Religion and Spirituality

[Julia123456789]

Hi, 

Just wondering if someone would be willing to answer a few questions...

How can Catholics connect with the spiritual?
Is there a difference between spirituality and being religious?
Are they important? Do people need either?
Do secular types of spirituality practices mean as much as religious? I.e. Yoga (Secular) compared to taking the Eucharist (religious)

Thank you very much

[BarbTherese]

Undoubtedly, Jesus established a Church and His terminology "Thou art Peter, The Rock, and on this rock I will build my Church" - and in the formation of His Apostles and Disciples, it was a spiritual formation.  Therefore, The Church enshrines a spirituality - a quite specific way of spiritual life. There are many references in the New Testament to The Church as Church.

Is there a difference between spirituality and being religious.  We are spiritual beings, therefore wherever we find ourselves, we are there spiritually whether our spirituality is a positive force or a negative force and no matter where we might be functioning.

For Catholic Christians, spiritual and religious are rightly intertwined and vitally important.  We believe that the Second Person of The Blessed Trinity, One God, incarnated as a human being (while also truly God) and, for one, to teach us how to be fully human and to draw us into intimate unity with Himself.  Therefore, The Church Jesus fashioned and to last until the end of time, is very important, vitally important - in fact St Paul tells us that The Church is The Mystical Body of Christ on earth.

While The Church IS The Mystical Body of Christ on earth it does remain human and faulted in its human functioning and we do not abandon Jesus because of Judas.

The Blessed Eucharist is the actual Presence of Jesus, truly man and Truly God, under the appearances only of bread and wine.  Nothing is more important and all else fades in comparison.   Certainly, there is no comparison with man made secular types of spirituality.

[Egeria]

This is a really good lecture by Sister Vassa Larin on Spirituality and Organised Religion. She's Orthodox, but, as far as I remember, I think that everything she says would be acceptable to Catholics. Highly recommended.

 

Edited June 5, 2015 by Egeria
Edited to add that I think that she really addresses the questions you're asking.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Welcome Julia. It is quite simple; Religion = works of charity in word and deed and Spirituality is Faith which includes prayer,meditation etc. Now to Get a bit more complicated one can not have faith without Grace and works are not effective without Faith. All truly good things come from the Grace of God and it goes Grace gives birth to Faith and Faith gives birth to works. But also i am no church theologian or anyone of special repute all this is just what i know through studying holy scripture,other catholic written works and the Grace received through fervent participation of the holy sacraments. I could be wrong to varying degrees without being absolutely incorrect, it is something along the lines that i have stated anyway and i would never deliberately mis lead anyone, but that's my word in a world that has become very efficient liers, take it as you will.

 

May the light of Truth guide you on your journey into the unknown Julia.

 

Jesus " Seek and you will find,knock and the door will be opened."

Edited June 5, 2015 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye
spelling mistake

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

oh and by the by, without spirituality and religion we are incomplete as human beings and can never attain our full potential to love God and others and be Loved by God and others. Hope all that helps.  Also just noticed your title says catholic, one very important thing to remember is Holy scripture promises that if we believe till we die that 100% without a doubt the only guarantee on the planet, that we are going to heaven if we do, no matter what. This if i where pope would be made, if the holy spirit prompted me, to be an infallible matter of faith and morals that all Catholics must believe, officially from the see of peter. I truly believe of all promises in holy scripture that this one is the most important to believe and opens us up more fully to the Grace of God,Faith and works, why? Because if we truly believe this promise the fear of death more than likely will be removed. God bless you little sister i hope all i have said and remember what the roman centurion said to Jesus, " LORD i believe,help me with my unbelief."

 

Onward Christian Souls.

 

Jesus loves you.

Edited June 5, 2015 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye
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