Is there a place within Catholic Spirituality for this?

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Eugene

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I am disturbed by recent developments at a certain Catholic retreat centre near where I live. There have been many eastern spiritual symbols and religious art introduced such as the yin-yang symbol in various places, a buddha statue, some Hindu statues, etc. in the places of meditation. All labelled as “Christian Meditation” by those in charge.

When I questioned these, I was informed that we need to broaden our understanding of who God is and our experience of him. I do not agree as it does not make sense to me that a Catholic needs to delve into other religions who have a radically different understanding of God (such as polytheism, etc.) to broaden ones experience of God.

To me all that is needed is contained within the divine revelation as encapsulated in Sacred Tradition. Yes, I do believe that there are vestiges of truth in other religions as well as it is all about man and his need for a relationship with a deity, but to incorporate traditions from other religions into Catholic worship to me shows lack of discernment.

I honestly doubt that very popular saint who the place is named after would be happy with what is going on.

In addition, members of the local Catholic Education Department frequently visit the place and have introduced some highly contentious meditation practices in the local Catholic schools such as mandalas, yoga positions and reciting mantras, etc.

I am interested to hear other views on this.

Thanks in advance.
 
Eugene said:
I am disturbed by recent developments at a certain Catholic retreat centre near where I live. There have been many eastern spiritual symbols and religious art introduced such as the yin-yang symbol in various places, a buddha statue, some Hindu statues, etc. in the places of meditation. All labelled as “Christian Meditation” by those in charge.

When I questioned these, I was informed that we need to broaden our understanding of who God is and our experience of him. I do not agree as it does not make sense to me that a Catholic needs to delve into other religions who have a radically different understanding of God (such as polytheism, etc.) to broaden ones experience of God.

To me all that is needed is contained within the divine revelation as encapsulated in Sacred Tradition. Yes, I do believe that there are vestiges of truth in other religions as well as it is all about man and his need for a relationship with a deity, but to incorporate traditions from other religions into Catholic worship to me shows lack of discernment.

I honestly doubt that very popular saint who the place is named after would be happy with what is going on.

In addition, members of the local Catholic Education Department frequently visit the place and have introduced some highly contentious meditation practices in the local Catholic schools such as mandalas, yoga positions and reciting mantras, etc.

I am interested to hear other views on this.

Thanks in advance.
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Hearing you and agreeing totally with your misgivings. The same happened with a group I was in that was involved with seeking “solitude”. They went sideways into an “all modes” thing like your retreat centre and I exited fast.

All you can do is exit. Sadly. Make your views known and avoid . Stay with the faith in its purity and entirety and bless your concern…
 
Perhaps this is the dangers people worry about 😦

I said once, Kung Fu was made by Buddhist Monks, we can do Kung Fu but we can not become Buddhist monks.

There are certain items one could use despite their origin, but to put up symbols with solely religious content is definitely not a positive thing. Given Buddha is seen by many as a virtual god and his statues typically represent a belief in something that specifically is idolatry… seems highly improper to be in a catholic center.

I am probably far more lenient on this than many in terms of what symbols are “no nos” But dang, just about everything you listed is one lol.

I might allow yin yang given it generally in our culture rarely is tied to a religious meaning. But the rest is 😦
 
Eugene said:
I am disturbed by recent developments at a certain Catholic retreat centre near where I live. There have been many eastern spiritual symbols and religious art introduced such as the yin-yang symbol in various places, a buddha statue, some Hindu statues, etc. in the places of meditation. All labelled as “Christian Meditation” by those in charge.

When I questioned these, I was informed that we need to broaden our understanding of who God is and our experience of him. I do not agree as it does not make sense to me that a Catholic needs to delve into other religions who have a radically different understanding of God (such as polytheism, etc.) to broaden ones experience of God.

To me all that is needed is contained within the divine revelation as encapsulated in Sacred Tradition. Yes, I do believe that there are vestiges of truth in other religions as well as it is all about man and his need for a relationship with a deity, but to incorporate traditions from other religions into Catholic worship to me shows lack of discernment.

I honestly doubt that very popular saint who the place is named after would be happy with what is going on.

In addition, members of the local Catholic Education Department frequently visit the place and have introduced some highly contentious meditation practices in the local Catholic schools such as mandalas, yoga positions and reciting mantras, etc.

I am interested to hear other views on this.

Thanks in advance.
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I think this is really incorrect to do. I dont know maybe the Bishop should be made aware. Lots of people especially the children at the schools can get confused by this, as these things are indeed practices of other religions. The way Eastern meditation is done is not compatible with ours and these methods promote non-Christian meditation.
 
Added to all this I see no need. Is Jesus not enough? Really?
 
