Which Catholic Spirituality Are You?

, I’m such a fan of these videos. I am a a Franciscan by nature. When I was young I was deeply religious and it was my desire to be a priest or brother. I went to a Catholic boarding school in Lebanon. When I graduated my parents took me away from there to the US and pressured me away from religious life. I am a medical professional and spent most of my career serving as a relief worker in Sudan, Somalia and Sierra Leone. I did so at great personal risk believing it was my calling to care for the poor and victims of war. I am 70 years old now and wonder how my life would have been different if I had not allowed my parents pressure me away from the life I really wanted. In my soul I am a follower of Saint Francis.

Catholic means universal not uniform.

Word. The different charisms that these religious orders and movements have is a demonstration of the abundance of gifts that the Holy Spirit pours on believers.

Do you think you could make a series of videos interviewing a few people from each one of these? Their daily lives, how they live out their faith... I'm fascinated!

So blessed to have grown up in a Salesian Catholic school in the Dominican Republic. Aside from Catholic formation the one thing I remember the most was always being in the playground and how San Juan Bosco wanted that for all the children. I’m so fortunate

The first few times I visited a Benedictine abbey, I realised how hard of a pill it is to swallow to surrender yourself to that life. It helped me consider just how much I could still give to God than I already (try to) give. Absolutely humbling to say the least.

Being Irish, I grew up around many Catholic religious orders, Good Shepherd, Poor Clares, Franciscans, Dominicans, Salesians, Mercy Sisters, Loreto Nuns, my Grandfather was in the Legion of Mary and I know of so many more

I absolutely love your videos on Catholicism. I'm neither Catholic nor religiously observant but I love learning about Catholic traditions.

I'm lucky enough to stay at a Benedictine abbey and am amazed at their devotion to their vocation. (which for many is decades long). When chatting at dinner the inevitable question comes up from one of the male participants of the retreat. "So when does the desire for women go?" I'm sure they've been asked this a multitude of times. The monk will give a wry look and say in a whisper "when the last nail goes in the coffin"" It's funny (they are!) but actually it also shows that every day their outwardly serene existence is an interior battle as well. For to commit to one way of living, means you do without the world's offering. Hence "in the world, but not of the world" Truly wonderful, God blessed people.

I was raised in Dominican schools and later in Jesuit schools, order and logic was ingrained in me from a young age. I still carry a blue rosary in my pocket everywhere I go, I pray the rosary on a bus, train, airplane, it gives me comfort.

I was watching a older Breaking in the Habit video around this time last year. He was visiting a parish quite close to mine in Illinois. He linked in the description a Bible in a year plan and I chose that one. As of last week I have completed said Bible reading plan and I want to thank Father Casey for the idea.

I was raised in the great Opus Dei spirituality, and so understand Catholicism through the lens of daily work and being extraordinary in a completely ordinary life. The priests of our school (and go figure, the university I study in now too 💀) also take a much greater focus on our Lady, never forgetting to turn to her intercession at the end of every meditation. I find it so fascinating that every single spirituality of the Church gets to know the exact same God, the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church, but from unique perspectives. The parish my family celebrates mass in is Benedictine, and I get my formation online from Franciscans like fr. Casey, and other groups like Word on Fire. Getting to learn about all these spiritualities and getting to synthesize everything they hope to teach us about our Lord is wonderful. Praise be to God! 🙏

I'm a Benedictine. I entered the Oblates of St. Benedict at the monastery at Oxford, MI. We are exploring the monastic virtues of humility and hospitality.

My favorite are the Salesians of Don Bosco :) They are definitely one of the biggest in Slovakia. I love them so much for being down to earth with hearts in Heaven. Don Bosco said to bring up kids with love and to let them do whatever, but don't sin. I believe it's one of the healthiest for families and actually his teaching on pedagogy is being used to this day :)

Ordinary Life with extra ordinary Love with Opus Dei. Putting the Eucharist in the center of one's life, embracing your vocation, doing your work well with love and sancitfying others in the middle of the world. ❤

Thanks for the video! I, myself, am discerning a vocation in the Dominican Order

Benedictine: Saint Hildegard von Bingen; Elevated to Worship in the Universal Church in 2012 and Doctor Ecclesiae universalis. She is also commemorated in the Anglican, Old Catholic and Protestant churches with commemoration days. She has written many writings, including on medicinal plants.

I love how you combine accuracy, sincerity, and humor in your work. The lists of key thinkers and authors are very appreciated!

Dear Fr. Casey, thank you very much for this beautiful video. How wide and beautiful the Catholic world is. Thank you for featuring Opus Dei as well. Some comments: Strict fasting and physical mortifications are not so important in Opus Dei. They are practiced moderately and under the guidance of a spiritual director only by less than a third of all Opus Dei members, the so-called, (celibate living) numeraries. And only insofar as they strengthen in love for Christ. 70% of all Opus Dei members are supernumeraries, most of whom are married and tend to fast very little and, moreover, do not practice corporal mortifications. The key points of Opus Dei spirituality are: Sanctifying oneself through work, sanctifying ones work, sanctifying others through work, sanctifying oneself through marriage, living an intense prayer life, living contemplatively in the midst of the world with a priestly soul and laical mentality, joy and friendship. Penance and confession are sacramental instruments that are frequently used.The spirituality of Opus Dei is very Marian and eucharistic. It is necessary for all members to deeply understand and live the spirit of Opus Dei, virtuous and striving for holiness through God's abundant grace. Opus Dei is not a religious order; its members, except for the priests, are not clerical. Opus Dei is (said with a smile) anti-clerical and has flat hierarchies. Naturalness in the way of living religiously is important. One wears neither special clothing nor signs of belonging. Opus Dei is not a secret society. It is the only full-fledged and thoroughly catholic form of following Christ known to me ... without having to give up one's standing in the world. In Opus Dei, the world is not opposed to the effort to sanctify oneself.

Salesian Sister here! Yes! So exiting to make the cut!