How are you nourished as a Christian?

[thirdn6]

What gives you nourishment as a Christian? Is it bible scriptures and/or the flesh and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do you feel fulfilled or still wanting? Do you only seek the Truth OR the Truth AND His body? Is truth enough?
Please explain a bit. Thanks.

 

[blazerdave]

The Body and Blood are #1 for me. Even the anticipation of them is nourishing, for I know that our Lord is with me, shaping and preparing me for receiving the Eucharist. Prayer is a close second; I won’t say I’m a prayer warrior (we’ve all seen some awesome ones), but I think I am supposed to be one. At least, I have grown to love times of prayer as I have matured in my faith. Scripture is nourishing but different; I can’t really describe it other than saying that sometimes you need steak and sometimes you need Gatorade . But the Eucharist, faith in the Spirit’s sanctifying work, and prayer are my top three. I hope that Scripture can reach that level too…praying about that one

 

[thirdn6]

The Body and Blood are #1 for me. Even the anticipation of them is nourishing, for I know that our Lord is with me, shaping and preparing me for receiving the Eucharist. Prayer is a close second; I won’t say I’m a prayer warrior (we’ve all seen some awesome ones), but I think I am supposed to be one. At least, I have grown to love times of prayer as I have matured in my faith. Scripture is nourishing but different; I can’t really describe it other than saying that sometimes you need steak and sometimes you need Gatorade . But the Eucharist, faith in the Spirit’s sanctifying work, and prayer are my top three. I hope that Scripture can reach that level too…praying about that one

Whoa! Seems like no one else (except blazingdave above) is interested in sharing how and what makes them grow in their faith as Christians.
Ok. Let’s try it again… Is it –

1. Scriptures only?
2. Eucharist only?
3. both the scriptures and the Eucharist?
4. (I’m) unfed

And the second question… What do you seek, is it –

1. the Truth?
2. the Christ – the Lamb of God?
3. both the Truth and the Christ?
4. Peace and fellowship only?

And the third question… so how are you nourished as a Christian?

 

[blazerdave]

Come on people…don’t make me answer again . I actually am interested in reading some responses to this topic too!

 

[TriuneUnity]

Whoa! Seems like no one else (except blazingdave above) is interested in sharing how and what makes them grow in their faith as Christians.
Ok. Let’s try it again… Is it –

1. Scriptures only?
2. Eucharist only?
3. both the scriptures and the Eucharist?
4. (I’m) unfed

Definitely #3. All of God’s means of grace nourish the Christian. Remembering one’s baptism is also hugely important. It’s a sacramental gift that continues to give throughout the Christian life.

And the second question… What do you seek, is it –

1. the Truth?
2. the Christ – the Lamb of God?
3. both the Truth and the Christ?
4. Peace and fellowship only?

And the third question… so how are you nourished as a Christian?

Well, Christ is the truth, so being found by Him is what is important. We aren’t seeking Him by nature. He is the hound of heaven who finds us, redeems us, and carries us to life everlasting.

 

[Holly3278]

I am nourished mostly by the Eucharist but also by Scripture and Tradition.

 

[CMatt25]

Scripture nourishes me in the sense that I am most nourished when I hear a good homily/sermon about the things Christ called us to do. To love one another. And when I hear homilies/sermons on the things He called us to do as expressions of righteous faith in Matt 25 and in the Sermon on the Mount for instance. Serving the poor, the sick, the hungry, the homeless. Being peacemakers. As these are things I believe He asks of us to strive towards if we can as followers of Him.

Good upbeat contemporary Christian praise music is nourishment for me as well. I’ll take guitar and percussion any day over traditional organ.

I am less fulfilled than I once was because I don’t hear these things as much in the Catholic Church today. Abortion, gays, and stem cells have far taken over from all these other issues. I can not attend Mass without hearing abortion but am stunned for instance on the rare occasion when I will hear prayer for an end to abortion along with an end to war. Rarely do I hear talk of the poor. Recently I did. But it was to tell the poor to “get a job!” And I’m sitting there thinking, hello? Have you been paying attention to the economy Father? I feel less noursihed in parishes where Latin is slipped in nowadays and with some parishes departing from more contemporary music.

I’ve attended a few different parishes and all are more or less the same. And coupled with apostolic successors who preach the sanctity of life and protection of a child in the womb but seemingly don’t know enough not to cover up child abuse, and I am discouraged. But I worship Him and feel His presence nevertheless.

