People drawn to the
path of intellect
seek total truth and
authenticity in their lives
and work hard to reach
the whole truth about
themselves, about God,
and about sanctity.
“
complex than these categories. Do
not limit your exploration of religious communities to the traditions
and saints associated with these spiritual paths. Simply use it as a starting
point. Remember: Drawing closer to
God and unraveling the mystery of
God is the work of a lifetime.
Now, please take the quiz on
page 61 to see which of the four
basic spiritual paths described below
you currently find yourself drawn to.
Path of intellect
(Thomistic prayer)
The method of Saint Thomas Aquinas is known as scholastic prayer.
The main emphasis is on the orderly
progression of thought from cause
to effect. People drawn to this prayer
type prefer neat, orderly forms of the
spiritual life as opposed to the more
free-spirited attitude of the Franciscan approach. Their spirituality is
centered on the earnest pursuit of
all the transcendental values: truth,
goodness, beauty, unity, love, life,
and spirit. Like Saint Teresa of Ávila,
they are willing to exert superhuman
effort to achieve their goal.
Because of their disdain for
second best, they seek total truth and
may confirm what you already know
about your spiritual leanings, or you
may feel called to explore a different
pathway. Consider your results an
invitation to know yourself better
and explore different forms of prayer,
worship, and meditation. It is best to
not feel bound by or limited by your
result—your spirituality could very
well be a combination of these four
pathways. It is merely a tool to give
you more insight into your prefer-
ences when it comes to living out
your Christian call.
Religious orders represent a rich
multitude of spiritualities drawing
on these traditions but their spiri-
tuality is also far more nuanced and
Learn more about #039 at VocationNetwork.org
LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY SISTERS
COMPASSION ~ PRESENCE ~ PRAYER
www.lcmsisters.org • vocations@lcmh.org
Learn more about #048 at VocationNetwork.org
