ThePenciledOne Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I thought about making this a poll, but then decided against it, I just thought it'd be too restrictive. Anyway, I just wanna know what everyone's spirituality is...as in what is your favorite saint/order/spirituality to follow? I mean we have all kinds of different saints that all had a unique spirituality all their own. Every Order whether it is Franciscan, Jesuit or Benedictine etc have a different spirituality that they share with their founders. The Catholic Faith is just so unique that we have such a deep well to delve into and learn and internalize, so I'm just curious and I wanna hear about them. If you can't really put it into a category just tell me one that you like a lot. Personally, I really enjoy Merton's contemplative spirituality, and praising God through work as he has explained in his writings. I enjoy Augustine's praising God in all things and the expansive "Illumination theory" that extends from him. Along with that I love St. Francis' observance of God's Creation and how He permeates it. That's only a small tid bit I could go on for maybe pages haha. So what is your favorite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeteorShower Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 [b]FRANCISCAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/b]Saint Francis is my patron, and I'm named for Saint Clare. I love everything about Franciscan spirituality; the love of nature and creation, love of the Eucharist, joy, poverty, etc. So yes, I am definitely a Franciscan ...with maybe tinsy tiny sprinkles of Dominican and Carmelite...? I like the Rosary, and mental prayer, so I don't know, maybe. Or maybe not. I think most Catholics like the Rosary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePenciledOne Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 [quote name='MeteorShower' timestamp='1308186534' post='2254384'] [b]FRANCISCAN!! !!!!!!!!! !!! [/b]Saint Francis is my patron, and I'm named for Saint Clare. I love everything about Franciscan spirituality; the love of nature and creation, love of the Eucharist, joy, poverty, etc. So yes, I am definitely a Franciscan ...with maybe tinsy tiny sprinkles of Dominican and Carmelite...? I like the Rosary, and mental prayer, so I don't know, maybe. Or maybe not. I think most Catholics like the Rosary [/quote] haha it's ok to have sprinkles of other stuff, spirituality isn't a strict dichotomy of course ha. Plus, all spiritualitys appreciate Mama Mary, they have to. : ) (I like the Rosary too) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenchild17 Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I haven't found one that I have attached myself fully to yet, not because I see flaws in any of them but mostly because I've become too lazy to practice my faith as seriously as most here. I like many aspects of all of them, but I think the one I most closely connect with, and would like to associate with were I to pick just one is the Carmelites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeteorShower Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 [quote name='ThePenciledOne' timestamp='1308186657' post='2254387'] haha it's ok to have sprinkles of other stuff, spirituality isn't a strict dichotomy of course ha. Plus, all spiritualitys appreciate Mama Mary, they have to. : ) (I like the Rosary too) [/quote] Yay! Exactly! So while I'm mostly Franciscan, I can like aspects of other spiritualities too Religious orders do it as well, like the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word - and I'm sure they're not the only ones. Mama Mary = Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totus Tuus Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 (edited) [b]Franciscan[/b] with Carmelite* leanings *OK maybe I'm mostly talking about St. Therese Edited June 16, 2011 by Totus Tuus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudreyGrace Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I'm still developing mine. I'd like to think it's always expanding, though. There's so much to fall in love with in the Catholic faith, and I'm so young and (hopefully) have a long life to taste it all. But, I do especially love Franciscan spirituality in loving God's creation and the Eucharist, experiencing happiness through poverty. I'm also a fan of St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy messages (she's my Confirmation saint), St. Therese's little way with little sacrifices and great love, Augustine's reason, and of course, the rosary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totus Tuus Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 One of my majors is theology, and I was able to take this amesome class last semester called Catholic Spirituality. A lifetime of reading spiritual books did not teach me as much as that one-semester class did. Wow. The Church has some AMAZING traditions dating all the way back to the beginning of the Church. Reading people like Origen and Gregory of Nyssa really showed me how rooted the monastic traditions/spiritualities are in ancient customs, and that was amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I used to think I was Carmelite, but now I think I mesh more closely with Dominican and Franciscan spiritualities. I am very much into spontaneous prayer like St. Francis, but I love the rosary like the Dominicans. I also base my life on finding truth, so that is a very Dominican quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I've never felt a strong pull to any of them, but I'd probably align closest with Franciscan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 (edited) I am, in the core of my being, Dominican. Contemplate and share the fruits of contemplation - they've got a fancier way of saying it - is something I've always done. I'm very attached to the rosary (although I don't own one). And I've always been poor! I also sort of already live the Dominicans' four pillars - prayer, study, community, and ministry. Edited to add another thought. Edited June 16, 2011 by Luigi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePenciledOne Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 [quote name='Totus Tuus' timestamp='1308193092' post='2254416'] One of my majors is theology, and I was able to take this amesome class last semester called Catholic Spirituality. A lifetime of reading spiritual books did not teach me as much as that one-semester class did. Wow. The Church has some AMAZING traditions dating all the way back to the beginning of the Church. Reading people like Origen and Gregory of Nyssa really showed me how rooted the monastic traditions/spiritualities are in ancient customs, and that was amazing. [/quote] Concerning Gregory of Nyssa he's amazing as is Origen. The Desert Fathers are another pretty sweet group to look at if you wanna look into the monastic traditions, since they started them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePenciledOne Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 [quote name='AudreyGrace' timestamp='1308192835' post='2254414'] I'm still developing mine. I'd like to think it's always expanding, though. There's so much to fall in love with in the Catholic faith, and I'm so young and (hopefully) have a long life to taste it all. But, I do especially love Franciscan spirituality in loving God's creation and the Eucharist, experiencing happiness through poverty. I'm also a fan of St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy messages (she's my Confirmation saint), St. Therese's little way with little sacrifices and great love, Augustine's reason, and of course, the rosary. [/quote] yeah, spirituality is an on growing process that goes through phases, read Ralph Martin's "The Fulfillment of Desire" to get some good Truth out of that and I know you'll love the book. Sounds like you already have a good mix though. : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faithcecelia Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Carmelite, particularly in the style of St Teresa. Carmelites live in the 'wilderness of solitude' with God - whether they live alone or in community or with family etc. Its very much an emphasis on a one to one relationship. It also focuses on contemplative prayer rather than lots of sopken prayers, litanies etc, This suits my personality and is something I am very comfortable with, I feel far closer to God in complete silence on my own than I do in praying words, the rosary, etc. I feel my main job as a Carmelite is to let God do the talking while I do the listening. St Teresa recognised this, but she was also an extremely lively person with an extravagent and passionate love for God. She 'buzzed' with love, she is reported to have levitated with it! She had an amazing sense of humour and pushed the boundaries of acceptability in the Church of her time. She was couragous in faith, putting Obedience to God way above obedience to superiors (The OCD was founded by an act of disobedience, of course) and had a knack of getting the Church to agree with her even when she was actually teasing them with her writings. Whilst I know I will not be a reformer as she was, I think I share her passion and joy in Christ. I, like her, rejoice in hanging on the cross with Christ, in accepting the trials and criticisms that come as a result of having Him as my all in all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 The "Little Way" of St. Therese has always appealed to me. Of the orders, I have probably been the most attracted to the Carmelites and Marian spirituality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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