Catholic spirituality
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The belief of the Roman Catholic Church is that, once one has accepted the faith (fides quae creditur) by making a personal act of faith (fides qua creditur), then one lives it out through spiritual practice. 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 Roman 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.
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[edit] Catholic devotional piety
[edit] Desert spirituality
Desert Spirituality is characterized by prayer in solitude, asceticism, and a life of sacrifice. St. Anthony of Egypt (251-356) lived a desert spirituality. He lived as a hermit for ten years, practiced asceticism for his whole life, and grew his own food for sustenance. Centering Prayer is a part of desert spirituality. This is meditation on a single, sacred word that draws one closer to God.
[edit] Benedictine spirituality
Benedictine spirituality is characterized by life in community, order, and obedience to superiors. St. Benedict (480-550) is considered to be the Father of Western Monasticism. He wrote The Rule and established his first monastery at Monte Cassino, Italy. Lectio Divina is a Benedictine prayer form based on praying with the Word of God. Lectio Divina has four "moments": Lectio (Reading Scripture), Meditatio (Reflection on the Word), Oratio (Praying), and Contemplatio (Silently listening to God).
[edit] Franciscan spirituality
Franciscan spirituality is characterized by a life of poverty, love of nature, and giving charity to those in need. St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) was the son of a wealthy merchant. He rejected all of his possessions and founded a community of brothers (friars) who lived in poverty and helped the poor. Franciscan prayer recognizes God's presence in the wonder of creation. This is seen clearly in St. Francis' Canticle of the Sun.
[edit] Dominican spirituality
Dominican spirituality is characterized by poverty, love of preaching and devotion to truth. St. Dominic (1170-1221) encountered heretics on a journey in France. His opinion was that the people were not to blame - the preachers were. If there are good, orthodox preachers, then the people will be good and orthodox also. So, he founded the Order of Preachers, known as Dominicans who are drawn to contemplation of the Sacred Humanity of Jesus Christ. Throughout history, the Dominicans have helped to develop ways of praying which have aided people in deepening their relationship with God. The Rosary is an example of a prayer developed by the Dominicans. Some traditional legends say that the Rosary was given in its current form to St. Dominic by Mary. The Rosary is characteristic of Dominican spirituality because it focuses attention on the principal mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ, can lead to contemplation and is a way of proclaiming the truths of faith. Some members of the Dominican Order have made significant contributions to Catholic thought. The theological insight provided by St. Thomas Aquinas continues to be a major reference point for the Church today.
[edit] Ignatian spirituality
Ignatian spirituality is characterized by examination of one's life, discerning the will of God, and living the Resurrection. St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a wounded soldier when he first began to read about Christ and the saints. He had a conversion experience while healing and decided to found the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits. His classic, the Spiritual Exercises is a guide for making a retreat.
[edit] Carmelite spirituality
Carmelite spirituality is characterised by interior detachment, silence, solitude, the desire for spiritual progress and insight into mystical experiences. The roots of the Carmelite Order go back to a group of hermits living on Mt. Carmel in Israel during the 12th Century. Ss. John of the Cross (1542-1591) and Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) were both Carmelite mystics whose writings are considered to be spiritual classics. In his work 'The Ascent of Mount Carmel', St. John of the Cross teaches that purgation of the soul through mortification and suppression of desires is necessary for the soul while it journeys through darkness before entering into divine union with God.
[edit] Redemptorist spirituality
The Redemptorist spirituality consists of: (1) the Crib, (2) the Cross and (3) the Sacrament. In other words, the Redemptorists follow Christ in his incarnation, death and resurrection and believe that he is always with them. They hold the belief that there is always a great encounter with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, hence St. Alphonsus wrote the Visit to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also wrote the popular Way of the Cross, and composed Christmas Hymns. The Redemptorist spirituality is a practical one, render help to the abandoned both spiritual and material. The heart of Redemptorist spirituality is the Gospel Invitation "to follow Jesus Christ." One of the most tangible ways they do this is to proclaim the gospel in simple ways to ordinary people, and to radiate the motto of Christ who read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…. to preach Good News to the Poor…. liberty to captives…. sight to the blind…. to proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favour. (Luke 4:18-19)
[edit] French school of spirituality
[edit] Post-Vatican II lay movements in Catholic spirituality
The Second Vatican Council accelerated the diversification of spiritual movements among Catholics, and many lay Catholics now engage in regular contemplative practices such as Centering prayer. Many contemporary spiritual movements emphasize the necessity both of an interior relationship with God (private prayer) and works of justice and mercy. Major 20th century writers who sough to draw together the active and contemplative poles of Christian spirituality have been Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr.
The purpose of all lay movements in the Catholic Church is to spread in society a deep awareness that every single person is called to live a holy life and each in his own way to become an apostle of Jesus Christ. For the majority of Christians, God calls them to sanctify themselves through their ordinary lives by works of charity and devotion cultivated in the family, the domestic church, in the neighborhood and parish life as well as the workplace all of which are paths to holiness.
See section on the Laity in the Catholic Church.
[edit] Charismatic spirituality
Not far from the Ignatian spirituality in regard to its understanding of faith, Charismatic spirituality is in fact the re-exploration of different Catholic spiritual currents with an emphasis on personal experience generally shared in groups.
[edit] Opus Dei spirituality
Opus Dei while predating the Council in its foundation anticipated its emphasis on the laity. Founded by St. Josemaría Escrivá, Opus Dei's spirituality is based on life lived in the secular world. The "sanctification of work" consists in offering all work, however ordinary, to God. This implies that one always does one's best. To be a contemplative is to integrate one's life ("unity of life") in faithfulness to the Catholic church and in solidarity with all those with whom one comes into contact, living a life of faith in all circumstances of each day. As John Allen says: people who follow this spirituality enter a church and leave it for the same reason--to get closer to God. The members of Opus Dei and its cooperators have committed to convert their daily work into prayer with the spiritual assistance of the prelature.
Pope John Paul I, a few years before his election, wrote that Escrivá was more radical than other saints who taught about the universal call to holiness. While others emphasized some monastic practices applied to lay people, for Escrivá "it is the material work itself which must be turned into prayer and sanctity", thus providing a lay spirituality. [1]
[edit] Focolare Movement
'Main article at - Focolare Movement'
Founded in 1943 in Northern Italy during World War II, by Chiara Lubich, together with a small group of friends, concluded that God is the only ideal worth living for. And, as a result they focused their lives on the Gospel. Many others followed. Their goal became one of striving towards the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer to the Father: “That they all may be one.” (John 17:21). A spirituality of unity resulted and gave rise to a movement of spiritual and social renewal. Now embracing over 5 million members in 182 countries, Focolare, which means hearth, draws together groups of families, neighbors and friends to share build community and extend the works of the Gospel.
[edit] Sant'Egidio movement
The Sant'Egidio community began with a group of high school students in the 1960's who were convinced by a local priest in Rome to try an experiment--to try and live for a time as the early disciples did, gathering for prayer and shared meals daily in their neighborhood as well as joining together in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The community thrived and has now become a global movement of communities working for peace and justice in a spirit of daily common life and prayer.
[edit] Communion and Liberation Movement
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- Main article:Communion and Liberation
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[edit] Taize movement
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- Main article:Taizé Community
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