What Catholic spirituality attracts and inspires you?

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I feel drawn to Carmelite and Passionist spiritualities… also the Dominicans, but I don’t know very much about them.
 
Opus Dei. Sanctifying the ordinary, everyday things we do. In the world but not of it. 👍
 
Hello “Juris”,

I really have great respect for an order of priests call the “Adorno Fathers” (a.k.a. Clerics Regular Minor – or C.R.M.). In addition to the three regular vows that a religious usually takes, they take a fourth vow of humility – promising that they will never seek to rise to a higher or loftier position within their order. Their order is not corrupt, and they have a very good devotion to the Holy Eucharist and Mother Mary.

Also, being a Benedictine Oblate, I have an attraction to the Benedictine spirituality – but so many of the Benedictine monasteries are corrupted these days, as are many of the other religious orders. I did recently visit a Cistercian Abbey, however, that was very conservative and where the Benedictine rule was applied in daily life very well.

God bless!
John
 
Do you agree that attraction to a particular spirituality has a lot to do with one’s personality? In other words, an introverted person may be more attracted to a cloistered lifestyle and vice versa? And people tend to be attracted to a particular religious order because they identify with one or two of its Saint’s personality?
 
Sister_Helena said:
Do you agree that attraction to a particular spirituality has a lot to do with one’s personality? In other words, an introverted person may be more attracted to a cloistered lifestyle and vice versa? And people tend to be attracted to a particular religious order because they identify with one or two of its Saint’s personality?
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I would have to agree with your two statements above. No doubt about personality and favorite saints making a difference.

But I have to say that location might play a part in all of this. By that I mean, if you live close to a Passionist monastery and have been going there for awhile, you’ve had the chance to become intimately involved and exposed to their charism and way of life. That alone makes it easier to come to know, connect with and love their spirtuality. Now you might be in love with the Benedictines or Carthusians, but if they don’t have a monastery close by, or at least some kind of personal support, you are likely never to become involved with them in the same way.

I think the chance to actually attend a monastery makes a big difference…
 
jimcav said:
I would have to agree with your two statements above. No doubt about personality and favorite saints making a difference.

But I have to say that location might play a part in all of this. By that I mean, if you live close to a Passionist monastery and have been going there for awhile, you’ve had the chance to become intimately involved and exposed to their charism and way of life. That alone makes it easier to come to know, connect with and love their spirtuality. Now you might be in love with the Benedictines or Carthusians, but if they don’t have a monastery close by, or at least some kind of personal support, you are likely never to become involved with them in the same way.

I think the chance to actually attend a monastery makes a big difference…
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That is a good point. I originally did not know that the Carmelites have an active branch because my first Carmelite contact was with the Teresian cloistered Carmelites. They were accessible to where I lived and I got to know them well. No other religious Order attracted me since.
 
What Catholic spirituality attracts and inspires me? All of it:). Every time I learn about a new saint etc I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church that produced so many amazing people like St Damien of Molokai, all of the Teresas, Thomas Aquinas, Ignatius of Loyola, and so on. That said the spirituality that attracts me the most is one I somehow didnt know much about until recently and when I learned about I thought it and its saints were nuts and wanted to avoid it at all costs. That changed though and now Im very pro Carmelite. 👍 for good Jesuits too like Fr Pacwa and my sd.
 
vee8 said:
What Catholic spirituality attracts and inspires me? All of it:). Every time I learn about a new saint etc I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church that produced so many amazing people like St Damien of Molokai, all of the Teresas, Thomas Aquinas, Ignatius of Loyola, and so on. That said the spirituality that attracts me the most is one I somehow didnt know much about until recently and when I learned about I thought it and its saints were nuts and wanted to avoid it at all costs. That changed though and now Im very pro Carmelite. 👍 for good Jesuits too like Fr Pacwa and my sd.
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Great! Do you have Carmelite Nun or Sisters where you are?
 
vee8 said:
What Catholic spirituality attracts and inspires me? All of it:). Every time I learn about a new saint etc I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church that produced so many amazing people like St Damien of Molokai, all of the Teresas, Thomas Aquinas, Ignatius of Loyola, and so on. That said the spirituality that attracts me the most is one I somehow didnt know much about until recently and when I learned about I thought it and its saints were nuts and wanted to avoid it at all costs. That changed though and now Im very pro Carmelite. 👍 for good Jesuits too like Fr Pacwa and my sd.
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My thoughts exactly. I’m very thankful to God for all. That is why I had to ask the question Can a person be attracted and inspired by more than one order or Saint? Curious that’s all.
  • Discalced Carmelites who I am discerning with.
  • Poor Clares
  • Franciscan
  • Dominican
  • Cistercian
  • Handmaids of the Precious Blood
  • Sisters of the Adorers of the Precious Blood
  • Sisters of the Child Jesus
  • Sisters of the Presentation of Mary
  • and the list goes on…😃
As far as Saints go all of them. As well as Servants of God, Venerables, Blessed, and so forth.
 
There is something that is fascinating about old Catholic orders and societies. Whether or not I ever become priest, I think that I would like to become a Secular Franciscan. I have always loved San Francesco d’Assisi and have lovingly had many pets(and now I frequently pray to him upon their behalf).
 
