These days so many people bemoan the loss of spiritual literacy, and in some ways, they are right. Some days, the world seems to have lost its spirit.  However, in other ways, they are wrong.  While there is a clear and definite decline in the practice of religion and it is hard to find people schooled in the facts of whatever religious tradition they practice, there is a strong and growing interest in angels, purposeful living, community service and global connectedness. These are core to many Judeo-Christian religions as well as being fundamental to spirituality. Religion is one way of being spiritual; moreover, religion without spirituality can easily become empty practice.

Being spiritual is living with an intentional, personal commitment to the inner life. It requires an attitude of participation in the world around you with awareness of the preciousness of life. Among Notre Dame residents, families and staff recent responses to the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Japan and the tornadoes in Joplin and Western Massachusetts, reveal no shortage of individual or communal compassion. The high attendance at Sr. Julie’s “Older and Wiser” reflection group at du Lac and the growing number of meditation classes, including meditation in the workplace, shows little loss of the innate proclivity humans have to go deeper.  Spirituality makes the practice of religion all the better and for those who practice no formal religion the core values and practices of spirituality can dispose one to authentic, creative living.