www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology What makes a person's spirituality Eastern?

I have no idea. I'm RC. I do observe (on this and other threads) that the curious breed of Internet-meets-American-Conservative Catholicism is what people generally take to be the genuine expression of Roman Catholicism. I'm certain that's a mistake, and unclear what fruitful Christian life can grow from using that caricature as a yardstick.

And Bob's post was pretty awesome.

Glory be to Jesus Christ!!

There was more that I thought about concerning this topic once I'd posted and haven't had a chance to get back.

There are lots of questionable spiritual writings and people willing to "show the way." Much of it that I've encountered is New Age and rather dangerous. I've posted previously about some of the things going on in my area.

There is an element of discernment that is needed in the process of developing one's spiritual life. I firmly believe that the help of one's pastor and confessor is the first and foundational level. The thing that really makes me wonder is the idea that one can just do it oneself without reference to anyone or anything that has gone before. The Church trains and ordains men for the service of all of us. Priests don't get to their order without being trained and tested so that they won't lead people astray. Yet so many people are afraid to seek out one of the solid spiritual guides right in their own parish for this vital task. But the Church only has 2000+ years of experience . . .

We have a saying in my family. "This life is not a dress rehearsal." In other words, this is it and there is no room for error, especially in the spiritual life--because that's what lasts beyond the grave.

Bob

Khristos posredi nas!

I, too, am RC, though I also worship once or twice a month in the BC Rite, and from what I tell, it all takes a "habit of compromise" to experience the spirituality in both Rites, and to find that middle ground. Realizing that both are Catholic, and both do honor the same sacraments, and similar doctrines, you need to find the middle ground between the traditions, and work in as much as you can from the BC in the RC that you can. This could involve the sign of the cross done from right-to-left, instead of left-to-right in the RC, receiving the "Body of Christ" by tongue instead of in your hands, as well as sipping the "Blood of Christ." Stuff like this would indeed bring that Eastern Spirituality into the RC Church by doing these.

Also, in the RC, you're expected to genuflect, and to kneel to pray, unlike in the BC, where you bow before the holy icons, kiss the icon on the pedestal, and stand for prayer, there you might have a tougher time compromising your way of praying, and entering the church, since the traditions are so different on those grounds. I found this out the hard way. Serves me right for not talking with my local priest or deacon before rejoining the BCC after all these years, to find out these changes.

I, too, diet. Half the time I'm no-carb, the rest of the time I'm no protein. And from what I tell, it takes a "habit of compromise" to experience benefits from both diets at once.

Golly Stu, that's really something. Just how long a span of time passes between you eating the hamburger, and then the bun?

I commend you on having the necessary discipline.

~cough~