Where is the mysticism?

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HelenRose said:
How do you know that? Are you in a position to judge the prayer life of souls. .
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The OP’s question is: where is the mysticism? Mysticism is rarely addressed in homilies, you don’t see groups set up for it, it’s not talked about much here relative to other topics on forums such as these. I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that at the question was about * the Church*, not about how each individual thinks about or experiences the mystic elements of Faith. I stand by my answer.

I don’t think the OP was wondering about what people’s personal prayer lives consisted of, but where to find as much emphasis on mysticism as on rules and forms in the Church.
 
I cannot be sure (because I am not a Catholic) but my impression is that like Protestant churches, services are less and less about God and more about what God can do for us. True,God can give us joy,health,wealth etc. However, my interest is in God,not what he can do for me.
 
tata888 said:
I have never attended an EF mass, only watched them online, and I admit they are beautiful. But this thread isn’t about Latin Gregogrian chant in cruciform shaped churches at all. In fact just last week I visisted a beautiful modern Catholic parish. The crucifix was tiny compared to the standard life-like size, there were no statues savefor two small altar for the Virgin Mary and St. Lawrence (the church’s patron saint). But I felt God in that church. You don’t need Gregorian chants or Latin (though it’d be nice) to draw out the mysticism of the Church. All you need is for priests and the faithful to perhaps move a little slower in worship, to add a little more contemplation, to make sure that Catholic spirituality is prioritized over modern conveniences and personal interjections in worship.
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This has been my experience at the Cistercian monastery.

Mass is slooooow. The prayers are said sloooow. One has time to develop concious thoughts about each word one speaks and hears, akin to how one reads scripture slowly during lectio divina, savoring each word. All this in a simple Church void of statues and artwork, yet built to stand for centuries and for the singular purpose of praising and contemplating God.

My point is that mysticism - deep commuion with God - and even a sense of mystery, transcends architecture, transcends culture, and transcends even time and space. It’s not a divorce of physical from spiritual. Monks have always been “Lovers of the place”, wherever that place might be, because that place was created by God as a gift to man to show his glory.

-Tim-
 
spartan_cop said:
From her many previous comments it sounds like she does. This site just so poisonous, you cant even ask a question without sensitives getting on and start bashing someone. Ok we get is were not all as mystical and perfect as you are, but some of us enjoy what we have and constantly have to worry that it might be taken away when ever there is a change in leadership, sorry that we are not at your level.
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Everyone is called to mysticism because mysticism is commuion with the God and all are called to communion with God. Jesus was the supreme mystic, in deep commuion with the Father, and we are called to imitate him.

No one has to climb a mountain or become a monk. God dwells inside of each of us.

***Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” *(John 14:23)

We are temples of the Holy Spirit. St. Therese of Avila used to go into extasy at the thought that God dwelled inside of her. All we have to do is turn inward. That can happen on a crowded bus.

-Tim-
 
sw85;10381327]Take a look at this (Catholic) church:
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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2046/2071697160_2769cc80cb.jpg
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Was this cheap, easy to build, or terribly convenient? No.
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Yet someone decided to build it, anyway. Why?
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I have to say that that is about the ugliest building I’ve ever seen - A church you say? Looks more like an air-raid shelter, or gun emplacement from WW2. As for cost I imagine that it’s made of pre-fabricated, pre-stressed concrete blocks of various shapes and sizes and that it would have been assembled quite quickly so the cost would have been quite reasonable. However, having said that I must add that I think that it is a brilliant concept in as much as it would have been ready and in use long before would have been the case had they built a conventional church building. Take for example the Temple at the time of Jesus, the Scriptures inform us that,
“Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?” John 2:20 (KJV)
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Protector.
 
TimothyH said:
No one has to climb a mountain or become a monk. God dwells inside of each of us.

***Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” ***(John 14:23)

We are temples of the Holy Spirit. St. Therese of Avila used to go into extasy at the thought that God dwelled inside of her. All we have to do is turn inward. That can happen on a crowded bus.
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I’m not arguing with you, exactly, but I think you’ve oversimplified or else are defining “mysticism” rather narrowly. God can and does grace many with moments of mystical contact. BUT - but when you talk about Theresa, she had a regular and dedicated prayer practice as well as a life dedicated to that practice. To reach the mystical experience of oneness with God is not commonplace. And, in fact, I don’t think everyone us is called to that kind of practice. Jesus didn’t tell Martha to stop serving.
 
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