Spirituality
Sometimes people are just too religious.
How do I mean that? In the censure of a nun - who was deceived in prayer, St. John of the Cross lamented to her prioress that she would be easier to correct if she was not so spiritual - in other words, she was just too darn spiritual. This happens amongst lay people today as well.
A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Some folks know about every recent apparition and contemporary mystic around the world - they devour that stuff. Others have read the mystics; John, Teresa, Hildegard, Angela, Katherine, Catherine, Therese, and everyone else. They immerse themselves in mystical theology and spirituality, and they sometimes get to be too spiritual for their own good. The same can be said for liturgists and other religious people, theology students, scripture students, gay rights activists - whatever be their ”medium”.
What is essential.
That said, for most people, just attending Mass on Sunday, along with frequent communion and regular confession, and some form of daily prayer (ideally the rosary), and the fulfillment of their daily duties according to their state in life is more than enough - for salvation, for holiness.
Verify your sources.
Never rely on blogs for spiritual direction or guidance - always consult your priest, confessor, or spiritual director. Some of us are just too darn spiritual for our own good - and yours.
Remember, all any of you can count on from me is my prayer for you. God bless.
Art: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel from Tea at Trianon. Elena has posted Day 2 of the novena to Our Lady here.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Terry, this and the previous post are complimentary. One can prevent being “too spiritual” if one remembers that one is a sinner and has sinned and will most likely d so again. In the Primitive Rule of St. Francis the Psalm 50 was a daily recital. Daily recital of the Psalm 50 (51) brings to mind the state of sinfulness whether forgiven or not - quoniam iniquitatem meum ego cognosco et peccatum meum contra me est semper - for I know my iniquity and my sin is ALWAYS before me. ALWAYS in the sense of ‘contra’ as “in my face”. This attitude should moderate the tendency to become too secure in a sense of spiritual vainglory. Even if the Blessed Mother herself were to appear before one’s eyes, one’s first thought would be of one’s absolute unworthiness of such a benefit.
You have provided very good posts for thought. Thank you.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
That is some pretty sound advice! We have to keep our feet on the ground even as we strive for holiness! Good post!
July 8th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Thank you for this lesson. Bye now.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
LOVELOVELOVE the picture!!!!
Excellent message too. I can also testify that your prayers for me and my family work and I thank you from the bottom of my heart Terry - I mean that.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Thanks for praying for us, Terry. I pray for you, too, and I bet about all of your “regulars” do as well. (Hmmm. “Terry’s Regulars.” Sounds like a fighting unit or a religious order . . . ironic either way. Heh, heh!)
July 13th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Dear Mr. Terry , I feel that this post was intended for me because of my previous posts.I was angry ,and hurt after reading it. After reading parts of the Dark night of the soul , I have begun to understand what you were trying to say. I believe that you are correct. The truth hurts, but I will continue to read St. Johns works. I didn’t realize ,at my age, that I was still carrying around stuff from my child hood. I never think about my childhood . I have been killing myself trying to please God. I have this idea that I have to jump higher, be holier than thou, and pray harder,and feel it. I thought that it was never good enough . I keep trying way to hard to please God ,and then expecting some awesome replies in return for my efforts. You know to feel it somehow.
It is more comforting ,and peaceful to say that my best is good enough ,even if I don’t FEEL that it is, and that God is not my earthly father that could never be satisfied with me. Enough already. Thank you for helping redirect me. I am still smarting though.
Many of you Catholic bloggers over think this stuff.(I seriously can only grasp a portion of your writings sometimes) You over think it , I over feel it.
Feelings ,feelings UGH!! I am fed up with feelings.I have 7 daughters ,and I have caught the drama fever .
No, that was part of my child hood too. Oh the drama! My brother say’s that we were always in a survival mode mentality. I think that I can put this down too.
I don’t understand blogs. Are there blog rules, like only speak when spoken to? Or you must be invited first.Or that they are friends of your first? I have intruded on your public conversations without being invited . I have been rude , and unkind a couple of times.For that I am sorry.Thank you for your prayers. God bless you too.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Belinda! I’m so sorry - this post wasn’t about you or directed at you at all - although it coincided with a comment I left you on another post, this was meant for a strong critic(s) of my blogs. Sorry you thought it pointed at you.
No - there are no rules here - you keep reading and commenting - please! You are just fine!