If you grew up in a religious household, you came to adulthood with certain ideas about what it means to be devoted. A devoted person prays regularly, or goes to Mass/church regularly, or does good works in the community, or fasts during Lent, and so on.
Any Christian group will have its accepted modes of devotion. A Baptist might show devotion by praying aloud and extemporaneously during worship, while a Catholic prays the rosary or a novena in private. A Pentecostal speaks in tongues and raises her hands; a monk chants the Psalms.
What many Christians discover is that devotion takes different forms as they grow spiritually and as the faith community goes through change. For instance, many Protestants now practice disciplines that once were known mainly in Catholic, or even monastery, circles—such as praying the Divine Hours or doing contemplative prayer. More and more Catholics practice devotion through Bible study now, whereas a few decades ago it was rare for a Catholic layperson to read the Bible.
At one point in my life I had abandoned former devotional practices such as personal prayer and Bible study. All of it had become old and suffocating, weighted with a lot of emotional baggage and self-imposed anxiety. Honestly, I was worn out from trying to be devoted. Then one day I walked into a worship service that used liturgy, and as I prayed along with the others—pronouncing these prayers that were ancient and well-used—I felt such relief. I didn’t have to make up “good” prayers anymore; I could pray what millions of Christians had prayed before me and would pray after me. In fact, I didn’t have to pray at all. If I was in too much pain or confusion to pray, I could simply be there with all those other Christians, and their prayers would carry me during that difficult time.
When it comes to devotion, it’s important to remember that the universal church is much broader and deeper than any one faith community. We need to listen to, and learn from, one another. Those of us who are wary of organized religion can’t afford to let our hesitance keep us out of church, because that’s where our spiritual family is. And within that spiritual family is an ageless and profound memory of faith experience. Because of the church, I can learn how to pray from someone who lived centuries ago, because the faith community has held on to her story and her wisdom. Because of the church, I can be held in love and truth when my whole life is falling apart.
Be sure to read Paula Huston’s story about devotion—chapter 5 of The Holy Way.
Exercise
Describe the way your devotional life has changed through the years. Choose some new element to add to your spiritual life this week, and journal about how it goes.
I invite you to post your comments and questions and I will respond throughout the week. If you want to read more from The Holy Way and By Way of Grace please take advantage of the special discount for readers of this blog during the month of July (details on my blog at the right).
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Devotional practices are a Catholic concept, to me. Actually, the Daily Office, described by Paula, is considered liturgical. In fact, my impression from a first reading is that what she is describing is liturgy – the coming together to pray in an organized manner in a public way. Devotions are “an opportunity for the faithful to encounter the Living Christ” – they can be communal or solitary, such as the Rosary or the Stations of the Cross. Devotions often include sacramentals – like candles or holy water.
Devotions have often become a substitute for liturgy because they often focus on a particular aspect – the rosary said individually is very contemplative and to those who find studying, non-conducive to ‘meeting with Christ’ would rather pray the Rosary than to try follow a homily. Those who find studying helpful in knowing Christ think the silence after communion interminable. They love to come together for Bible study. The best devotions are the ones that make us appreciate the Liturgies more.
As a convert to Catholicism as a young woman, I was mystified by ‘devotions’ and didn’t understand them at all. In fact, it wasn’t until I studied Liturgy that I really understood. I was familiar with ‘silent’ grace (from my father’s Quaker background) and entering into the spirit of Bible stories from my storytelling mother. I attended Vacation Bible Schools with my Protestant friends and Mass with my Catholic ones even though my family was unchurched. The breakthrough to understanding about devotion was at a seminar for Catechists. I don’t remember the topic we were studying, but in the sharing time, I had said that when I was stymied about the best way to raise children, I looked up the scripture passages about Mary and Jesus and read them and meditated on them and often found the answer. In the restroom during the break, another woman said that I had a real ‘devotion to Mary’ and then I started to understand – devotions were the ways I encountered Christ so that I could more fully worship Him in the Liturgy and do His will in my non-liturgical moments.
