Vocal Prayer Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary Vocal Prayer – Any form of prayer expressed audibly using pre-written formulas (e.g. the Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, etc.). This Spiritual Dictionary Term is an excerpt from the Glossary of Dan’s book Navigating the Interior Life – Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God. … Read more
Piety Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary Piety – The religious sensibility of a person that reflects an attitude of reverence, respect, and devotion toward God and the things of God. This Spiritual Dictionary Term is an excerpt from the Glossary of Dan’s book Navigating the Interior Life – Spiritual Direction and the Journey … Read more
Orthodoxy Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary Orthodoxy – Right belief, as compared with heterodoxy or heresy. This Spiritual Dictionary Term is an excerpt from the Glossary of Dan’s book Navigating the Interior Life – Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God. To learn more, click here + Art: Cover of “Navigating … Read more
Recollection Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary Recollection – Concentration of soul on the presence of God. This Spiritual Dictionary Term is an excerpt from the Glossary of Dan’s book Navigating the Interior Life – Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God. To learn more, click here + Art: Cover of “Navigating … Read more
Prayer of Simplicity Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary Prayer of Simplicity – Meditation replaced by a purer, more intimate prayer consisting in a simple regard or loving thought on God, or on one of His attributes, or on some mystery of the Christian faith. The soul peacefully attends to the operations of the Spirit … Read more
MENTAL PRAYER: The form of prayer in which the sentiments expressed are one’s own and not those of another person, and the expression of these sentiments is mainly, if not entirely, interior and not externalized (e.g. not vocalized). Mental prayer is accomplished by internal acts of the mind and affections that are a loving and … Read more
Infused Contemplation – Spiritual Dictionary INFUSED CONTEMPLATION – Spiritual Dictionary: An infused supernatural gift, that originates completely outside of our will or ability, by which a person becomes freely absorbed in God producing a real awareness, desire, and love for Him. This often gentle or delightful and sometimes non-sensible encounter can yield special insights into … Read more
MEDITATION: Reflective prayer. It is that form of mental prayer in which the mind, in God’s presence, thinks about God and divine things. While the affections may also be active, the stress in meditation is on the role of the intellect. Hence this is also called discursive mental prayer. The objects of meditation are mainly … Read more
Mysticism – Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary MYSTICISM: The supernatural state of soul in which God is known in a way that no human effort or exertion could ever succeed in producing. There is an immediate, personal experience of God that is truly extraordinary, not only in intensity and degree, but in kind. … Read more
PENANCE: The virtue or disposition of heart by which one repents of one’s own sins and is converted to God. Also the punishment by which one atones for sins committed, either by oneself or by others. And finally the sacrament of penance, where confessed sins committed after baptism are absolved by a priest in the … Read more
Movement – Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary MOVEMENT: An Ecclesial organization with canonical recognition that provides defined paths to living out baptismal commitments, discipleship, and related sanctity through a specific spiritual lens called a “charism” that is expressed by distinctive practices of life and ways of prayer. This Spiritual Dictionary Term is an … Read more
Magisterium – Spiritual Dictionary MAGISTERIUM – Spiritual Dictionary: The Church’s teaching authority, vested in the bishops, as successors of the Apostles, under the Roman Pontiff, as successor of St. Peter. Also vested in the Pope, as Vicar of Christ and visible head of the Catholic Church. This Spiritual Dictionary term is an excerpt from the … Read more
IMPERFECTIONS: Deficiencies of character that, although not as serious as mortal or venial sins, are nonetheless obstacles to attaining Christian perfection and union with God. It is important to note that the intentional omission of an obligatory good act is sinful (e.g. missing Mass on Sunday without sufficient reason). However, the failure to do a … Read more
FORMATION: The act or process of developing someone in all realms of human experience but in particular those that help the human person come to better know and love God and serve others. Although human guides may assist in this process, we are ultimately ‘formed’ by God, as illustrated through the imagery of the potter … Read more
PARTICULAR EXAMEN: Regular prayerful examination of one’s conscience by concentrating on some one particular moral failing to be overcome or virtue to be exercised. Its focus is on such external manifestations of the fault or virtue as can be remembered for periodic inventory. Particular examens are changed weekly, monthly, or otherwise in order to ensure … Read more
EXAMEN: Reflection in God’s presence on one’s state of soul that has some reference to a specific adopted standard of conduct (i.e. Rule of Life or commitments etc.) This Spiritual Dictionary Term is an excerpt from the Glossary of Dan’s book Navigating the Interior Life – Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God. To learn … Read more
Doctor of the Church DOCTOR of the CHURCH: A title given since the Middle Ages to certain saints whose writing or preaching is outstanding for guiding the faithful in all periods of the Church’s history. This Spiritual Dictionary Term is an excerpt from the Glossary of Dan’s book Navigating the Interior Life – Spiritual Direction and … Read more
EXAMEN – PARTICULAR: Regular prayerful examination of one’s conscience by concentrating on some one particular moral failing to be overcome or virtue to be exercised. Its focus is on such external manifestations of the fault or virtue as can be remembered for periodic inventory. Particular examens are changed weekly, monthly, or otherwise in order to … Read more
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