Toward a Pastoral Theology of Holy Saturday: Providing Spiritual Care for War Wounded Souls

Veterans who experience the overwhelming trauma of war are often still stuck in the far country. In the aftermath many feel abandoned by God. Adam D. Tietje suggests that Holy Saturday Christs descent into hell is the place where God fully identifies with our God-abandonment. In light of the resurrection it can be seen that the complete hiddenness of God on Holy Saturday is in fact the fullness of revelation. God has chosen to be revealed precisely through the cross and the grave. The author takes a Chalcedonian approach to the problem of relating a theology of Holy Saturday to the psychology of trauma. Through the use of this method he suggests that pastoral caregivers might understand trauma and moral injury as soul wounds. Sanctuary lament and confession and forgiveness and reconciliation are found to provide a direction for the care of such wounds. Adam Tietje having experienced the hell of war and its aftermath as an army chaplain offers an important contribution to the research and discourse on moral injury. . . . It is a rare and welcome gift to read a critical-constructive pastoral analysis from someone who has not only ministered to combat veterans but also someone who has returned from that far land of war. --Ryan LaMothe Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology As a decorated veteran army chaplain Adam Tietje offers an authentic pastoral theology and visions of care few theologians and caregivers can match. . . . Counselors pastoral caregivers families and friends will discover Holy Saturday as a thin place that informs the care of veterans beyond psychological labels and moral-ethical discernment. This compelling and sensitively written work is a welcome addition to the care of combat veterans and the exploration of moral injury. --Jaco J. Hamman Vanderbilt University Wounded himself in body and soul while struggling to console soldiers devastated by the endless war in Afghanistan US Army chaplain Adam Tietje wrests from psalms of lament and a vision of Christs descent into hell morsels of hope by which to forge ahead. The path here is treacherous the destination never guaranteed. But Toward a Pastoral Theology of Holy Saturday proves Tietje an able and faithful guide to help us home. --Robert C. Dykstra Princeton Theological Seminary Adam Tietjes account of trauma and moral injury come from the depths of his own experience as an army chaplain and a survivor of the war in Afghanistan. It offers both a moving personal account of the horrors of war and a strong theological grounding for the particular spiritual problems veterans face as they recover from wounds to their soul. This book is . . . a welcome resource for any pastor or chaplain seeking a compassionate vision for their care. --Sonia Waters Princeton Theological Seminary Adam D. Tietje is a ThD student at Duke University Divinity School. He served as an active duty US Army chaplain for nine years including a deployment to Afghanistan.