At different times, I have looked to the saints, as I did to Mary and as Paula does in her books, studying their lives and talking with them and asking them to pray for where I am. I sometimes use Cardinal Bernadine’s practice of asking my guardian angel to go talk things over with someone else’s guardian angel and to prompt us both to be loving to each other. I have prayed the Rosary and Stations of the Cross alone and discovered that it is a beautiful contemplative tool and in groups where I feel the power of praying together (kind of like the experience of Paula’s when she heard the Hallelujah Chorus). I have shared in small groups – sometimes based on scripture study, sometimes reflection questions and shared prayer. I have attended charismatic prayer meetings and find that type of praise to really uplift my soul. I have done journaling on a regular basis. I say a Hail Mary whenever I hear a siren and sometimes when I see a sad or stressed face on the street. When one cannot figure out what to pray for or know that someone needs constant prayer, lighting a candle is so comforting. I have made visits to the Blessed Sacrament to help me keep that serenity of spirit when my life is hectic. I have blessed my recently purchased car with holy water and keep a prayer of reparation (from the Sacred Heart Fathers) in my wallet.
My Protestant background still makes it difficult for some devotions to be a part of my life unless I make an effort to include them – like the Rosary or Stations of the Cross. I have never been able to say a novena without feeling inward chafing at the ‘mechanical’ nature of it.
My Augustinian personality likes the combination of reading, reflecting, and sharing as we do here. The leader’s expectations, the various comments, writing my own comments – all help me to see God more clearly. And, then connecting with someone who has very different life challenges and perspectives and devotions like Mary brings ‘consolation’ – a glimpse of that inclusive love that embraces us all. (Though actually we might share some of the devotions, don’t know yet.) So right now the major devotion I have is this.
Haven’t decided what I will try that’s different.
What a rich life you’ve had! You and I have some things in common–such as Protestantism in our backgrounds and some interaction with Charismatics. I believe that God and the angels and saints have taken much joy in how you have thrown yourself into spiritual engagement in so many ways. You have allowed your heart to speak its hunger for God, and you’ve had the will and desire to find the sustenance you needed. Thanks so much for sharing this with the rest of us–you’ve probably given some people ideas for how to vary their devotional practices. Have you tried the recent “praying in color” based on the book by that name? It’s a practice of writing peoples’ names and coloring designs around them as forms of prayer. There’s also praying with icons, which I have not yet done. We have a many-layered world in which there are always new possibilities for expression. All peace to you–Vinita
That richness only comes from living a long life!
No, I haven’t heard of praying with color, but I do know about icons. I have a friend who really loves icons, but I think you have to be more of a detail person than I am to find icons really meaningful. I once went on a retreat where one of the exercises was to draw a mandela,which I did enjoy, but didn’t continue to do. I also think the labyrinth would be something that would appeal to me sometime.
Something traditional seems to appeal to me right now. There are times when there is great change in one’s life that the opportunity to meet Christ is in the traditional prayers that make a bridge between where you are and where you will be – sort of a reminder that He is always there in the old and the new.
Think I’ll try praying that my guardian angel talks to someone else’s guardian angel. I really like that idea. It’s a new way to approach conflict resolution.
I’d never heard of that either–but I like it!
I have come to enjoy a devotional life of solitude and silence. In the solitude and silence I spend much time with my journal, writing my thoughts, and prayers, and more recently being drawn into art, capturing in picutres (rough as they may be) what I am seeing and where God is taking me. The solitude and silence encourages my contemplation and refreshes me. I really enjoy just being in God’s presence.
Sharon, I think most of us come to a point in life where we are fed most richly through aloneness with God. Bless you for recognizing what restores your soul. Thanks for posting–Vinita
This is actually one of my favorite aspects of Catholicism — that no matter who you are or what your skills are, there is a way “in.” Whether it’s the rosary, the Mass, the saints, the art in the churches — there are as many ways to “read” Catholicism as there are “readers.”
And this post fits perfectly a book I am reading right now by Jon Sweeney: Almost Catholic. (I’m sure you know his work, Vinita.) A good writer and a great thinker, Sweeney is a Protestant who has opened his heart and mind to the deep mysticism that is to be found in Catholicism.