Jennifer_G said:
:yup: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was one of, if not the first, apparitions of Mary I read about when starting to learn about the Catholic faith. I learned about the Brown Scapular, and the Rosary, too. I’ve been a Carmelite at heart ever since! (funny since my mom always says I look good in brown - carmelite color) I think Mary definately had a hand in my conversion. 👍
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not to mention Saints Elias(Elijah) and Eliseus(Elisha; Hellenic names are so nice).
 
Sister_Helena said:
Do you agree that attraction to a particular spirituality has a lot to do with one’s personality? In other words, an introverted person may be more attracted to a cloistered lifestyle and vice versa? And people tend to be attracted to a particular religious order because they identify with one or two of its Saint’s personality?
Click to expand...
jimcav said:
I would have to agree with your two statements above. No doubt about personality and favorite saints making a difference.

But I have to say that location might play a part in all of this. By that I mean, if you live close to a Passionist monastery and have been going there for awhile, you’ve had the chance to become intimately involved and exposed to their charism and way of life. That alone makes it easier to come to know, connect with and love their spirtuality. Now you might be in love with the Benedictines or Carthusians, but if they don’t have a monastery close by, or at least some kind of personal support, you are likely never to become involved with them in the same way.

I think the chance to actually attend a monastery makes a big difference…
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I agree with both of those things. The two things that really attracted me to the Dominicans are the fact that I went there for the profession of vows, then on retreat with them, and I really love to learn and study. The more I’ve found out about them the more I see how Dominican I have been my whole life without knowing it.

JMJ+
~Betsy

Totus tuus Maria!
 
Sister_Helena said:
Spirituality is an age-old concept in the Catholic Church. Simply put, it means an attraction to a particular way of living your spiritual life or your relationship with God, which affects your attitudes and way of thinking. Some people get their inspiration from a particular Saint, taking the saint’s example and virtues, as a way to live their lives. God gave us canonized Saints to highlight their virtues for the faithful’s imitation. Some spirituality are inspired by a religious Order’s spirit and charism. What about you?
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Me?:compcoff:

I would say that there are two major influences in my life as of RIGHT NOW. This subject to change, of course:coffeeread:

The first influences is the Confraternity of Penitents, by which I live the old Franciscan Rule For The Third Order Of The Continent, sometimes referred to as the rule of the year 1221. Esentially a life of quiet, unassuming penance and prayer in the priuvacy of our homes. Simple clothing, few posessions, frequent fasting and absitenance, and all that good stuff.:gopray2:

The second influence would be Opus Dei. Saint Escriva founded Opus Dei with the intention of helping ordinary Catholics living ordinary lives in the secular world to understand that, yes, they could live holy lives in their station of life. My major reading is ICWG, (IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD), a set of seven (7) books written by Opus Dei Priest Francis Fernandez to help us live that kind of holy life in the midst of this secular world. This set of books is my daily, and probably lifetime, meditation.:highprayer:

With the CFP, my main spiritual work of mercy is prayer for the poor souls.:signofcross:

With ICWG, my main corporal work of mercy is ramsoming the captives…the captives to alcohol and drugs. (I will be 26 years sober tomorrow.) AA 12th step work and all that.:byzsoc:

At age 65, I have to fight the urge to become a Monk, a Hermit, or even an Anchorite. Every Religious I talk to makes the same point, that I cannot abandon my 26 years of sonbriety and the help it can give to newly recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. For that I must remain in the secular world, :yup:

I am not sure if that makes it two or three different Catholic spiritualities, but that is where I am at.:o
 
I was first attracted to pauline sisters (daughters of St Paul) but later I was not sure whether it was my call or not.

Although am now discerning, I believe religious life’s my calling. I just found poor friars and little sisters of Jesus and Mary who live the gospel in the real sense of the word. They are inspired by the lives of the founders of Fransiscans and Carmelites. What inspires me the most “they don’t touch money” therefore they are the poorest community ever (I believe)
densy;)
 
As among Secular Franciscans and Third Order Dominicans(Secular, not Tertiary), whom would you say is more austere? As for lay orders in general, would not that probably be applied to Discalced Carmelites?
 
Young_Thinker said:
As among Secular Franciscans and Third Order Dominicans(Secular, not Tertiary), whom would you say is more austere? As for lay orders in general, would not that probably be applied to Discalced Carmelites?
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Does the’austerity bit’ do it for you?
 
BVM_1221 said:
Me?:compcoff:

I would say that there are two major influences in my life as of RIGHT NOW. This subject to change, of course:coffeeread:

The first influences is the Confraternity of Penitents, by which I live the old Franciscan Rule For The Third Order Of The Continent, sometimes referred to as the rule of the year 1221. Esentially a life of quiet, unassuming penance and prayer in the priuvacy of our homes. Simple clothing, few posessions, frequent fasting and absitenance, and all that good stuff.:gopray2:

.:signofcross:
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That’s great!👍

I applaud your choice to live a life of abstinence and fasting in an age of such gluttony and wasteful consumerism!:clapping:
 
:yup:
jimcav said:
That’s great!👍

I applaud your choice to live a life of abstinence and fasting in an age of such gluttony and wasteful consumerism!:clapping:
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You should really give the credit to Saint Francis. I get the impression that he wanted his Third Order, even if living in the midst of the secular world, to eat to live, not live to eat.:tsktsk:

Of course, many people cannot honestly fast without getting dibilitated, physically or mentally. So they should not fast. :dts:

At age 65, I have been given the grace to be able to fast, to be mildly hunget at times, but NEVER weakened, physically or mentally. A grace.
 
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