The Emotionalism of Reverence

[b_justb]

As Christians, and especially those of us that worship in the Catholic tradition, I think it’s fair to suggest that each of us values reverence. The respect that is given, offered, or even expected to various aspects of our lives: parents, grandparents, mentors, spiritual directors, clergy, the consecrated religious, and of course and most importantly our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

A special respect, or a deeper respect, that we reserve for our Master we call Reverence. It is no wonder to any of us that our sense of reverence is greatly offended by what some might call art as they photograph our Lord on the cross in a jar or urine. All of us, I am pretty sure is very safe to say, would classify this so-called “art” at a minimum: irreverent.

But those obvious kinds of situations of irreverence are not what we’re going to talk about. It’s the reverence we hold dear. It’s the reverence we may experience when we have gone to Eucharistic adoration, or maybe an experience on a spiritual retreat, or even when we have physically felt the presence of The Master in our lives in one way or another.

I would like the readers and posters to think about an experience where you have felt this reverence, what it meant to you, why, what was your life like when it happened. Then I’d like you to take a big step back and ask yourself if someone else’s experience of this reverence is as valid as yours especially as it is different.

Do various forms of the reverence experience follow the same pattern or maybe groups of patterns? Does solitude bring reverence to some but not others? Do some find reverence in ways that others may not? And if so (and I am thinking it is so) does that negate that experience as reverent? Is reverence in the eye of the beholder?

I want to thank you in advance for your participation.

 

[CatholicCajun]

I am not sure if this is the kind of answer you are looking for. The place I felt the most awesome Presence of God and it’s still the same everytime I go there is at the Temple at EWTN. The first time I walked in that church I literally could have fallen to my knees where I stood. It was so profound. It took my breath away and not just the physical beauty. It is something very hard to explain. I hope this is what you were looking for in an answer. God Bless.

 

[Conciliar]

I think I know the kind of answer being sought. I’ll give it try:

Now that you mention it, my idea of reverence and someone else’s are different. Reverence, therefore, is in the eye of the beholder ! WOW! There are no real parameters for what constitutes reverent behavior on my part, only false ones erected by people who dare to judge my interior!

If someone is moved to express “reverence” in a way that others find offensive, well too bad for those others. They need to remove the plank from their beholding eye. It’s all so simple! Anything goes. How liberating! Especially at Mass. If it feels right and I mean well, and only I can know that, my good intentions rule!

Amazing. I never knew it was all about me…

Of course, no properly formed individual of the “Catholic tradition” really believes that nonsense. Do they?

 

[b_justb]

I am not sure if this is the kind of answer you are looking for. The place I felt the most awesome Presence of God and it’s still the same everytime I go there is at the Temple at EWTN. The first time I walked in that church I literally could have fallen to my knees where I stood. It was so profound. It took my breath away and not just the physical beauty. It is something very hard to explain. I hope this is what you were looking for in an answer. God Bless.

It is exactly the response I am looking for. I agree it is hard to explain. That’s kind of the point. Maybe it’s good for us to just look at and try to explain. In the attempt maybe we all will be edified. Thank you for (name removed by moderator)ut. Please add more if you like.

 

[b_justb]

Of course, no properly formed individual of the “Catholic tradition” really believes that nonsense. Do they?

Is it fair to say that you then do not think that reverence is in the eye of the beholder? That reverence comes from outside of the self? That maybe when one acts, behaves, feels reverence, a true reverence, whatever that may be, that it is something or someone acting upon the one experiencing the reverence and it has nothing to do with one actually experiencing it other than it is his own experience?

 

[blessedstar]

I think sometimes God allows us to perceive His Presence profoundly when we pay the reverence humility demands we owe to God, this has the effect of deepening reverance and faith.

More often however there is no perception of God’s Presence connected to reverance, but the soul is inclined to reverance to God because humility demands it and so does faith. Here the soul goes by faith and here the soul is displaying deeper reverance still than when God effects a perception of Himself.

It can be said then that the perception is not what is important, but that we are reverant to God whether we have any perception connected to it or not. Reverance helps us to grow in humility and also in faith and deepens all other virtues that are anchored by humility by the grace of God.

Reverance is primarily reserved for Church, however we are to be reverant in everyday life to God and when a deep reverance is within the soul, the soul becomes ever mindful of God’s Presence at every moment of the day.

In the Living Prayer of my life

 

[brigid12]

I think some people might confuse reverence for Our Lord and humility. There are also consolations, which are only His to give. That said, when a person walks into a beautiful chapel (for instance) the reverence that they feel is probably partially due to conditioning and upbringing, but partially, since they have the necessary humility, a consolation given by Him. Beauty was certainly part of His Creation.

I have some difficulties with the title of this thread since it seems to denote that anything that has anything to do with emotions is bad and not to be trusted. From what I’ve read of the consolations that Saints have recieved it seems to me that all of the ones I can remember affected the emotions too, and since they were given by God, that must mean that emotions aren’t all bad. In fact, in order to truly live out His Commandments it seems to me we need to use our hearts AND our heads.

 

[b_justb]

blessedstar:

I think sometimes God allows us to perceive His Presence profoundly when we pay the reverence humility demands we owe to God, this has the effect of deepening reverance and faith.