Personally, there are many, many things that work for me. My friends who consider themselves “intellectuals” do not understand my devotions to things like the rosary and different manifestations of Mary, but I think they are missing out. :)
One of my favorite moments of devotion occurred in Minnesota. I was working for Pax Christi USA and was at the National Conference at St. John’s University. They have that AMAZING church — oh, the architecture of it.
Anyway, we were invited to sit with the Monks and chant the psalms with them. All those deep, rich voices and the quiet and stillness.
I pine to return to that.
My friend, a Benedictine nun here in Erie, teased me afterward about how it must have spoken to my “conservative little heart,” and yes, it did. :)
I love the simplicity of Chant. I also chant Sanskrit with yoga and there is something to creating that vibration in our human bodies — as if we are vibrating on a Divine level and so open a door to God.
Yes, that’s what I love about Catholicism – there are so many ways to be a devout Catholic! Chant is wonderful, too. It’s not something I can do, but I love hearing it.
I appreciate your saying you were once tired of trying to be devoted. Lately I’ve been there a lot. When I miss doing whatever practice or am still crabby after I do it, I feel like I’ve failed and it isn’t worth that.
I also appreciate your articulating the gifts of a community which is grounded in ancient liturgy. I grew up in the Episcopal church but chose to be ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (similar in worship style to Baptists), so in many ways I got the best of both worlds.
That’s the beauty of devotions – you can skip them or change them to suit where you are. Now Liturgy is something else. You need to be there whether it suits you or not because it is a symbol being a part of the whole. Sometimes it is comforting or inspiring and sometimes all that connects you with anything that is happening or anyone who is there is that you all are receiving communion in faith.
Although I couldn’t keep up the practice of the Liturgy of the Hours alone and didn’t have an opportunity to be part of a community, I can see why so many religious are optimistic people.
So when a devotional gets boring, don’t feel guilty. Try something else or take a vacation. Like the angels finish rosaries for those who fall asleep, I believe you can hand over devotions to them for a while. Sometimes you just have to experience a little, absorb what you have learned – like dreams are supposed to refresh you when you are asleep – without ‘practicing’ your devotion. For all the varied ways I have been devotional, there have been long periods when I have done nothing special, nothing regular.
You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Thank you.
After reading all of the comments I realize that there is always a new approach to our relationship with God and Jesus. Like all relationships one needs to try something new in order to keep the relationship going or at least refreshing. I come from a very traditional Catholic family and remember saying the Rosary with my grandparents (didn’t much like it back then but appreciate it now). I have been married to a fundamentalist Baptist for over 30 years and religion was often a bone of contention. The Rosary and other devotionals helped me to keep the faith so to speak. I have grown up in that I now realize that it doesn’t have to be the traditional Rosary-to be honest my life often does not allow 5 mysteries with 10 Hail Marys. I have learned to do the Fiat rosary more often and when I pray I pray for something specific. It may be just passing a house and praying for the inhabitants or passing someone on the street that looks like they may need prayers. I too pray when I hear sirens. Other days I start with praying for everyone I love and care about and to receive the gifts that make us better servants of the Lord. I may pray for those who are ill, dying, etc. and ask for specific graces (eg-for those who are dying God’s peace and for those who die His mercy); I may pray for those who suffer loss that they find God there for them. I also pray for all who build the kingdom and for those that don’t know God that they are not lost. But my biggest prayer is GRATITUDE. I may not always recognize His blessings but I do need to thank Him for them. I do novenas rarely, I contemplate when I can but what ever I do I try to listen for His voice. Some of the things mentioned I will try=I love being a part of a group that tries to help each other. May God bless each and every one of you and extra prayers for Vinita for providing us with this opportunity!
It’s so rich to hear of all the devotional experiences of those of you posting. Thanks for this–it’s really inspirational.–Vinita
Yes, I think counting one’s blessings and expressing gratitude is a ‘devotion.’ It is one I do, especially when I am feeling down. It is what makes the Liturgy of the Hours so calming and encouraging.
