How do you practice your spirituality?

[shelby_sun]

I was just wondering if those of you who frequent this site feel that they are practicing your spirituality here, and are their some that feel they should be doing more hands on works to help others?

There is no judgement in my question? I was raised that it was not as important to know every word or story in the bible, that my service to God would be better follow the Ten Commandments and go serve the poor, needy, and lonely in the world. Who was taught something different?

 

[Deus_tecum]

I’m always reminding myself of Mathew 22:

*"36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."*

 

[Deus_tecum]

I’ve long been mindful to be kind toward those I am connected with, but have long found myself being sometimes unkind toward those perceived disconnected from me such as the errant drivers I encounter everyday in traffic. Well the truth is we are all connected and it has been impressed upon me to be thankful for all I encounter and pray a blessing for them rather than react in anger over their poor driving habits. This is my current spiritual endeavor.

 

[St_Francis]

Many saints have commented on the need for balance between these two (ie, The Soul of the Apostolate); and the fact that different people are called to do different things to help others, so that some become contemplatives, others become missionaries, others work with various groups of people: displaced persons, orphans, people who are ill. Abd then there are parents who care for their children, people who care for elderly relatives, and so on.

But no matter what we are doing to help others, whether “actively” or by praying for them, we need the sustainance of a strong relationship with God. Thus, the issue is one of balance rather than either/or.

 

[HCTC]

Background: My mother’s family settled in Texas before there was a Republic of Texas. Life was difficult for those pioneers. My ancestors farmed. Manual labor was a large part of their lives. The environment and the indigenous people were hostile. It was sometimes a struggle to put food on the table. There were 12 children. Not all of them survived to adulthood.

Family history has it that my great-great grandmother, who was one of my family to first settle in Texas, wrote the blessing that today my family says before meals. Family history being not entirely reliable, I would not dispute it if someone has another source for this prayer:

Our Dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for these gifts and every blessing of life. Guide and protect us and hold us close to thee, We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This prayer, The Lord’s Prayer, and Proverbs 3:5-6 form the framework of how I practice my spirituality.

I am so thankful everyday for all the blessings of life, especially faith and family, and for the great abundance and beauty of life. There are miracles all around us. Sometimes I think that all the beauty of this world is a bit of a trick played on us by God because almost all of us who appreciate the blessings of this life cling to this world where our body invariably deteriorates and dies.

In The Lord’s Prayer we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This has at times been difficult for me. I have a very hard time with forgiveness in the case of betrayal - especially with those who are close to me, family. It seems that I just can’t will myself to do it. Initially, I prayed for myself - that I would be able to whole-heartedly forgive. However, the most success that I have had is by praying for those that I am intending to forgive. I ask God to bless them with faith, hope, and love. I understand that forgiveness benefits most the person who does the forgiving, and I have experienced the joyfulness of whole-heartedly forgiving someone so I am aware that in some instances I still fall short.

Finally, I turn life’s outcomes over to God, and I pray:
I trust in you, Lord, with all my heart. I do not rely on my own understanding. In all ways and in everything I acknowledge You.

 

[Miserissima]

I come from a strange part of my generation who:

Parses out fact from fiction on the internet by intense research on and offline

Recognizes there are real people behind the screen for whom this is their only outlet.

If we can’t spot the fake, we take it in stride, but don’t fall into sending people money traps

Lurk on forums before we post to learn the “temperature” or, mood of a forum and it’s types, of, posters and

Give the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Jeremyah]

I was just wondering if those of you who frequent this site feel that they are practicing your spirituality here, and are their some that feel they should be doing more hands on works to help others?

Unfortunately, I have a tendency to let all my spirituality go out the window and behave like a total jerk when I’m on this forum. This isn’t how I usually behave IRL most of the time and so I’ve inadvertently given people here a very bad impression of what I’m really like.

There is no judgement in my question? I was raised that it was not as important to know every word or story in the bible, that my service to God would be better follow the Ten Commandments and go serve the poor, needy, and lonely in the world. Who was taught something different?

I was taught something completely different but I wasn’t raised Catholic. I was brought up in a protestant congregation whose practice and theology share a lot more in common with Gnosticism and paganism than Christianity.

You are right on the money. It is more important to meet the needs of the poor, needy and hungry than be a theological expert. Much more important.

 

[jaimeleglise]

Both the corporeal and spiritual works of mercy are crucial. The Catholic Answers Forum gives us an opportunity to explain and defend the Faith and urge people to repent. We can gently admonish sinners, point people in the right direction, thus bringing them closer to Christ. That way, we are co-operating in the salvation of souls. What could be more important for a layperson than that?

 

[Mary_Ellen]

I’m trying to use the forums to practice my spirituality, failing at times in matters of charity but still trying.
I pray for the folks I meet here, particularly the scrupulous.
I especially try to share my love of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (hence my compassion for the scrupulous) and encourage others to take advantage of this gift in the Church. As my hands and heart are engaged, I feel this IS hands-on work to help others, sometimes even the lonely. A ministry can be real even if you are sitting down.

I also learn a lot on these forums and I am challenged to grow in my spirituality by other posters.

 

[shelby_sun]

I come from a strange part of my generation who:

Parses out fact from fiction on the internet by intense research on and offline

Recognizes there are real people behind the screen for whom this is their only outlet.

If we can’t spot the fake, we take it in stride, but don’t fall into sending people money traps

Lurk on forums before we post to learn the “temperature” or, mood of a forum and it’s types, of, posters and

Give the benefit of the doubt.

I am not sure you were directing this at me thinking I am a fake. I am not saying one is better than the other, or one is more important. I was not raised to quote every word of the Bible or to even remember all the parts. I was raise to know the most important teachings and what they meant, not necessarily where it came from.

I went to 12 years of Catholic school and although we studied the Bible every year, we were not expected to retain the quotes forever. I admire those who can, but I often see people who quote the Bible as they are judging someone else.

I was raised with the Jesuits and I think that is why people take to Pope Francis, because he doesn’t make people feel uncomfortable about not being able to quote God’s word but rather that we should try to go:shrug: out an practicing it.

I see that people on this forum do try to guide and teach others and I think that is wonderful. I would not say I am the right person to guide others with my words.

 

[Miserissima]

I am not sure you were directing this at me thinking I am a fake. I am not saying one is better than the other, or one is more important. I was not raised to quote every word of the Bible or to even remember all the parts. I was raise to know the most important teachings and what they meant, not necessarily where it came from.

I went to 12 years of Catholic school and although we studied the Bible every year, we were not expected to retain the quotes forever. I admire those who can, but I often see people who quote the Bible as they are judging someone else.

I was raised with the Jesuits and I think that is why people take to Pope Francis, because he doesn’t make people feel uncomfortable about not being able to quote God’s word but rather that we should try to go:shrug: out an practicing it.

I see that people on this forum do try to guide and teach others and I think that is wonderful. I would not say I am the right person to guide others with my words.

Uh, no, and although I’m not sure how,it came that way, i Apologize most sincerely.