Your favorite spirituality

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My favourite spirituality is definitely the Carmelite way of life. So many saints, you mentioned many, I’ll just add Titus Brandsma as a personal favourite for his constant easy going joyfulness in adverse conditions and matyrdom
 
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Michael16 said:
Mine is easily Ignatian.
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Mine too, as I am on staff at a parish recently (three years ago) staffed by Jesuits. I participated in my Ignatian spirituality retreats and programs like Christian Life Communities and even participated in training to become a spiritual director of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius. However, our parish is named after St Therese of Lisieux and my spiritual director assigned me the task of writing an article for our bulletin comparing the spirituality of Ignatius and Therese. It was very enlightening.
 
I’ll have to see if I can dig it up. It was a few years ago and at least one crashed computer ago.
 
This is one of the best threads I’ve read on forum. Helpful, enlightening, inspiring. I haven’t gotten too deep into any of the spiritualities. The one I’ve explored the most is the Discalced Carmelites. Especially the writings of St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Theresa of Lisieux.
 
I think it was the reverence of their worship, beautiful choral singing (it’s austere but powerful) and the warmth of their congregation. It was a very interesting experience!
 
I’m not gonna lie. The Charismatic Spirituality attracts me a lot. Usually I’m not for the shouting or singing loudly, but there’s something so genuine and warm about the way they worship.
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Bixby said:
Years ago I visited an Old Believer church in Erie PA
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Our of curiousity, do you recall the name of the parish? I’m about half an hour away from Erie, and I would love to visit if it’s still there.
 
Hi Paragon,

Though it was nearly twenty years ago for me, it looks like they’re still “in business!” http://www.churchofthenativity.net/ If you end out going to visit them I’d be most interested to hear what you think. Like I say, the memory is a good one!
 
Okay, can you explain this topic a little more clearly for a baby Catholic? It appears to me that some of what you are mentioning are orders.
 
mikie11b said:
Okay, can you explain this topic a little more clearly for a baby Catholic? It appears to me that some of what you are mentioning are orders.
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Orders have certain characteristic spiritualities. When you think you might have a vocation, you go seeking the order that has the spirituality and charism that seems like a good fit for you, and the order is also looking at you to see if you would be a good fit for their spirituality and charism.

There are also spiritualities not associated with an order. For example, lay people can very easily follow St. Therese’s “Little Way”, or the principles of Salesian spirituality that St. Francis de Sales wrote specifically for lay people to follow, and then of course there’s the whole Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) movement, and other movements like Opus Dei that were meant for lay people.

Each spirituality has certain principles and areas of focus. For example, Carmelites are contemplative and mystical. Franciscans tend to focus on living very humbly and serving people in need. Jesuits try to always discern the will of God and follow it. And so on.
 
I think that would be an interesting comparison. Though, I must admit; I know very little of Saint Therese of Lisieux. Beyond that she was a 19th century French Carmelite nun who lived in her community for only a very short while. From what I heard, she made a huge impact in her short religious life. What’s the basics of her Little Way?
 
Bixby said:
I have a great respect for the Eastern Church, and the Old Believers in particular. There are actually two main branches: priested and priestless - it looks like you love the former. Years ago I visited an Old Believer church in Erie PA and it was very dynamic, most impressive. Thank you for reminding me of them!
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Definitely! There are also Old Believers who returned to (mainstream) Orthodoxy, and so they’re called “Old Ritualist” - the Erie PA recently did actually.
 
For me, it’s been 20th century Trappists (Cistercians) who, I believe, follow the rule of St Benedict. Thomas Merton and especially Thomas Keating have been amazing for me. The latter’s Contemplative Outreach has worked wonders in my underdeveloped spiritual life. It’s been almost revolutionary in its impact. Can’t say enough good things about it.
 
I’ve been reading a Life of Saint Benedict and it’s blowing my mind; the beautiful simplicity of how he lived his life. Wow. So, I picked up a copy of the Rule of Saint Benedict and I’ll study it. I’m intrigued at the possibility of applying the Rule as a model of family life and to help me understand my role as father.
 
The spirituality I’ve been attracted to this past year is the one beautifully expressed by the lay Carmelite Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection in the classic book, The Practice of the Presence of God which is about his quest and discipline to live his life fully aware of God’s intimate presence in every moment of his life.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Presence-God-Brother-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B002BH3NN6/
 
Cool. I’ve seen at my favorite Catholic bookstore. How does he do it in practice?
 
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