What does it mean to be free?

[Robert_Sock]

Hint: It has nothing to do with materialism or to do what we please!!! Indeed, we ALL live in our own mental prison!!! Most of us can feel some pleasure of one sort or another, but none of us are truly free spiritually!!!

 

[misstherese]

I consider true freedom to come only when I am unchained from my own bad will.

You can be trapped in an actual prison and still be content being in the presence of the Lord, I’ve discovered from reading about hermits and other great saints. But nothing is quite like being physically free but yet being trapped in sin. That’s the worst sort of prison.

 

[anna]

Being in our own mental prison seems a little heavy…I would think the only way one would be there is if they are in a constant state of sin.As far as being truly free spiritually, if you are really one on One with Jesus and you are at peace and feel the Love that radiates from His Merciful and Loving Heart you are free to trust in Him and speak with Him anytime, He puts no pressure on us. So I am not in any mental prison and I am spiritually free with my God…God Bless you.

 

[Kei]

To be able to pick from a variety of goods.
To be no longer shackled by sin and evil.

 

[TheOldColonel]

I am but a clanging cymbal in the night.
I have danced the dance of sacrifice.
I make no promises as I stand before tyranny
But to offer my own life for hope of liberty,
But now this I do with great cost,
For my calling is higher than mere tradition or its loss,
So I hold high a sword of pure silver,
I sup slowly from a golden cup with a quiver,
I raise up the flag of my own martyrdom,
As I drown in the final Waters of my Freedom,
My legacy is my own life and death,
For the tyrant cannot bear its faithfulness or depth,
Yet the fiend remains to devour all truth.
Drawing life from all he touches but cannot mute,
So as to erase the Book of Liberty and Life,
But its pages are the hearts of a people in strife
Its script written in the blood of the oppressed,
Proclaiming one life extinguished for the many now to be blessed.

 

[drac16]

We’re free from the curse of the law. We are accepted by God on the merits of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the law. We’re no longer under the yoke of slavery. Paul talks about this in the book of Galatians.

 

[metanoia1]

I’ve already replied to a post uncharitably within the last day or so I’ll attempt to make less so. I simply hope if or when I freedom, liberation, enlightenment I’ll have the uncommon sense to realize it.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I do not believe we will ever experience true freedom living here in the lowest of worlds. I believe our spirituality is severely constrained in this world. It baffles me that people grieve when a loved one dies as if their loved one has forever lost paradise. We do not really know what we may be missing when we have never experienced it! I believe we are like slaves here in this lowly world. I must also point out that worldly pleasures, which everybody seems to always have to look forward to are a scam to keep us occupied as “slaves.”

The closest I have come to experience true freedom is when I’m deep in Centering Prayer! During Centering Prayer I lose all my thoughts, mental images, worldly desires, emotions, mental conflicts, and even my self – things like self-esteem, self-identity, self-concept, and so on. What I experience is deep peace and calm where I sense I’m much closer to God!

 

[hymin]

True freedom is present inasmuch as you are unified to the Trinity. When a soul is free to be diligent to the right end, freedom is confirmed. Further, when the soul by right diligence steady journeys to sin less and be more transformed into Love, the prior confirmed freedom is unbounded to extend the freeing kingdom to others, particularly the poor (materially or spiritually).

'as St. Thomas so truly says ‘Acquired humility is in a certain sense the greatest good.’" (Humility of the Heart, Thoughts and sentiments II, Father Cajetan Mary de Bergamo) If we are given by God to intend on this greatest good, we will end up, inasmuch is given and returned, with the greatest freedom.

 

[stpurl]