Research in International Programs, Perkins School for the Blind. He holds a PhD in Public Administration and Public Policy from the National University of Cordoba and has more than 20 years of experience working in social projects for governmental agencies and NGOs. He is also a PhD candidate in Patrisitic Studies at the Catholic University of Cuyo.

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Published

2025-12-23

How to Cite

DIAZ-RUIZ, A. Actualization of the conditions of possibility for hospitality, according to ‎Jean-‎Louis Chrétien, in biological individuals of human origin who present ‎‎severe or profound intellectual disability‎. Numen, [S. l.], v. 28, n. 3, p. 138–153, 2025. DOI: 10.34019/2236-6296.2025.v28.48905. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufjf.br/index.php/numen/article/view/48905. Acesso em: 24 dec. 2025.

Issue

Section

Dossiê: Religião, Espiritualidade, Saúde e Bioética