:bible1:
**The Ten Commandments
The First Commandment
Deuteronomy 5:7-21
[7] Thou shalt not have strange gods in My sight. [8] Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any things, that are in heaven above, or that are in the earth beneath, or that abide in the waters under the earth. [9] Thou shalt not adore them, and thou shalt not serve them. For I am **the LORD thy GOD, a jealous GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon their children unto the third and fourth generation, to them that hate me, [10] And shewing mercy ❤️ unto many thousands, to them that love ❤️ Me, and keep My Commandments.​

+The enlightenment from the below comment shared re our Holy Mother Catholic Church’s profound reverence for the Ten Commandments further helps answer the original poster’s very valid and serious concerns . . .
“The Church teaches that Jesus freed people from keeping “the burdensome Jewish law (Torah or Mosaic Law) with its 613 distinct regulations but not from the obligation to keep the Ten Commandments”, because the Ten “were written ‘with the finger of God’, …”.[3] This teaching was** reaffirmed** at the Council of Trent (1545–1563) and at the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).” - Wikipedia

Link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments_in_Catholic_theology​

There is only one God . . . and only one pathway to Him . . . and that is . . . Jesus . . . the Blessed Christ . . . our** LORD **. . .
:bible1:
“***Jesus ***saith unto him,
I am the Way,
the Truth,
and the Life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by Me.”
- John 14:6
+

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Gracious Heavenly Father+
. . . thank​
* You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God**+
. . . thank you Blessed Virgin Mary+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+​
*
 
Eugene said:
I am disturbed by recent developments at a certain Catholic retreat centre near where I live. There have been many eastern spiritual symbols and religious art introduced such as the yin-yang symbol in various places, a buddha statue, some Hindu statues, etc. in the places of meditation. All labelled as “Christian Meditation” by those in charge.

When I questioned these, I was informed that we need to broaden our understanding of who God is and our experience of him. I do not agree as it does not make sense to me that a Catholic needs to delve into other religions who have a radically different understanding of God (such as polytheism, etc.) to broaden ones experience of God.

To me all that is needed is contained within the divine revelation as encapsulated in Sacred Tradition. Yes, I do believe that there are vestiges of truth in other religions as well as it is all about man and his need for a relationship with a deity, but to incorporate traditions from other religions into Catholic worship to me shows lack of discernment.

I honestly doubt that very popular saint who the place is named after would be happy with what is going on.

In addition, members of the local Catholic Education Department frequently visit the place and have introduced some highly contentious meditation practices in the local Catholic schools such as mandalas, yoga positions and reciting mantras, etc.

I am interested to hear other views on this.

Thanks in advance.
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You are correct in your discernment. The evil one uses crafty wiles to get his way and lead Christians away from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings and deserves all honor and praise!

All the more we need to worship and adore Him, and ask the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, the angels, and the saints.
 
I think before approaching the bishop, I will raise it with the local parish priest, but I’m not sure if the retreat centre falls under his jurisdiction.

I agree with the post that there is much good we can learn from the Eastern cultures but the Catholic Faith we have is sufficient for all our spiritual needs. Yes, Jesus is enough. Fullstop.

Certainly, I do not see the need for any oriental religious artefacts and their associated connotations as being of added spiritual benefit. Rather, these are false gods and idols (as was also mentioned in another post) which we should steer well away from.

Blessings.
 
Although I do not find a problem with understanding other religions, but a Catholic Retreat Center is for making a Catholic retreat.

The retreat center the OP mentions, sound familiar and a couple of Catholics I’ve met went on retreat there, and came away feeling like they did not make a Catholic Retreat.

The center is run by nuns, which of course you would never recognize as nuns.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Although I do not find a problem with understanding other religions, but a Catholic Retreat Center is for making a Catholic retreat.

The retreat center the OP mentions, sound familiar and a couple of Catholics I’ve met went on retreat there, and came away feeling like they did not make a Catholic Retreat.

The center is run by nuns, which of course you would never recognize as nuns.

Jim
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Oh dear…one of the retreat centres here in Ireland has Sisters giving reiki massage…
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Although I do not find a problem with understanding other religions, but a Catholic Retreat Center is for making a Catholic retreat.

The retreat center the OP mentions, sound familiar and a couple of Catholics I’ve met went on retreat there, and came away feeling like they did not make a Catholic Retreat.

The center is run by nuns, which of course you would never recognize as nuns.

Jim
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I don’t understand this no wearing anything nunlike. I mean it is like joining the military or becoming a cop, the uniform is all part of it, and part of what attracts us to it. In the saying “the clothes make the man” surely not always, but why seek to be and not wear?
 
Leifler said:
I don’t understand this no wearing anything nunlike. I mean it is like joining the military or becoming a cop, the uniform is all part of it, and part of what attracts us to it. In the saying “the clothes make the man” surely not always, but why seek to be and not wear?
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Same here in Ireland… but they are out of favour here now and dying out, It is the older orders who are on the way out who tend to wear ordinary clothes, The young ones value the habit
 
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