 

[thirdn6]

Thanks for those who shared and for those who peeked…

Maybe I should post a couple of answers, too…

When I was at a younger age I ‘d say my parents and books provided for my nourishment in my faith.

Now I’m older and a ‘revert’, it is both scriptures and the Eucharist… (and again as blazerdave says… including prayers).

And, of course, admittedly… some bitter shots of deCAF every now and then.

 

[CMatt25]

Yes in addition to hearing social justice teaching which I find sorely lacking so I must read it for myself in Scripture and upbeat music, I most certainly meant to add prayer too. Prayer sustains me.

 

[dianaiad]

Come on people…don’t make me answer again . I actually am interested in reading some responses to this topic too!

I have read the posts in this thread, and I find it a little slanted…the question and the assumptions. Oh, not deliberately so, or obnoxiously so, by any means, but DEFINITELY slanted.

You are assuming a WHOLE bunch of things that must be agreed on, for one thing.

First…define ‘Christian.’
Second, …define “nourished.”
Third…define “Eucharist.”

From what I have seen, those who answer are doing so quite sincerely, and with thought…but they are all assuming that all Christians HAVE the ‘Eucharist.’ to be nourished by.

There are quite a few Christians who do not believe in transubstantiation, which seems to define the difference between the Eucharist–and what other Christians might define as ‘communion.’

I could, of course, be wrong, which is why I’m asking for the definitions.

As for me, I am ‘nourished’ (or rather, I have my faith fed by and grown by…) scriptures, prayer, the answer to prayer, and just—seeing the influence of God all around me.

…and yes, my faith is also fed when I go to church, learn there, participate there, and partake of the Sacrament (which is what Mormons call communion.)

 

[Monica4316]

Before I was Catholic, I thought my spiritual life was fulfilling, but it’s so much greater with the Eucharist… I didn’t even know what I was missing! It was always a moving experience for me to receive Communion at my old Protestant church, but receiving Christ’s actual Body and Blood doesn’t compare with anything.

“I hunger for the bread of God, the flesh of Jesus Christ … I long to drink of His blood, the gift of unending love.” St. Ignatius of Antioch

 

[Loboto-Me]

I’m nourished with number 3 on both questions. Fellowship and peace leave me cold. Don’t get me wrong, I love people, and who doesn’t love peace, yet that’s not what I search for. I suspect I could have been a cloistered nun .

I look forward to learning about Christ and what His will for me is, and I get some of that at Mass each week but I also get some of it here online. The Mass for me is my real window to nourishment, I feel His presence in the Eucharist and sense His love for me in the Sacrament of Penance… Oh how clean and closer to worthy I am when I come out of the confessional! I had a private revelation/miracle happen to me about the Eucharist when I was 18 and since then I KNOW that it’s really Him when I receive. Praise be to Him!

We go to 3 different parishes due to timing of Masses, and I must say that the ones closer to traditional warms my faith. We have one parish that we attend that I prefer, and the other 2 although they fulfill my need for Jesus in the Eucharist, I often come out of there feeling that that’s exactly what I did… fulfilled my obligation rather than nourished my soul.

I used to live in a town in a different province where I lived 3 minutes from the Church and it was such a beautiful, reverent Mass on Sundays (didn’t go on Sat evenings for the Teen Mass ) This is where most of my reversion to Catholicism took place. Actually, that’s where God actually SPOKE to me while I was in prayer while at Mass there. I was worried about being able to move back here where my husband was working and about our finances and He told me “Let me take care of your physical, you just take care of your soul” In other words He was saying to leave it in His hands and just worry about my soul.

Scripture is not my strong point in my faith. It’s important but prayer is what keeps me going, keeps me focused and at peace with where I’m at in the world. I find myself in prayer almost all day, just talking to Him or sometimes I’ll stop what I’m doing, go out on the porch and close my eyes and pray. Not necessarily formal prayers but those have importance to me as well.

I mention that scripture is not my strong point, I’m not saying that it’s useless to me, but only that I’ve depended on Mass and on others to help me decipher it properly. I don’t feel a need to have my nose in the bible always because I know that the interpretation is already there for me when I need it , I know that’s not a good thing and that I really should learn it more to keep up with non-catholics and apologetics right?

 

[TriuneUnity]

I mention that scripture is not my strong point, I’m not saying that it’s useless to me, but only that I’ve depended on Mass and on others to help me decipher it properly. I don’t feel a need to have my nose in the bible always because I know that the interpretation is already there for me when I need it , I know that’s not a good thing and that I really should learn it more to keep up with non-catholics and apologetics right?

