What does the phrase "Catholic spirituality" mean?

[RebeccaJ]

TIA

 

[lutherlic]

Since there were no other replies so far, I looked but did not find a single “crisp” definition. Wikipedia says:

Catholic spirituality is the spiritual practice of living out a personal act of faith (fides qua creditur) following the acceptance of faith (fides quae creditur). Although all Catholics are expected to pray together at Mass, there are many different forms of spirituality and private prayer which have developed over the centuries. Each of the major religious orders of the Catholic Church and other lay groupings have their own unique spirituality - its own way of approaching God in prayer and in living out the Gospel.

A lot of good content on the topic is also found by this Google search.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Yeah, I found the references. Would like a nice clean crisp definition.

 

[JRKH]

Don’t know that there is a “crisp” definition for this. There are many spiritualities within Catholicism. The common denominator would be taht they are fromed from and submit to the teachings of Christ through the magisterium.
That said, the spiritualities within the Church range from the highly charismatic to the highly intelectual to the highly contemplative, and all points in between.
If you are drawn toward a particular form os spirituality, you will likely find a form of it in the Church somewhere either current of in history.

Peace
James

 

[RebeccaJ]

So, Catholic spirituality is “doing things”?

Interesting enough, I came home Tuesday (after posting this question) to a Mormon flyer. Encouraging me to do “spiritual” things, whereby I’d earn spiritual “dollars” and after a certain point I’d use these “dollars” at a church auction. I’d get a $1 for praying every day. $2 for taking a meal to someone. $10 for going to the temple every month. The flyer said this would “increase my spirituality”. It was a list of things to do.

This is the environment I was raised in (the Mormons still leave me stuff). There was always goal setting, which was making a list of things to do and then doing them. I was then atheist for about 20 years. The process of coming back to God has included a lot of study on what words mean. (Starting with the word “God”.) The word “spirituality” is the latest one I’m trying to understand.

I don’t get the “doing things”, if that is what it is.

 

[JRKH]

I’m not sure what you mean by “doing things” in connection with a particular spirituality. Of course our lives as Christians need always involve acts of charity, prayer and spiritual growth. St James tells us that faith without works is dead.

A particular spiritual path however involves more and different things. It really is trying to find the path that fits with the character you are and the Gifts God has given you.
Using myself as and example, While I was away from the Church I was drawn toward Eastern mysticism and contemplation. I found much to admire in the contemplative approach. When I came back to The Church I began looking around at different teachings, saints etc and - Lo and behold - I find that there are 7 or eight Doctors of The Church who are considered “Mystics”.
I then begin looking for more reading material and find the wonderful book that I mention below in my signature.
As a result of all of this I have a wonderful approach to my spiritual life, modes of prayer, etc.

This does not mean that I go “whole hog” down some mystical path. I still remain firmly grounded in the teachings of Holy Mother Church, but this allows me to grow spiritually in an organic way - the way God wishes me to grow,

Peace
James

 

[RebeccaJ]

 

[FCEGM]

So, Catholic spirituality is “doing things”?

Interesting enough, I came home Tuesday (after posting this question) to a Mormon flyer. Encouraging me to do “spiritual” things, whereby I’d earn spiritual “dollars” and after a certain point I’d use these “dollars” at a church auction. I’d get a $1 for praying every day. $2 for taking a meal to someone. $10 for going to the temple every month. The flyer said this would “increase my spirituality”. It was a list of things to do.

This is the environment I was raised in (the Mormons still leave me stuff). There was always goal setting, which was making a list of things to do and then doing them. I was then atheist for about 20 years. The process of coming back to God has included a lot of study on what words mean. (Starting with the word “God”.) The word “spirituality” is the latest one I’m trying to understand.

I don’t get the “doing things”, if that is what it is.

Catholic spirituality is not about “doing things” (although there is doing in reaching the goal), but of BEING - being who we were created to be. By allowing the graces of baptism to develop one is transformed into an image of Christ. The “doing” part is through participating in the sacramental life of the Church and prayer and study in order to grow in our knowledge of and love for Christ in His Sacred Humanity. In becoming truer images of Him our interior life becomes one of intimacy with the Most Holy Trinity. A couple of books that would help you understand the development of the interior life are Dietrich Von Hildebrand’s Transformation in Christ, and Fr. Thomas Dubay’s Fire Within.

 

[Edwin78]

Hi RebeccaJ

Yeah, I found the references. Would like a nice clean crisp definition.

I think this is the most succinct definition of Catholic Spirituality that I’ve heard/read of:

Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi

How we pray, is how we believe, is how we live.