Here is something I don't know about Catholicism...

[Sepharad]

do Catholics feel it is important to have a personal relationship with God? Or do they feel going to Mass and saying all the prescribed prayers is enough?

In Judaism, we have a movement similar in some ways to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (except that we do not speak in tongues!) Our movement was developed for those Jews of all branches (Orthodox, Chasidic Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, etc) who wanted to continue attending their usual synagogues, but who felt the need for a more personal, more spiritual way of worshipping. We have weekly prayer meetings and gatherings, which are in addition to the mainstream synagogues we usually go to. The worship is much more lively, personalized, friendly.

I know that in the Catholic church, you have the Charismatic Renewal movement for Catholics who felt the need for a more personal walk with God.

Do other Catholics, who are not in the CCR, feel a need for getting to know God in a personal way, who would like to be able to just sit down and talk to God in prayer as if He were a good friend sitting right next to you, rather than always using prayers written by someone else?

This may be a separate topic, but to me its related: What do most Catholics feel about Catholic mysticism, such as the writings of Thomas Merton? How do people in all mainstream faiths here (Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, etc) feel about the mystical “branches” of your religions?

Unfortunately, there have been people in the traditional religions who have felt pulled away from their own faiths, due to what they perceived as a lack of mysticism in their home religion. This may be why so many Catholics have moved over to Wicca, why many Jews have moved over to Buddhism, etc

Yet in each of the world’s main religions, there are mystical “wings”, sometimes yet to be discovered.

In the Kabbalah, it says that a Jew does not need to leave his own “home” (religion) to find what he is looking for. This, I would think, would apply to people in all faiths who might be searching for a way to have a deeper walk with their God.

 

[Nickkname]

We don’t need movements to have a personal relationship with God. The Mas is the celebration of the Eucharist, and the Eucharist is God himself, so by participating in the Mass and receiving the Eucharist we have the most personal relationship one can hope for. “You are what you eat,” as the saying goes.

 

[Sepharad]

We don’t need movements to have a personal relationship with God. The Mas is the celebration of the Eucharist, and the Eucharist is God himself, so by participating in the Mass and receiving the Eucharist we have the most personal relationship one can hope for. “You are what you eat,” as the saying goes.

What do you think of Christian mysticism and Catholic mystics, such as Thomas Merton and St Hildegard of Bingen? every religion has mystics, even Catholicism.

What do you think drew them to the study of mysticism within the tradition of their own faith?

 

[Nickkname]

What do you think of Christian mysticism and Catholic mystics, such as Thomas Merton and St Hildegard of Bingen? every religion has mystics, even Catholicism.

What do you think drew them to the study of mysticism within the tradition of their own faith?

Catholic mysticism is different from other religious mysticism. It’s not about studying, it’s about living in God. We are all called to live in God, but God calls some to a deeper life, a deeper share in his Passion, and some receive supernatural realities, such as miracles and visions. But all that is a gift from God’s Mercy; it is his gift to the soul, not something whch they acquired or earned.

 

[JRKH]

do Catholics feel it is important to have a personal relationship with God? Or do they feel going to Mass and saying all the prescribed prayers is enough?

I only selected this item because I feel it is the crux of the post.
Regardless of who you are or owhat faith you belong to, the idea of just “going through the motions” as it were will accomplish little or nothing. One must truly believe and act on that belief.

We hear about this so call “personal relationship” but I really don’t know what that means. Does anyone else? How “Personal” one can be with The Creator of the universe seems an odd concept.
God is my Creator and universal Father. Jesus is His firstborn. My Lord and my brother. I speak with them both, though with the Father more, every day. Sometimes it is in “form” prayers, sometimes it is just “Chatting”.
God holds me in existance, and I thank Him for the Blessings He has given me. Is that personal enough?

Peace
James

 

[adstrinity]

Wait, do Jews not pray to God unless they are in synagogue or temple? Wouldn’t being Orthodox or Hassidic and observing all the laws kinda bring one into a close personal relationship with God in the Jewish religion?