More often however there is no perception of God’s Presence connected to reverance, but the soul is inclined to reverance to God because humility demands it and so does faith. Here the soul goes by faith and here the soul is displaying deeper reverance still than when God effects a perception of Himself.

It can be said then that the perception is not what is important, but that we are reverant to God whether we have any perception connected to it or not. Reverance helps us to grow in humility and also in faith and deepens all other virtues that are anchored by humility by the grace of God.

Wow, nice.

I really liked: “the soul is inclined to reverance to God because humility demands it and so does faith.”

I’ve read that line several times now. It really is profound. Thank you.

 

[b_justb]

I think some people might confuse reverence for Our Lord and humility. There are also consolations, which are only His to give. That said, when a person walks into a beautiful chapel (for instance) the reverence that they feel is probably partially due to conditioning and upbringing, but partially, since they have the necessary humility, a consolation given by Him. Beauty was certainly part of His Creation.

I have some difficulties with the title of this thread since it seems to denote that anything that has anything to do with emotions is bad and not to be trusted. From what I’ve read of the consolations that Saints have recieved it seems to me that all of the ones I can remember affected the emotions too, and since they were given by God, that must mean that emotions aren’t all bad. In fact, in order to truly live out His Commandments it seems to me we need to use our hearts AND our heads.

I do not think emotions are bad at all. I know sometimes when people speak about emotions and emotional responses to God in prayer or worship those sentiments can be can be hammered on with the standard blurbs about “it is not about emotion.” I often laugh at those remarks because the emotion of anger is clearly being displayed by the blurb maker.

I like the way you are intertwining humility and reverence and I really liked your “in order to truly live out His Commandments it seems to me we need to use our hearts AND our heads,” and I agree completely.

 

[blessedstar]

Jesus displayed emotion many times… I can’t quote the exact Gospel or the verse and it probably is not the exact words but Sacred Scripture is in my memory…

‘and He looked about angrily at them because of their hardness of heart’ when He cured the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath.

‘and Jesus became **very troubled in spirit and wept’ **when He had gone to Bethany days after Lazarus’ death to raise him again.

‘My spirit is sorrowful even unto death’ during the Agony in the Garden.

‘Making a whip out cord, He drove them out of the Temple, also the sheep and oxen and money changers and overturned the tables…It is written, My Father’s house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers’ - cleansing of the Temple

‘As Jesus approached Jerusalem He **wept **over it’ Palm Sunday entering Jerusalem.

‘…and taking pity on them because they were like sheep without a Shepherd’ feeding of the five thousand.

I am sure there are many more examples of the emotions of Jesus. Emotions are not wrong nor are they bad at all. It is not wrong to display emotion in a just and righteous manner.

In the Living Prayer of my life

 

[quiet52]

ask yourself if someone else’s experience of this reverence is as valid as yours especially as it is different.

Is reverence in the eye of the beholder?

I don’t think there is one right way to be reverent – there are different ways to be reverent and to show reverence. Perhaps there are degrees of reverence. It can sometimes require much effort. For example, I am showing reverence when I genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. I hope this pleases God and I hope it inspires others to show reverence. But it is more reverent when I offer a heartfelt prayer when I do so. There are times when I kneel before mass to pray, and I’m tired, distracted (exteriorally, physically and/or interiorally), or am in a spiritually dry place – and I must truly work, mentally and emotionally, to focus on God and to offer to Him who I am that particular moment. Seeking God – opening my heart to His graces no matter how I may feel – can be a humble act of reverence.

God is so awesome, and deserving of our awe. Sometimes I don’t want the period after Holy Communion to end, because I just want to keep thanking Him and praising Him, and enjoy His presence. During the week I try to remember those feelings of being pulled away from my “private” thoughts/prayers/moments so as to join the congregation in prayer and then being “sent” as we are dismissed from mass. Remembering those feelings helps me to continue to behold God with awe.

We don’t need to be in church, at a retreat, or an official spiritual activity to experience or witness reverence. We can be awed by God’s love by witnessing the love of others, or by being God’s light of love to others. Reading about the saints, or reading God’s Word in Scripture, can certainly inspire reverence!

Included among the prayers and things I’ve tucked into my bible are a couple of Christmas cards – one is a depiction of the three magi, beholding the infant Jesus. If only I could remember to “be” a magi throughout each day, giving homage to our Lord no matter where I am or what I’m doing,

 

[b_justb]

quiet52:

I don’t think there is one right way to be reverent – there are different ways to be reverent and to show reverence. Perhaps there are degrees of reverence.

Included among the prayers and things I’ve tucked into my bible are a couple of Christmas cards – one is a depiction of the three magi, beholding the infant Jesus. If only I could remember to “be” a magi throughout each day, giving homage to our Lord no matter where I am or what I’m doing,

Hi quiet (nice name btw),

In these varying degrees of reverence is it internal or external or maybe a combination. Can reverence be likened to grace? God gives it and we react to it. That reaction is individualized, yet similar in experiences? Can that reaction be in cooperation with, in resistance to, or even a negation of by us?

I liked your “be as the Magi.”

 

[b_justb]

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