Favorite Spirituality In A Religious Order

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[url="http://ignatianspirituality.com/what-is-ignatian-spirituality/10-elements-of-ignatian-spirituality/"]This site[/url] gives ten elements of Ignatian spirituality which I would call ten reasons why I like it

Unfortunately there doesnt seem to be such a nice neat list for Carmelite spirituality that I can find so here are two items on my list.

Our Lady`s protection, patronage, and promises. I am one to whom much has been forgiven so I am constantly begging Mary to not let me go back to the person I was before. Oddly enough Im not even enrolled in the brown scapular although Im hoping to buy one and have my spiritual director enroll me the next time I see him.

Love is repaid by love alone (St Therese). My understanding of this goes along these lines. I identify with the woman in Luke 7 41~ who had the higher sum forgiven and thus felt she owed a lot in return. For me that is also intertwined with Hos 2:14 because God in His mercy allured me into the desert to show me I needed forgiveness among other things then when I was ready to ask, and listen to the reply, how could I repay His great love for me I got the answer. Love alone. Thats putting things simply but from the little I know of Carmelite spirituality those two verses are understood and incorporated in a way that I find fits & resonates in my heart, a way that none of the other wonderful spiritualities quite do. It is also not the spirituality I would have picked for myself because I probably would have chosen something easier! Thats where the Ignatian spirituality and its detachment from self and attachment to God comes into play though. I hope all that made sense!

[vee]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='12 April 2010 - 04:37 AM' timestamp='1271011079' post='2091007']
I must confess, sometimes (actually, quite often) I am guilty of Carmelite-envy.

I have a lot of admiration for all called to this vocation. It's such an absolutely amazing calling to me. I will always be one of your "fangirls" and prayer-supporters. May God continue blessing you all, as you continue to ascend the heights Mt. Carmel.
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Im at the bottom of the mountain making s`mores kind of hoping God isnt asking me to go any further.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='vee8' date='11 April 2010 - 09:02 PM' timestamp='1271037726' post='2091311']
[url="http://ignatianspirituality.com/what-is-ignatian-spirituality/10-elements-of-ignatian-spirituality/"]This site[/url] gives ten elements of Ignatian spirituality which I would call ten reasons why I like it [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/img]

Unfortunately there doesnt seem to be such a nice neat list for Carmelite spirituality that I can find so here are two items on my list.

Our Lady`s protection, patronage, and promises. I am one to whom much has been forgiven so I am constantly begging Mary to not let me go back to the person I was before. Oddly enough Im not even enrolled in the brown scapular although Im hoping to buy one and have my spiritual director enroll me the next time I see him.

Love is repaid by love alone (St Therese). My understanding of this goes along these lines. I identify with the woman in Luke 7 41~ who had the higher sum forgiven and thus felt she owed a lot in return. For me that is also intertwined with Hos 2:14 because God in His mercy allured me into the desert to show me I needed forgiveness among other things then when I was ready to ask, and listen to the reply, how could I repay His great love for me I got the answer. Love alone. Thats putting things simply but from the little I know of Carmelite spirituality those two verses are understood and incorporated in a way that I find fits & resonates in my heart, a way that none of the other wonderful spiritualities quite do. It is also not the spirituality I would have picked for myself because I probably would have chosen something easier! Thats where the Ignatian spirituality and its detachment from self and attachment to God comes into play though. I hope all that made sense!
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Thank-you for the site link on Ignatian spirituality. Maybe not surprisingly (because my birthday is St. Ignatius's feast day), a lot of it resonated with me, much more than what I've been reading about the spirtuality of other Orders and saints. I know this is heresy here in VS, but I have a very hard time understanding St. Terese, and the whole concept of being "in love" with Christ. Love, yes. But, "in love" feels strange and alien to me. Maybe because I have already experienced the sacrament of marriage to a human man. I strongly doubt that I would be called to be a "bride of Christ."

It's embarassing how ignorant I am about St. Ignatius. I've bookmarked the site for future reading. Thanks again.

Edited April 12, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

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[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='12 April 2010 - 12:40 PM' timestamp='1271040024' post='2091330']
Thank-you for the site link on Ignatian spirituality. Maybe not surprisingly (because my birthday is St. Ignatius's feast day), a lot of it resonated with me, much more than what I've been reading about the spirtuality of other Orders and saints. I know this is heresy here in VS, but I have a very hard time understanding St. Terese, and the whole concept of being "in love" with Christ. Love, yes. But, "in love" feels strange and alien to me. Maybe because I have already experienced the sacrament of marriage to a human man. I strongly doubt that I would be called to be a "bride of Christ."

It's embarassing how ignorant I am about St. Ignatius. I've bookmarked the site for future reading. Thanks again.
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Oh good you found the site helpful. Dont worry about not liking or understanding Therese I know what its like because I was in that group too but she is sneaky and got me anyway. Thats the easy part to say, the hard part is to explain what on earth her point is. I hope someone will be able to do that better than I can but heres my attempt. I think part of what she is getting at involves a lot of thought on the Eucharist and on the cross. Out of love Christ gave himself totally on the cross, and then still now totally at every Mass. Receiving the Eucharist is one way in which we are enabled to respond to that Love because we cant do it alone. So Christ loves us and asks that we give back to Him according to what He knows we can give then helps us to do that too. The comparison to a spousal union is one way of understanding what heaven will be like, total union with God, and I guess consecrated religious are a kind of foreshadowing of that union. LOL ok that probably just made things worse and I think others will be able to answer your question better than I can.

[Cherie]

[quote name='aalpha1989' date='11 April 2010 - 04:53 PM' timestamp='1271019188' post='2091089']
Oh yeah, not to mention the Brown Scapular.
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Brown scapular is AWESOME!

[brightsadness]

Pachomian and Basilian Monastic Spirituality. Also the Hesychasts.

St. Basil set Christian perfectionism as the goal of monastic life. The monks were to practice Christian virtues together, especially love; to practice obedience to a spiritual father; to practice chastity and poverty, and share the common goods of the monastery. [u]After they achieved Christian perfection[/u], they were allowed to come back to the world and help others to achieve Christian perfection. Thus, the monks had the mission of "social workers" as well. St. Basil's institutions, especially his Basileias, which was at the same time an orphanage, a "kitchen for the poor," and a school for the illiterate was in practice run by monks. This was St. Basil's way of utilizing the monastic movement to benefit the mission of the Church in the world.

Edited April 12, 2010 by brightsadness