It’s fine to rely on the Church proclaiming God’s word to you, but you should also read them, too! God’s word never returns empty. As for non Catholics and apologetics, I think you should rely on it to keep up with non Christians and apologetics

 

[Loboto-Me]

It’s fine to rely on the Church proclaiming God’s word to you, but you should also read them, too! God’s word never returns empty. As for non Catholics and apologetics, I think you should rely on it to keep up with non Christians and apologetics

Touche, that too

You’re right, because when I do read scripture I do get much out of them, but I tend not to reach for the book unless I have a reason to. I’m a work in progress

 

[CMatt25]

I have read the posts in this thread, and I find it a little slanted…the question and the assumptions. Oh, not deliberately so, or obnoxiously so, by any means, but DEFINITELY slanted.

You are assuming a WHOLE bunch of things that must be agreed on, for one thing.

First…define ‘Christian.’
Second, …define “nourished.”
Third…define “Eucharist.”

From what I have seen, those who answer are doing so quite sincerely, and with thought…but they are all assuming that all Christians HAVE the ‘Eucharist.’ to be nourished by.

There are quite a few Christians who do not believe in transubstantiation, which seems to define the difference between the Eucharist–and what other Christians might define as ‘communion.’

I could, of course, be wrong, which is why I’m asking for the definitions.

As for me, I am ‘nourished’ (or rather, I have my faith fed by and grown by…) scriptures, prayer, the answer to prayer, and just—seeing the influence of God all around me.

…and yes, my faith is also fed when I go to church, learn there, participate there, and partake of the Sacrament (which is what Mormons call communion.)

Diana, I hope my post did not assume anything about all Christians other than a profession in Christ Lord and Savior. I tend to find myself a bit more open and ecumenical than your avg Catholic here. I know you don’t believe in His physical presence but can you feel God’s spiritual presence when you partake in your communion Sacrament?

 

[lakotak]

By the Body and Blood of Jesus and by the Gift of Tears that follow many times.

 

[Jay53]

Whoa! Seems like no one else (except blazingdave above) is interested in sharing how and what makes them grow in their faith as Christians.
Ok. Let’s try it again… Is it –

1. Scriptures only?
2. Eucharist only?
3. both the scriptures and the Eucharist?
4. (I’m) unfed

And the second question… What do you seek, is it –

1. the Truth?
2. the Christ – the Lamb of God?
3. both the Truth and the Christ?
4. Peace and fellowship only?

And the third question… so how are you nourished as a Christian?

I would vote for #3 for both questions - and add the sacrament of Reconciliation as nourishment for me. Reconciliation and the Eucharist are both HUGE for me in terms of being closest to God. Partaking of both Sacraments strengthens my faith as nothing else does or can. They are two of the things in my life that I know, without a doubt, are true and from God. That would explain why I’m Catholic!

 

[Loboto-Me]

By the Body and Blood of Jesus and by the Gift of Tears that follow many times.

Oh the gift of tears! How I wish I could experience that. I have cried during Mass but that was because I was moved or wanting the Eucharist but knew I could not receive… not the same as the gift of tears.

How blessed you are

 

[lakotak]

Oh the gift of tears! How I wish I could experience that. I have cried during Mass but that was because I was moved or wanting the Eucharist but knew I could not receive… not the same as the gift of tears.

How blessed you are

Many times I have received this gift after I have received Him, Body and Blood and offered His sacrifice up for the most forgotten souls in Purgatory who have no one to pray for them.

 

[dianaiad]

Diana, I hope my post did not assume anything about all Christians other than a profession in Christ Lord and Savior. I tend to find myself a bit more open and ecumenical than your avg Catholic here. I know you don’t believe in His physical presence but can you feel God’s spiritual presence when you partake in your communion Sacrament?

Actually, yes. Your OP was a little bit from the Catholic pov…but the answering posts definitely are. This is quite understandable on a Catholic forum. However, this is the ‘non-Catholic religions’ subforum, and I was simply, and very gently, reminded that not everybody shares that particular view.

As to being 'nourished…" or having one’s faith bolstered and grown, I believe that all Christians who participate in a communion can say a resounding 'yes" to the question of whether they feel the presence of Christ there…that is, if they are actually participating in it and not going through the motions.

I think that Jesus is always going to be there when He is invited.