 

[Sepharad]

Wait, do Jews not pray to God unless they are in synagogue or temple? Wouldn’t being Orthodox or Hassidic and observing all the laws kinda bring one into a close personal relationship with God in the Jewish religion?

Jews are able to pray to God anywhere! In fact the HOME is considered the true center of Jewish life, not the synagogue really. We do not believe God dwells in buildings at this time.

Another poster asked what a “personal relationship with God” is. What I mean by that is, do you feel you can just close the door to your room, sit on your bed, and chat with God as if he were a friend, sitting right there beside you?

Did you ever see the film Fiddler on the Roof? If so, do you remember how Tevye spoke to God? That was prayer, even though some people might not see it that way.

 

[R_not]

I don’t know how one can become more close and personal with God than through the Eucharist!

I have been to other denominations of Christian churches - and they tried to tell me that the bread they were passing around was Christ. I asked, where is the priest?! This is not a sacrament, but some bread. I am too Catholic to be anything else, I guess that is what I am trying to saying. and I feel I have a personal relationship with God already. I talk to Him all the time. I pray to Mary quite often to help me and since she has Jesus’ ear! to ask her to give a good word for me to God, please!

 

[Sepharad]

Catholic mysticism is different from other religious mysticism. It’s not about studying, it’s about living in God. We are all called to live in God, but God calls some to a deeper life, a deeper share in his Passion, and some receive supernatural realities, such as miracles and visions. But all that is a gift from God’s Mercy; it is his gift to the soul, not something whch they acquired or earned.

I can’t speak for Islamic mysticism (Sufi), but I know that in Jewish mysticism, its not “about studying” either, not entirely. It is also about communing with God on a much deeper level.

 

[Nickkname]

I can’t speak for Islamic mysticism (Sufi), but I know that in Jewish mysticism, its not “about studying” either, not entirely. It is also about communing with God on a much deeper level.

Yep, which is why the Christian life revolves around the Mass. You can’t have a more personal relationship with God than the sacrament of the Eucharist. By receiving the Eucharist, your communion with Christ and with his Church is augmented.

 

[inJESUS]

Another poster asked what a “personal relationship with God” is. What I mean by that is, do you feel you can just close the door to your room, sit on your bed, and chat with God as if he were a friend, sitting right there beside you?

of course…Son, give me your heart !

 

[JRKH]

Jews are able to pray to God anywhere! In fact the HOME is considered the true center of Jewish life, not the synagogue really. We do not believe God dwells in buildings at this time.

Another poster asked what a “personal relationship with God” is. What I mean by that is, do you feel you can just close the door to your room, sit on your bed, and chat with God as if he were a friend, sitting right there beside you?

Did you ever see the film Fiddler on the Roof? If so, do you remember how Tevye spoke to God? That was prayer, even though some people might not see it that way.

In that case, yup. At least this catholic feels he has a personal relationship with God.

Peace
James

 

[Sepharad]

I guess what I’m also saying is, evidently there are those in all religions that feel a need for a more lively, personal worship experience than what they can get in their usual church or synagogue…and for these groups, their livelier worship stems from their involvement in the mysticism of their respective religion.

This is perhaps why many Catholics are active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, why many Protestants are active in Pentecostal churches, and why many Jews are active in Jewish Renewal worship as well (here is one example): youtube.com/watch?v=eGr2Y9XlBX0

(Yes they are Jews and no they are not “messianic” or Christian!)

 

[Nickkname]

I guess what I’m also saying is, evidently there are those in all religions that feel a need for a more lively, personal worship experience than what they can get in their usual church or synagogue…and for these groups, their livelier worship stems from their involvement in the mysticism of their respective religion.

This is perhaps why many Catholics are active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, why many Protestants are active in Pentecostal churches, and why many Jews are active in Jewish Renewal worship as well (here is one example): youtube.com/watch?v=eGr2Y9XlBX0

(Yes they are Jews and no they are not “messianic” or Christian!)

