SESSION TWO: EXPLORING AND DEVELOPING OUR SPIRITUALITY
There is no time limit for this session. The aim is to explore this page at your leisure, perhaps you can explore one type of spirituality each month.
Bringing Faith to life and life to faith
Spirituality is...
... a certain attentiveness to life,
... an attentiveness which contains in itself a certain desire, a certain hopefulness, a certain anticipation.
... attention combined with intention. (Ranson, 2002, p.17)
Spirituality involves an awakening to God and to life that helps us relate more deeply to life. The imagination opens to new possibility where life is seen and heard in a new way. People start to become aware that there is something deeper operating in life and that there are dimensions of life that haven't been explored, all of which offer greater depth, connection, focus and wholeness. Spirituality is not just one single activity but a combination of various integrated activities spread over a life time. (Ranson, 2002)
... a certain attentiveness to life,
... an attentiveness which contains in itself a certain desire, a certain hopefulness, a certain anticipation.
... attention combined with intention. (Ranson, 2002, p.17)
Spirituality involves an awakening to God and to life that helps us relate more deeply to life. The imagination opens to new possibility where life is seen and heard in a new way. People start to become aware that there is something deeper operating in life and that there are dimensions of life that haven't been explored, all of which offer greater depth, connection, focus and wholeness. Spirituality is not just one single activity but a combination of various integrated activities spread over a life time. (Ranson, 2002)
Four Spiritual Styles
Csinos (2010) explains there are four spiritual styles - A word centered approach, An emotion-Centered approach, a Symbol- Centered approach and an Action- centered approach. Each of these styles convey ways of experiencing God and expressing our spiritual lives through specific yet fluid boundaries. One spiritual style is dominant in each person yet we are influenced by all the others at various times. Our aim to is to have a balanced tension between all the four styles which is considered to be a healthy spirituality. |
Ignatian spirituality
Ignatian spirituality is a way to pray, an approach to making decisions, a point of view about God, and a practical guide to everyday life. Ignatian Spirituality sees God as actively working in the world, and aims to help us understand and identify His actions in our lives and in the world around us. There are a number of resources online if you want to find out more, and also Jesuit run retreat houses and spirituality centres which run Ignatian retreats and courses. |
Franciscan Spirituality
Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations offer brief reflections on contemplative spirituality. Fr. Richard draws from his Franciscan heritage, Christian scriptures and mystics, and non-dual teachers from every wisdom tradition who point to our inherent union with and longing for God. Fr. Richard’s meditations in 2016 explore the theme of Love:
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What is Faith? - Margaret Silf who follows the Ignation spirituality
Building your image of God
We all have different images of God because there is no one 'correct ' image of God. The truth is that no image of God conveys all that there is to know about God, therefore it is essential to use many different images of God that are theologically correct. God is a mystery and at no stage in life does anyone understand all there is to know about God. Having multiple images of God enables people to have a greater understanding of God .(Beth Nolan, 2014) |
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Reflections on Church Themes
The calendar of the church is divided up into liturgical seasons. Each event in itself can be a major focus for reflection.
There are many reflections available for every season of the Church Calendar.
Below is an Easter reflection that you may like to explore. If you like this type of reflection which helps make the seasons more meaningful, we can create another page which contain reflections for each seasonal event.
The calendar of the church is divided up into liturgical seasons. Each event in itself can be a major focus for reflection.
There are many reflections available for every season of the Church Calendar.
Below is an Easter reflection that you may like to explore. If you like this type of reflection which helps make the seasons more meaningful, we can create another page which contain reflections for each seasonal event.
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ACTION
* What can I change in my life to be the person that is in the image of God.
e.g. How can I be a more forgiving person?
How can I reach out to others?
How can I be more compassionate towards others?
How can I be kinder in action, thought and deed to people?
How can I look out for the environment?
How can I encourage my family to experience wonder and awe every day?
How can I spend time with my child listening to their views?
* Make a plan to change my behaviours.
* Use your personal reflection journal to note your plans.
* Share your experiences and views on our blog.
* What can I change in my life to be the person that is in the image of God.
e.g. How can I be a more forgiving person?
How can I reach out to others?
How can I be more compassionate towards others?
How can I be kinder in action, thought and deed to people?
How can I look out for the environment?
How can I encourage my family to experience wonder and awe every day?
How can I spend time with my child listening to their views?
* Make a plan to change my behaviours.
* Use your personal reflection journal to note your plans.
* Share your experiences and views on our blog.