Your spiritual language

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In all seriousness, I feel most at home with Byzantine, Benedictine, and Carmelite spiritualities, though I do have some strongly Ignatian tendencies once in a while. What can I say, I’m not really a passing quarterback or a running quarterback, I do the RPO out of the spread. Diocesan priests can’t really specialize, we have to be utility players.
 
Spanish, Portuguese, German… all have regular pronunciation so not a problem… but French or Dutch… tricky. You are blessed to pick up any language that quickly. You have the gift.
 
Don’t know that I have a “proper” spirituality. I learn as I live…a little here, a little there, enjoying the learning of it.
 
For me I seem to be a mix of Dominican and St. Frances de Sales. For a long time I always thought I was very Dominican in the type of things I tend to do. Then I read St. Frances de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life (Thanks FORMED!) and I fell in love with it and the intellect behind the writing. So now I don’t know. I’ve never been drawn to the rosary like most Dominicans, preferring the Divine Mercy Chaplet if anything. If I had to list out my influences:
  • St. Rose of Lima, Dominican Tertiary (my confirmation saint and I’ve loved her since I was a child, I always loved her focus on doing God’s will even if it caused her hardship)
  • St. Frances de Sales (At least the Introduction to the Devout Life really clicked with me and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read in his biography so far)
  • Rosary (The sorrowful mysteries)
  • The Sacred Heart of Jesus
  • Lectio Divina
  • Divine Mercy Chaplet
  • Liturgy of the Hours (this was the first thing I learned when I was trying to pray through my day more)
  • Reading and Writing, lots of reading and writing. On what? Absolutely everything that comes to me; even if it’s how God or the Church interacts with something that I normally wouldn’t think would go together.
 
Spiritual language, or love language is verbal expression when we are elevated to a higher dimension in prayer. We have a need for which we pray, & our heavenly language comes out. OR we are heart broken & needy. Our English adjectives aren’t adequate & our tongues take over. There’s the language of the angels which doesn’t sound like an earthly language. In times, when raveling to foreign countries, if a situation occurs where we need to speak their language, that language will come out. Angelic language should have an interpretation after the tongue comes out. Privately, we need no interpretation.
Love languages of the world are the Italian, Spanish, French languages. Similar roots. Languages are fun.
Enjoy
God bless
Tweedlealice
 
So, I am a real Christian. Like other people here or elsewhere. But saying this, not everyone speaks this spiritual language. I say this here because of the next thing I am going to say.

I am a catholic from birth. Then after some time joined the Plymouth brethren in my country. They do not have a pastor. So all brothers are now obliged to be, in fact a pastor.

However it may be, this leaves room for visiting other churches. Like if they specifically have a healing ministry.

So after that I became more evangelically oriented. Especially if it is a ministry with a healing ministry. looking at facts this was not a problem in some way.

But the Plymouth brethren are more protestant oriented. Just like other churches I mentioned.

If I must spreak in terms of catholisism or protestantism or any other, it has always been clear how I am a catholic, and I still am. And normally there is no shortage in openness at that point, that is meant. Or that is how it proves itself.

I posted an issue this thread: Appropriate Way to Meditate - #21 by Shakuhachi. But this post is deleted. Anyone here that saw it and has an idea what the reason is?
 
TheLittleLady said:
Could you define your “spiritual language”?
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@TheLittleLady , three strands of spirituality make up my spiritual language .
  1. Ignatian . I lived my early years in a parish served by the Jesuits , spent five years at a Jesuit college , and have been on many retreats given by Jesuits . These have all influenced my own spirituality .
  2. Charismatic . I was introduced to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1974 . The spirituality I found and find in the Renewal has deeply effected my spirituality .
  3. Marian . I’ve been on eight pilgrimages to Lourdes and three to Medjugorje . I have always had a devotion to Mary , sometimes deeper than at other times . Of late I have entered the spirituality as expressed in Acts of Consecration to Jesus through Mary .
 
Fascinating to read even the different interpretations of the word “languages”.

I’ve always held it is important for those of us who talk to people in the conversion journey to know their “native language”, have a working knowledge of the faith they already have. Lately I have been thinking that, especially online, it is useful to know where that person is at.

As I’ve said before, the person who reads St Alphonsis Ligori and the person who is moved by Fulton Sheen are neither wrong, they are just different spiritual types.
 
Thai is difficult in that there is also a male and female way of speaking.
 
The moment I first believed in Christ, after reading the Gospel of Matthew, the whole world changed, and it was as if I struck a well, and the Spirit gushed forth praising God. All in English, but so automatic, so fervent, that it exited my mouth almost like gibberish. And so uncontrollable I fell to my knees, not even knowing what was happening. But it was all English. I’ve never spoken in tongues, but I know it was the spirit or an ecstatic sort of prayer in my native language.

So I just stick with that. Nothing has changed from my casual life to my prayer life. And honestly, I feel I’m always praying (as we all are/should). It’s difficult to even say what is casual and prayer life. This may sound strange, but I always felt uncomfortable not bringing God into my awareness, no matter where it is. You can’t hide from him! You can’t talk behind his back, obviously. I have some would probably say strange theories that this was the effect of Adam and Eve’s fall even… where their egos awakened and they lost this connection with God… and lived in their own world. But this is just a thought. Please don’t hold it against me.
 