Since I feel comfortable sharing with those participating in this ongoing retreat, I would like to bring up something that has bothered me for quite awhile, regarding how those in different Christian denominations share experiences with each other. I wholly agree with Vinita that “the universal church is much broader and deeper than any one faith community. We need to listen to, and learn from, one another.” I believe it is implied in the statement that each denomination shouldn’t necessarily take ownership for whatever devotional practices occur in their member’s lives, but to be open to the work of God in every individual.
There are many differences in how one approaches their relationship with God and many differences in devotional styles within each denomination. I realize that historically it has been easy to “label” certain practices as being related to certain denominations, but in this ever-changing world of spirituality and religion, I believe that it isn’t necessarily so anymore. I want to express that the openness and listening part is often missing in discussions centered around differing denominations. I realize that for each one of us, individually, there are aspects of “our” denomination that really uplift us, etc, but it may be that another person perceives this as excluding others. In our rush to praise our particular denominations, sometimes it appears to others that theirs isn’t “the best” or “as good as” the one being praised. Fear is often part of the exclusionary process that can occur between denominations. There are many dialogues present between different denominations that will help in this matter and I’m grateful those in leadership positions are continuing this dialogue..
My background is Lutheran Christian with many Catholic influences. I’ve learned to listen and be open to the experiences of Christian and non-Christian religions, which has greatly influenced my spiritual life. The event that really changed my spiritual life (and is still ongoing) is the influence of the life and Rule of St. Benedict and more specifically being an Oblate of St. Benedict. I was especially grateful to see his Rule quoted in one of the excerpts for this month’s reading. There is one aspect of St. Benedict that I believe helps us to understand what the church universal is about: he lived 1,000 years before the Protestant Reformation, before differences in denominations existed. I believe that St. Benedict’s influence today is a way to further unite differing denominations and continue our search for a relationship with God. When one reads and discusses Benedict’s Rule, denominational differences just don’t apply. The basic tenet is how to be aware of God’s presence on our lives, and how we respond to that presence.
Isn’t that what matters the most?
Thank you for reading…and bearing with me.
Now, on to devotional practices!
As I have grown in my search for a continued relationship with God, I find that my devotional practices have also grown. I am continually struggling to make time for God in the form of the Divine Office, and when I do make time, it is a beautiful thing and really forms my mind to be more open to others, less grumpy if negative things arise, and I’m better able to respond. Many times I’m not “thinking eternally” and sleep seems more important than spending time with God formally twice a day. Beyond those structured types of devotional practices, I’m more open to free-flowing or “feeling” type of practices, especially with creative outlets. I have tried “praying in color”, and have found it very helpful for me to really figure out, in the midst of prayer, why I’ve responded emotionally to different events (especially stressors) in my life.
Also, lately I’ve been using images as a creative prayerful outlet. I save most of the church bulletins from worship services, cut out meaningful images, scripture snippets, or prayers, and paste them onto everyday objects. I then can keep them in my heart by looking at them throughout my day. I also find that nature (yes, sitting in silence with the birds again), and labyrinth walking opens up my heart to God even more.
I believe the reason for devotional practices is to help us be more aware of God in our lives and how to respond, every day, day after stressful day. Finding the best response is the hard part! It is in the everyday details that we can choose to find God, or to be unhappy and ungrateful or simply completely unaware of God’s presence.
I send blessings to everyone participating in this retreat! It can be hard work sometimes, but very much worth the effort.
Carol, thanks so much for your post. I’m glad you’re with us! Peace–Vinita
The first thing I thought of when I read your comments about different faiths was a thought by a Presbyterian minister at one of the Ecumenical Lenten Brown Bag Lunches sponsored by the local interfaith association. His thought was that different denominations are like the apostles who were very different kinds of people, but who had come together to follow the Lord. Individual congregations often do have a distinct personality.
