When we talk about the contemporary Christian journey there are a few things that most today consider indispensible to living the life of a faith-filled Christian:

1. Scripture study
2. Spiritual reading
3. Frequent reception of the Eucharist
4. An active prayer life
5. Catechetical study and knowledge of the writings of the Fathers, the popes, the saints, &c.

However, in reviewing that list, it becomes clear that the preponderance of these demands would have been impossible for most Christians during most of the history of Christianity due to the unavailability of media (particularly before the advent of the printing press) and attitudes toward reception of the Eucharist.

Catholics will point to a number of papal encyclicals and writings (such as John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" and Benedict XVI's "Jesus of Nazareth") and such things as the documents of Vatican II as essential reading for today's Catholic. But many centuries passed during which the majority of the faithful would not have necessarily been able to so much as identify the reigning pope, much less were they aware of his thinking on every topic under the sun through the reading of his writings.

Recent, too, is the idea that Christians ought to strive to communicate daily, if possible, or at least weekly. And for much of the Church's history, the liturgy was celebrated almost inaudibly, in Latin, so that worshipers in the nave weren't imbibing the richness of liturgical prayer.

So for Christians who lived during times when homes didn't have EWTN, internet discussion fora, lots of spiritual reading on hand cheaply available, or even so much as a copy of the Bible lying around (and who couldn't likely read it even if they did), and finally for whom Mass was something that they watched clerics whisper in a dead language, what on earth was it that nourished their faith, encouraged them, kept their spirits focused on God, and took them on their journey to everlasting life?

If today we regard these things as absolutely indispensible to Christian formation...how did our ancestors in less literate times who didn't have all these advantages ever manage, I wonder?

I'm old enough to have grandparents, even one parent, who were born in the nineteenth century. In their formative years they lived in villages where the church was within walking distance. They had daily proximity to priests, other parishioners and the liturgical and spiritual life of that community. It was all an intimate part of their lives. When they moved on into a more urban setting and their lives became more complex,they brought the experience of those formative years with them and preserved that intimacy with unscheduled family visits that were made by street car, the old telephones, countless mission magazines that came through the mail, the images of Christ and the Saints, and, of course, the booming voice of Archbishop Cushing (it was live) reciting the rosary on the radio every evening at 7. If your unscheduled visit came at that time, you were silent and knelt down on the floor. That's how they nourished the Faith without the Internet and TV.

Our ancestors in less literate times managed by struggling, just like we must today. A bumper sticker on a car in the parking lot at a local Orthodox church simply says, "The struggle continues."

Now the idea that struggle of ANY kind is an intrinsic part of religion is alien and foreign to many Christians. Sad to say, many of us verify Marx' adage that "religion is the opiate of the people."

To this list I'd add the importance of regular and frequent reception of the Mystery of Reconciliation. But there I go again, being hypocritical: on this latter point I don't practice what I preach...

Glory to Jesus Christ!

A very thoughtful (and prayer) provoking opening post, along with the added comments.

I think in today's culture we think that if we want a stronger Faith, we have to study and do something through our own efforts to obtain it. This is SO WRONG! Faith is given by God; our responsibility as baptized Christians is to be receptive to God's gifts.

Becoming receptive to faith, or allowing our faith to become stronger, will answer the question presented in the OP, "What feeds Faith?"

Individuals are different, but allow me to humbly offers some ways to allow God to gift us with Faith.

Pray...there should be a daily period of prayer when I use no words to pray; neither do I need to give God my shopping list of what I want. Its a period of listening to the Holy Spirit's whisper. What gifts of the Holy Spirit did you give me? how can I best use them?
During the Divine Liturgy or other service, get lost when a certain prayer or spiritual thought inspires me. I should try to remember it and follow up on it later at home. If it is a scriptural passage then God is telling me to read the verses and contemplate them; how should I personally act on it.

When the opportunity arises (most times I have to LOOK for the opportunity) TALK about God. Not in a preachy way; we shouldn't judge by telling others where they fall short; but rather mention how God's love has given me comfort or peace.

For the first 40 years of my life I had no inkling about these things. I learned prayers, but didn't learn how to pray. The turning point in my life was becoming aware of messages and visitations at Medjugorje, then allowing my Heavenly Mother to teach me. The lesson was advanced when I made a pilgrimage and truly felt God's presence in an incomprehensible way.

My point of telling you about my pilgimage is not to convince you about the apparitions; but rather for you to respond to whatever it is that God, the Virgin, your Guardian Angel or a patron saint is calling you to do. When you become like a piece of clay and allow God to mold you then you will be gifted with an unwavering Faith.

Glory be to Jesus Christ!!

My own pilgrimage began after hearing a sermon about asking for the gift of faith. The priest's point was that faith is a gift, that one must ask for it, and must conitnue to ask for it. Like a plant, it must be tended and nurtured with the gifts God sends--the Holy Mysteries, the Gospel, catechesis, family support, daily living of it. It's a process that begins and never ends.

My own study took me to a book by St. Gregory of Nyssa who taught that our Christian life is one of moving from "glory to glory"--the title of the book--that begins now and continues in eternity. It stresses pilgrimage, process, relationship building all with Our Lord in and through His Church.

In past ages, as has been pointed out, a homogenous culture provided the support needed to nurture faith. When everyone in the village fasted, prayed the same prayers, went to the same church, things were much easier, though struggle has always been part of the process in every age. Today when there is less community support, it's necessary to use all fo the means mentioned and it takes a more active approach because there will always be those who seek the lowest common denominator--"what do I HAVE to do?" That makes it more difficult to step out and really try to deepen one's faith.

Bob

Thanks for sharing Bob. I think that evangelicals' idea of sharing their "conversion" is rewarding to both the sharer and the person hearing. Its something we don't do as Catholics and Orthodox because "conversion" is ongoing. However there are moments when God presents Himself in an unusual way.

It can be at a pilgimage, through a fast, a scripture or spiritual reading, a birth or death or many other ways.

I invite all to share in their special moment when God called him/her to the path of theosis.

Fr Deacon Paul