Catholic Charimatic Renewal isn’t mysticism, though. It’s just a movement.

 

[katy_kt]

do Catholics feel it is important to have a personal relationship with God?

Yes they do.

Or do they feel going to Mass and saying all the prescribed prayers is enough?

Do other Catholics, who are not in the CCR, feel a need for getting to know God in a personal way, who would like to be able to just sit down and talk to God in prayer as if He were a good friend sitting right next to you, rather than always using prayers written by someone else?

I used to be part of the CCR. There was nothing wrong with the CCR I attended, it was true to the Catholic faith. The reason I stopped attending was because it just wasn’t my style of worship.

Back to your question:
Catholics are encouraged to grow in their personal relationship with God. The Mass is a beautiful blessing given to Catholics. I won’t go into detail about this since I am sure that many of the posts here would explain why. But even after attending Mass, we still are required to continue our relationship with God.
How to do this differs from person to person. For some reading the Bible and saying some personal prayers is enough. For others, in addition to this, they might spend time in front of the Blessed Eucharist, say the Rosary daily, attend other Catholic services (like CCR) or help the church or the community.

 

[ibkc]

This topic seems to come up a lot, with someone pointing to Pentecostalism (especially) as THE way to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus. I am not sure where the notion comes from that whooping, hollering, yelling, sweating and rolling around on the roll means that the worshiper is having a superior or more personal experience. Can anyone tell me? How is it possible to gauge the level of “personal relationship” with Jesus of each individual sitting in the pews of a church with liturgically-based worship?

 

[JRKH]

I have to say that my most “personal” time with God, the most intimate, is during the EF (TLM) mass.
The Revence, beauty, music and contemplative one on one nature of the proceedings just puts me into a deep sense of the nearness of God.
And then you get to take communion Too… It’s just great.

Peace
James

 

[RobHom]

Another poster asked what a “personal relationship with God” is. What I mean by that is, do you feel you can just close the door to your room, sit on your bed, and chat with God as if he were a friend, sitting right there beside you?

Me, being the “old dog” that I am…I don’t really buy into this “personal relationship with God” thing. He’s not my “bud”. He is my creator…He is my God. He is more than I can describe. I am in awe of Him. I love Him, I fear Him…for my sins. How can I be “personal with Him”. He will judge me when I die.

I pray, and I say some learned prayers…but I also pray to him from my heart. I won’t say the conversation is one sided… but I have never heard Him say… Don’t worry Rob… I’ll take care of it.

I’ve had some people try to describe this personal relationship thing…and it seems they get glassy eyed and I start wondering what kind of mushrooms they’ve been eating. I’m not trying to be offensive…but I’m not one that requires “emotion” to believe what I believe as a Catholic. I view emotional-istic religion as hucksterism and a false narcotic.

 

[bcm6987]

Yes, Catholics have a very close personal relationship with God, His Mother, and all of His Friends. We speak to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit continuously in both formal and informal contexts. Furthermore, we speak with God’s Mother (whom He gave to us as our own), and God’s Friends (the Saints in Heaven) as we speak with our own earthly mothers and friends, we ask them to pray for us. Yes, the Bride of Christ is a Church that provides ample opportunity to build a strong, loving, and personal relationship with all three persons of the Trinity!

BC Moore

 

[Lapell]

I think it’s hard to say: “this one has a personal relation with God” and “this one hasn’t”. There are some people who have a personal relationship with God, but won’t think they do, while there are people who think they’re having a true relationship with God when the way they’re talking one might think they rather are in relationship with themselves!
As for myself, my impression is that sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. I do recite prayers every day, I often recite some of the Hours, with some Psalms… I sometimes utter something to God, sometimes like “It is time that something be done to help these people”, sometimes it’s something else.
I hadn’t heard of that Jewish renewal thing, I would like to hear or read more about it.
Will Moment Magazine present a report on it someday?
(At first, when you mentioned that “similar movement in Judaism”, I thought you were referring to the Chassidic movement, at least at its beginnings!!! Apparently that really was something great!