I agree with you that fear of the differences are what often divide us when we should be emphasizing the ways we share the same goals. Once someone told me that her church passed a basket for collections instead of being like the Catholics who had baskets with handles ‘so they could be sure to hold on to the money.’ The funny thing was that the only place, at that time, I had ever seen a basket passed was in a Catholic Church! Most of the time in my encounters with people of other faiths (and not just Christian ones), we can find some common ground. I even welcome dialog with those who come calling at the door and thank them for their gift of spreading the Good News in this way. One group, who I think consider the Pope, the Anti-Christ, was a little put off their stride when I agreed with their opening statements by quoting the Pope! It just so happened that I had just read something that pertained. It still was a pleasant encounter – they didn’t counter by citing their arguments that papistry is evil
Thanks, Betsy, for sharing about the apostles being very different individuals but needing to come together. I really liked that analogy!
I think of the many Christian traditions as puzzle pieces to a vast, beautiful whole. No one tradition holds all aspects of the faith in balance–at least that’s my opinion. This is why so many people shift traditions and practices as they move through adulthood–they sense missing pieces and find some of them in places different from their earlier experiences. That’s not to say that everyone should be changing faith communities–but the fact is, many do, and a lot of those people are shifting around not out of rebellion or hostility but out of real need and desire. My background is quite varied, and I am confident that the Divine works wherever the Divine chooses to work, and in whatever circumstances. Thanks be to God.
Vinita,
I can see by all the comments that have been sent in, that no matter what you do, how you do it, where you do it, and when you do it, it all comes down to the way YOU feel the closest to God. I am a convert also. My grand father was a United Methidist Preacher, and every time we would go home for a visit, I would go to church with him. Being from a millitary family, I am used to going to different churches and seeing different ways to praise God. When I was going through the RCIA program, I told one of my cousines what I was doing. Well let me tell you! She got on top of her tree stump and started just a preaching to me about the ways the Catholic church isn’t where I should be to be a true christian. All she could say is that (the Catholic Church) was nothing but a bunch of rituals. That no one was able to “be” ones self in church. I am not one to try to start or continue an arguement, so I dropped the subject. I enjoy the rituals of the Mass, Stations of the Cross, Easter, Christmas, Lent and all the “rituals of our faith. I fine it home to me. Like a child being told what to do, by a father or mother. God is telling us just like that, but he isn’t saying that, that is the only way things and prayers are to be done. He opens our eyes and our hearts to see what He has to say, and then He lets us figure the way we want to respond to Him. I have said many times before that I like to commune with God each morning before any one in the house is up. That is MY TIME with God.
I have been to a lot of different churches and each has it’s own way of praising God, and I have no right to condem anyone for their way of praise. I must say that I like and need the rituals of the church to help me to feel closer to God.
That isn’t the only way I praise God. I am a Lecter, Canter and I sing in the choir. These are ways to praise God too. I get to study the Literigy, sing the Palms and raise the roof with praise! All of these things help me to feel closer to our God and all of His people. I will talk about my faith with anyone that wants to hear about it. I have a daughter in law that is trying to teach our 3 year old grand daughter about God and Jeues. She is always asking me why do we do this or why don’t we do that? I try to explain it as I see and feel it. So far she accepted the little children’s bible and the stories of Jeues books that I got. But I can’t get them, son too, to come with us to church. I look for books that try to explain the church and get them for her. The one thing I stress, is that there is no “right” way to praise God. Only your way.
I am a Devout Roman Catholic Christian, and I am very proud of it and will die saying it on my last breath. But that is me. My husband is a “craddel” Catholic and he doesn’t understand me sometimes, but he knows that I serve and praise God every day.
I know that I have carried on a long time, but sometimes it takes awhile for the words to come out in the right way. It all comes down to, what makes each and everyone of us closer to God, and how we live His ways each day. When it come to be my time to “come home”, I will be ready, willing and waiting to be with my Father, and to bring Him glory for for ever.
Thank you vinita for letting us all serve God on your blogg.
Rose
Thank you for participating!
Sometimes we just don’t have the right words to pray. When we are hurting we just want to be in the presence of God. I have found Liz Kelly’s book “The Posary” really helpful in making the rosary which I return to when I can’t find the words, very meaningful and comforting.