I feel more at home with the Dominican, Jesuit and Byzantine spiritualities. When I pray and dream, I usually pray and dream in the language that I experienced the situation in or got to know a person in. I am not even thinking of which language to pray in but switch back and forth.

When I am furious with God, then I pray in all languages that I speak just to make sure that God understands me and understands that it is serious business. 🤣
 
Religions!
God created all of us. Jesus initiated the first church w Peter as Pope. For 300 yrs, it was persecuted. Ppl still joined by the Holy Spirit & the blood of the martyrs. It still mind boggles me today, why ppl would join under persecution. Seeing Jesus & all He endured is an awesome testimony.His RESSURECTION! Greeks were very thoughtful! They debated a lot at the Agora. One discussion was,”What happens after death?” Well, we had the answer. In order to get there it must be through Jesus.They’d have to go through pain to get there but the Holy Spirit must have comforted them. It’s amazing!
Well, infant Baptism was our first split w BAPTISTS. Luther had his 99 issues & said,”I’ve gone as far as I can go. I can go no further.” LUTHERNS
HENRY has his HEIR to beget! No divorce from Catherine through the Pope? Leave Rome make his own religion. ANGLICAN/EPISCOPALIAN.
John Knox had Presbyterianism &started around the Scots.
John Wesley brought the Methodists to the group.
They all protested. Hence,PROTESTANTS.
Catholicism is the first church & it’s theology is right on. But, some other denominations, using the same Bible, w sermons, give different insight into Biblical messages. Our Charismatic Renewal was great after Vatican 2.
But, some parishes got too loose in personal expressions? The tongue issue, Slaying in the Spirit & Healing, felt strange to some of the Rectors. Charismatics are blamed for parishioners leaving… It was evil in the church that decreased our census. Anyway, Vatican2 was trying to bring churches together. We’d share worship services. Sing a longs. Lutherans were most involved. I was & still am very ecumenical. All Religions will have believers head North to Heaven or South, where it’s hotter. It’s the state of our Soul/Spirit that is the ticket home. God wants all of us!!
We are blessed to experience Jesus closely & share our love of God w Brothers & Sisters in Christ.
We should stay in our Catholic culture.
Embrace other forms of worship that brings us closer to God. Usually, we Charismatics will have a spiritual counselor to guide us & to be in order.
Love God. Enjoy Mass & your Bible.
Happy New Year
Tweedlealice
 
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I’ve sat on this thread for a fair few days, and really I don’t know. 🤔

I really enjoy the writings of Henri Nouwen, they speak to me on a deep level. The same applies to Thomas à Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ.

The two prayers that really bring things home to me are the Jesus prayer, and Hail Mary. I can meditate and sit/journey with the Lord for hours and days with those two.

But I have no idea where that places me. 🌷
 
Oblates of the Virgin Mary: Their charism is to provide the Spiritual Exercises and instruction in Ignatian spirituality. You may be familiar with them through Fr. Timothy Gallagher and his EWTN series on discernment.

Benedictine: I have a deep love for the liturgy, and the Lord has given me the great gifts of living in a place where I can regularly attend daily mass, and the 4-volume set of the LOTH. (I just need to find a schola!) Additionally, their emphasis on hospitality really speaks to me.

Carmelites: The writings of St. John of the Cross have always had a pull for me, even though I have only to skim their surface. And nowadays, a lot of my inquiries bring me to the writings of St. Teresa & St. Terese (again, still just skimming the surface).

Franciscans: Mainly because St. Francis is so inspirational to me in terms of total trust in and love of the Gospel, his devotion to Lady Poverty, and the way that he loved nature because it was the handiwork of the Lord (rather than any sort of pagan nature worship).
 
What an excellent post! I’m sorry I missed this several days ago!

I think I’d describe myself as a mix between Dominican and Vincentian. Dominican because of the learning, community, and preaching. Vincentian for the drive to provide for the needs of Christ suffering amongst us.

I’m also draw to Ignatius spirituality and its focus on discernment.
 
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Dan_Defender said:
My biggest problem with foreign languages is pronunciation 🙂 I can almost read French but can never pronounce it right…
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Pronunciation is my problem, too. I can read French (modern and 18th/19th century), but when I speak French I sound like a drunkard with a stammer.
 
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I have no idea what any of this stuff is. Just catholic 😂. I thought you could only be a Franciscan etc if you were a monk
 
A lot of the orders have some type of Third Order or other way to let laypeople participate in certain ways.

For example if you wear the Brown Scapular, you are expected to regularly practice some aspects of Carmelite spirituality. It could be as simple as prayerfully saying the Rosary regularly. If you wanted to go further, you could be a lay Carmelite.

Not all orders offer something like a third order for lay participation, or it might not be available in all areas; Jesuits for example don’t have very much available, but you can still practice Ignatian spirituality on your own or with a spiritual director.

When people say “Salesian spirituality” they often mean they follow St. Francis De Sales’ guides to a devout life, which were actually written for lay people living in the world to try to live better.

You don’t need to practice a specific spirituality, but some people find it helpful in developing their spiritual life or a natural “next step” to take when they want to become more devout.
 
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