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. “Catholic Church” redirects here. ... Gospel, from the Old English good tidings is a calque of Greek () used in the New Testament (see Etymology below). ...

Catholic devotional piety

Main article: Catholic devotions

Catholic piety is based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, who is considered the founder of the Catholic Church. Catholic devotions are prayer forms which are not part of the official public liturgy of the Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics. ...

The fundamental relationship of Jesus Christ, Son of God is with his Father. As Son, Jesus is always in communication with God the Father. All throughout his life, his prayer starts with "Father', and the prayer he taught his disciple starts with "Our Father."

From this the Catholic Church has developed a piety that mirrors Jesus's attitude. The Mass, the central prayer of the Church, also refers to the Father.

Desert spirituality

Desert Spirituality is a way of seeking God that is characterized by the desert theology of the Old Testament, namely God keeping his People wandering for 40 years in the desert, and also throughout the subsequent centuries repeatedly calling them into the desert, as a testing ground where they may experience a change of heart and, by proving themselves obedient to his ordering of human living, accept him again as their Lord. This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Note: Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh to refer to its canon, which corresponds to the Protestant Old Testament. ... The Desert of Sin (Hebrew: מדבר סין, Midbar Sin) is one of the places the Israelites camped at during the Exodus. ...

In New Testament times it is likewise for the reason of proving his obedience that Jesus of Nazareth underwent testing in the desert (cf. Matthew 4:1-11 = Mark 1:12-13 = Luke 4:1-13). This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

The Christian eremitic vocation has the same purpose, as the name hermit applied to those that embrace it indicates. For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Hermit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Hermit (disambiguation). ...

Among those most widely known for living a desert spirituality during the early Christian centuries is St Anthony of Egypt (251-356). He lived as a hermit for ten years, practiced asceticism for his whole life, and grew his own food for sustenance. For the 13th century saint, see Saint Anthony of Padua. ... For other uses, see Hermit (disambiguation). ...

From the life of someone alone being dedicated to seeking God in the desert, which is the earliest form of Christian monasticism, the monastic life in community has emerged, although the eremitic vocation continues as a distinct way of seeking God even today. For other uses, see Monk (disambiguation). ... The cenobitic tradition is a monastic tradition that stresses community life. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Consecrated Life in...

In practical terms this spiritual quest is pursued through prayer in solitude and asceticism.

Some adherents of desert spirituality – whether as eremitic or cenobitic monastics, or as Christian faithful outside the religious life – practise centering prayer. This is meditation on a single, sacred word that is meant to draw the believer closer to God. For other uses, see Hermit (disambiguation). ... The cenobitic tradition is a monastic tradition that stresses community life. ... For other uses, see Monk (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Consecrated Life in... Centering prayer is a popular method of contemplative prayer, placing a strong emphasis on interior quiet and the experience of Gods presence. ...

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). This article is about Saint Benedict of Nursia, for other uses of the name Benedict see Benedict (disambiguation) Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. ... Lectio Divina is Latin for “spiritual reading” and represents an early Roman Catholic monastic technique of prayer that continues in practice though less widely, intended to achieve communion with God as well as providing special spiritual insights and peace from that experience. ...

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. Saint Francis of Assisi (born in Assisi, Italy, ca. ... The Canticle of the Sun, also known as the Laudes Creaturarum (Praise of the Creatures), is a religious song composed by Saint Francis of Assisi. ...

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. Saint Dominic (Spanish: Domingo), also known as Dominic of Osma, often called Dominic de Guzmán and Domingo de Guzmán Garcés (1170 – August 6, 1221) was the founder of the Friars Preachers, popularly called the Dominicans or Order of Preachers (OP), a Catholic religious order. ... Our Lady of Lourdes - Mary appearing at Lourdes with Rosary beads. ...

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. Ignatius of Loyola Saint Ignatius of Loyola (December 24, 1491? – July 31, 1556), baptized Íñigo López de Loyola, was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order commonly known as the Jesuits that was established to strengthen the Church, initially against Protestantism. ... The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola is a brief set of meditations, prayers and mental exercises, available in various book formats, designed to be carried out over over a period of 28 to 30 days. ...

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. For the personification of the average Filipino, see Juan de la Cruz, and for another Saint who lived around the same time and area, see John of Avila Saint John of the Cross (San Juan de la Cruz) (June 24, 1542 – December 14, 1591) was a major figure in the... For other saints with similar names, please see Saint Teresa. ... The Ascent of Mount Carmel is the third major work of St. ...

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)

French school of spirituality

Main article: French school of spirituality

The French School of Spirituality was the principle devotional inflence within the Catholic Church from the mid 17th Century through the mid 20th Century not only in France but throughout the church in most of the world. ...

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 sought to draw together the active and contemplative poles of Christian spirituality have been Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. ... Centering prayer is a popular method of contemplative prayer, placing a strong emphasis on interior quiet and the experience of Gods presence. ... This image has an uncertain copyright status and is pending deletion. ... Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968) was one of the most influential Catholic authors of the 20th century. ... Richard Rohr O.F.M. (born in 1943 in Kansas) is a Franciscan priest, writer, and internationally known inspirational speaker. ...

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. In religious organizations, the laity comprises all lay persons collectively. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

See section on the Laity in the Catholic Church. “Catholic Church” redirects here. ...

Charismatic spirituality

Main article: Catholic Charismatic Renewal

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. Charismatic Catholicism, also known as Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church which adopts certain practices and beliefs more commonly associated with the Pentecostal movement within Protestantism. ...

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. For other uses, see Opus Dei (disambiguation). ... Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (Thursday, January 9, 1902 – Thursday, June 26, 1975) (also known as Jose María or Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás, born José María Mariano Escriba Albás) was a Spanish Catholic priest and founder of the Prelature of the Holy...

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] Pope John Paul I (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo I), born Albino Luciani, (October 17, 1912—September 28, 1978) reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from August 26, 1978 until his death. ... Universal Call to Holiness and Apostolate is a teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that all people are called to be holy. ...

Focolare Movement

'Main article at - Focolare Movement' Founded 1943 in Trento, northern Italy by Chiara Lubich as a religious movement, the Focolare Movement, though primarily Roman Catholic, now has strong links to the major Christian denominations and other religions and even those with no religion. ...

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.

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. The church of SantEgidio, seat of the community of SantEgidio The Community of SantEgidio is a Christian community that is officially recognized by the Catholic Church as a Church public lay association. It claims 50,000 members in more than 70 countries. ...

Communion and Liberation Movement

Main article: Communion and Liberation

Communion and Liberation, or CL, is a lay ecclesial movement within the Catholic Church. ...

Taize movement

Main article: Taizé Community

Prayer in the Church of Reconciliation at Taizé The Taizé Community is an ecumenical Christian mens monastic order in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. ...

References