What activity do you do that increases your spirituality?

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well, im not a spiritual person , im a prayerful person. thats what Christians are called to-prayerfulness, not a bogus, secular, ‘spiritual but not religious’ kind of thing. me personaly, daily scripture reading, reception of the Holy Eucharist as close to daily as I can, and small acs of mortification like cold showers help me
 
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Go to adoration regularly. I started going and now my heart is captured and all my answers come from there.
 
I like taking walks through the park, being in an open area, looking at nature, especially early morning when everything is starting to wake up. Not far from where I live there is a big park’ nature wakes early deer, rabbits, squirrels, so many species of birds and of course the trees and different kinds of plants.If something, is weighing heavy on me this is where I’ll head. Being surrounded by God’s creation makes me feel so much closer to Him. I believe we all need alone time with God every now and then to refresh our souls and to feel His love radiate through us.🦋🦋…
 
Just talk to Jesus and Mary as my best friends
(through out the day during formed prayer,offering up
and all the regular doings)
 
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the meditation of the mysteries of our salvation. Especially the meditation on the last ends and the meditation on the passion of Christ. Without this, our prayers, our fasts, the frequentation of the sacraments, etc., may be without souls
 
Maximilian75 said:
well, im not a spiritual person , im a prayerful person. thats what Christians are called to-prayerfulness, not a bogus, secular, ‘spiritual but not religious’ kind of thing. me personaly, daily scripture reading, reception of the Holy Eucharist as close to daily as I can, and small acs of mortification like cold showers help me
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I am a spiritual person. I’m also s prayerful person, and a religious person. “Spiritual” and “spirituality” is is Christian term, through and through. Originating in Catholic France (“Spirituel”,“spiritualité”), from the Latin “Spiritus”. It has been hijacked by some secular “spiritual but not religious” movements, but don’t give in. Let’s Reclaim the term, and use it to mean what it is supposed to mean. Spiritual cannot be separated from religion.

That being said, I like lectio divina reading of the Bible, adoration, and mental and contemplative prayers. Time in nature enjoying God’s creation, as well as trying to recognize God’s presence in the mundane and routine of everyday life, and the events of my life and others, are central components of my spirituality.
 
Daily prayer using the Liturgy of the Hours and Christian Meditation aka Centering Prayer. Also pray to Our Lady of Mt Carmel everyday after evening prayer.

Been doing Centering Prayer for over 40 years now.

Jim
 
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That’s interesting. And a long time.

How has it benefited you.?

As saint Paul said in 1cor.14:25-26.

When you get together bring a revelation a psalm a hym…

Has that wisdom been effective for you?

Just curious?
 
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How it has benefited me is hard to say, for I don’t know what I’d be like without it.

However, the one benefit is remaining Christ Centered.

I’m still struggling with my vices and failures, which is a lifetime thing

I trust in God’s grace to bring me home to heaven in the end.

Jim
 
TrBe21 said:
Interestingly, all the responses here have been people doing religious activities for spiritual growth. I agree there is great value in that. But, I would also suggest there is value in doing spiritual activities that are not necessarily religion centered. (I know this is a “dicey suggestion” for a CAF forum because I run the risk of being dismissed as a phone-baloney secularist) But, going on a walk or hike, reading a book, viewing art, visiting with a friend, lending a helping hand can all lead to some spiritual satisfaction for someone living mindfully. I came to religion via the 12 step recovery process, where many believe–“Religion is for people who don’t want to go to Hell and Spirituality is for people who have been there and don’t want to go back.”–so maybe I have a different perspective on this question.
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You are totally correct in this. And in a lot of ways it is also a pretty Franciscan approach to spirituality, although perhaps explained slightly differently, where the goal of prayer is to let God into your heart and to allow Him to change you. It was said that St Francis himself became “a living prayer”, where everything he did, walking, eating, making food, helping his community…all were themselves acts prayer. I for one find spiritual satisfaction, growth, and praise to God in many of the things you listed.

I think you bring up an important point. Spiritual growth can be found anywhere. It’s easy to get caught up in specific religious practices and forget that sometimes, spending an hour with a friend or stranger could be the most spiritually significant part of your day, and can truly be an encounter with the Lord. I love the Rosary and the Liturgy or the Hours, but I’d be lying if I said they didn’t get mundane at times. Especially when I we start mindlessly reciting the prayers because you feel you “have” to (or really do have to, as in the case of priests and religious with the LOTH). Prayer and spirituality is ultimately about developing your relationship with God. Just as we connect with different friends and loved ones through conversations on different topics or through different activities, it is the same with God. He develops a relationship with everyone in a different way. And just as you and a friend may strongly connect over something for 6 months, and then move on to a different mutual interest, our relationships with God can be very similar. You may find the rosary extremely beneficial for your relationship with God for a while, then a few weeks, months, or years later you’re just not “feeling it”…but where you’re finding God more than ever might now be through the work you do in your professional life.
It’s nature of spirituality, it Ebs and flows because it’s real. It’s a real relationship, with the real one true God, and works much like any other relationship.

Thank you for bringing it, and sorry for my rant.
 
Spending time with Him… everyday. I have a routine:

AM:
1.) Wake… go to my prayer table, light my candle and give Him thanks for a new day and ask for guidance and protection… for this new day

2.) Make breakfast and listen to Dr. Charles Stanley sermons for the day while having coffee.

PM:
1.) Rosary
2.) Write in my spiritual journal
3.) Before bed prayers

*This is Mon-Fri…I try to read scripture throughout the day on my bible app on my phone during little pockets of free time heat and there. I get more bible reading in on the weekends.
 
Adoration and praying the rosary always sets my heart on fire for loving God more!
 
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