Lasallian Spirituality
formation of a disciple of Jesus Christ for an authentic
Overview of the Concept of Spirituality:
A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the
Galatians 5:16-25
I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not
gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so
that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under
the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery,
hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of
selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do
such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those
who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also follow the Spirit.
Spirituality
– a path which connects you to yourself and almighty in
the purest form
– derived from the Latin adjective ‘spiritualis’, which
means "concerning the spirit”
– it is popularly used to describe those attitudes,
beliefs, practices that animate people’s lives and help
them to reach out towards the supra-natural realities.
– In the Biblical context, the term Spirituality means
being animated by God, to be driven by the Holy Spirit,
as opposed to a life which is driven and influenced by
materialism.
– Christian spirituality is not simply for the ‘interior
life’ or the inward person, but as much for the body as
the soul, and is directed to the implementation of both
the commandments of Christ, to love God and our
neighbors.’
Christian Spirituality is the process of spiritual
and fulfilled Christian life in the present world; involving
bringing together the fundamental tenets of the
Christian truths and the experience of living in God’s
presence, grace and love in our daily life.
It is Trinitarian, incarnational and grace-filled living.
Christian Spirituality is theology in action.
– ‘spirit’ means "animating or vital principle in man and
animals”. derived from the Latin word spiritus (soul,
courage, vigor, breath) and is related to spirare (to
breathe).
It is derived from the Latin word spiritus (soul, courage,
vigor, breath) and is related to spirare (to breathe).
– Spiritus is used to translate the Greek pneuma and
Hebrew ruah.
– a spiritual person (1 Cor 2:14-15) is someone within
whom the Spirit of God dwelt and who lived under the
influence of the Spirit of God (see Gal 5:16-25).
Spirituality is a lived experience, the effort to apply
relevant elements in the deposit of the Christian faith to
the guidance of man and woman towards their spiritual
growth, the progressive development of their persons
which flowers into a proportionately increased insight
and joy.
Hence our spirituality begins with God. It begins with a
divine call, rebirth and conversion (John 3:3-8; Acts
2:38-39) and continues with sanctification or spiritual
formation. It requires divine grace and our willing co-
operation. It involves our inner and outward lives. It
involves the integration of our lives as we are being
restored by the Holy Spirit. The goal is to become more
like Christ (Eph 4:13-16).
Essential Elements of Christian Spirituality – Christian Spirituality is Attaining Christian authenticity
in life and thoughts.
– Christian Spirituality is about Knowing God, not just
knowing about God. The transforming effect of living our life according to
the guidance of the Holy Spirit brings us to God’s
Benedict XVI reminds us in his first Papal En– cyclical
ultimate purpose and destination for every believer, to
“Deus Caritas Est” that “being Christian is not the result
transform us into the image of his own beloved Son (2
of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter
Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:28–30; Philippians 3:20–21).
with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon
St. Paul presents yet one more astonishing claim:
and a decisive direction … Since God has first loved us
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
(cf. 1 Jn 4:10), love is now no longer a mere ‘command’;
the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians
it is the response to the gift of love with which God
5:17).
draws near to us” (Deus Caritas Est, 1)

– Christian Spirituality is about Experiencing God to the

full.

– We often think that wisdom and knowledge lead to

the full and abundant life, but in the letter of St. Paul to
the Ephesians 4 we find something greater than
wisdom. This is the love of God in Christ.

Wisdom flows out of this love. Knowledge exudes from

this love. If we seek wisdom and knowledge, we are
only gaining a part. Solomon went astray with his
wisdom; knowledge easily leads to pride. But the love of
Christ surpasses these things.

We might use many things to bring full meaning in life,

but only one thing will suffice. These other things, life
partners, good jobs, wealth, relationships, activity,
spiritual experiences, will always fade out.

But not so with the love of Christ. For we were made

with the purpose of being filled with God's love and only
His love can fill that deepest longing of our hearts. In his
last supper with the apostles, Christ left a living
remembrance of his presence, He gave his body and
blood as a life giving sacrament of his real presence in
the Church.

– Christian Spirituality involves Transformation of

existence on the basis of the Christian faith and truths.

A life lived in the Spirit of God is a life that is

transformed by God’s grace from glory to glory. With
those few words — “from glory to glory”—Paul sums up
our entire Christian life, from redemption and
sanctification on earth, to our glorious eternal welcome
into heaven. (see 2 Cor 3:18)