What I Learned in the Convent About Spirituality

In a Christian-dominant country like the Philippines, religiosity is a sacred subject, and talking about the meaning of spirituality is not as normal as how we talk about work, family, and stuff. Otherwise, people might find you quirky. It is also part of the culture that only old people should teach and talk about God, and children should only recite prayers and hear Sunday church service (which I find unfair and discriminating). I used to believe these limiting beliefs until I lived in a convent with a priest.

Living in a Convent with a Priest

I have an uncle priest and I call him Uncle Father. When my parents broke up, Uncle Father took me, my mother, and two brothers to live in a parish convent with him. The first thing I noticed about him was that a lot of people give high respect and importance to him because they believe that he is holy and closer to God. Of course, priests are holy and God listens to them more. This made me feel aloof towards Uncle Father in the beginning because I was not holy and not even sure if God knew that I existed. How would God listen to my prayers if It didn’t know that I was here?

However, living with Uncle Father changed my perspective on spirituality and holiness. From my teenage years until before I got married, I lived in a convent, witnessed how a priest lives, how a church operates, and how people around us treated us in a special way because we are closer to God, as they say. By showing the way he lives life, Uncle Father taught me the meaning of spirituality.

We Drink Coffee and Chit-chat

My friends in high school were astounded after learning that I lived in a convent with Uncle Priest. They bombarded me with questions about my life in the convent, how quiet it was to stay there, and how strict a priest was in tracking my behavior and counting my sins. One even said, “It must be difficult because you will be forced to be holy like priests and nuns.”

I did not expect such reactions from my friends but that was when I realized how uncommon it is for an ordinary school girl like me to live in a church convent. If this is also the first time you that heard about my story and you wonder what was my life like in the convent, I listed below some of my routines.

1. I eat breakfast with normal foods like bread, eggs, and coffee. Depending on Uncle Father’s morning schedule, he sits with me for breakfast and eats the same foods.
2. Meal times were also for chit-chatting. He would ask me about my day at school and would tell me his opinions about the news headlines on broadsheets.
3. On weekdays I go to school while on weekends I read books most of the time and watch some TV. There were Sundays that I skipped hearing Sunday Mass and Uncle Father never scolded me. My mother did (and even told me that I was a shame in the family).
4. I could play loud music, invite friends, or mess around as long as there were no visitors around. The thing was there were visitors in the convent most of the time. It was either because people loved to see Uncle Father or they needed him for religious services. And that’s the only thing that was different from living in a typical house. (And oh! I hear bell tolls louder than anyone does.)

The Meaning of Spirituality

Living in a church convent widened my definition of spirituality. Most people think that they do not have a spiritual life because they do not pray, go to church, or do saintly things. I used to think that way too but Uncle Father showed me that he is just like any other human being – imperfect and could be ungodly at times.

Spirituality is a journey of the soul towards its Source or Creator. We are all spiritual beings because we have a soul, and thus have a spiritual life (but can have different spiritual practices). Regardless of religion, beliefs, race, age, or intellectual capacity, we are free to access and explore our spirituality.

Sadly, many people avoid talking about it because of a limited knowledge of the meaning of spirituality. In this blog, I shared some of the things I learned about spirituality (its meaning to me) from the time I lived in the convent until I explored my own spiritual path.

• Spirituality is never about religion or faith. It is about your soul.

• It is not true that only people like priests or nuns are spiritual. We are all spiritual. It is for everyone. You don’t have to be Jesus, Buddha, or any spiritual master to take the spiritual path.

• Spirituality is the journey of the soul. It is not about being holy. Holiness is a result of a well evolved soul which is a part of the spiritual journey.

• Spirituality is part of who we are and we should not be ashamed of it.

Faith, holiness, and enlightenment are often used interchangeably with spirituality. However, these three words are simply parts of what you will experience when you take further steps in your spiritual life. For example, studying theology, living in a seminary, and living in a church helped Uncle Father strengthen his faith. He did not become a priest because he had strong faith when he was young. Instead, his faith grew deeper as he pursued his chosen spiritual path in the priesthood. His spiritual journey started on the day he was born and it was the experiences he went through that built his strong connection with God.

Spiritual Path is Unique for Everyone

One of the most important lessons I learned is that every person has a unique spiritual path. A spiritual path is not limited to obvious spiritual practices like priesthood or living like a monk. A spiritual path is any role on earth where our souls evolve and mature. It is a conscious way of doing things that acknowledges the presence of the Creator.

When you acknowledge the presence of the Divine Energy that controls all that there is in the universe, you will become more familiar with its frequency which will result in feeling more connected to It.

Some people believe that to live a spiritual life you must work and ‘serve’ in religious ministries. They even teach that it is the only way to grow spiritually. While it can be true that being in religious works may help a person’s spirituality mature, it is not true that it is the only way. Spiritual path can be anything and anywhere.

I used to be an active church volunteer when I was younger. However, when I started my own family, I discovered that my soul matured even more. Today, my chosen spiritual paths are motherhood and writing. Whenever I work for my children, no matter how difficult and tiring it could be, I treat it as sacred. I see my children not as my own but as wonderful creations of my Creator. I use the same eyes when I write. When you see the Creator in all that you do, your soul grows.

Here are some basic truths about spiritual path:

1. As long as you believe and see that everything comes from one divine source, your soul grows closer to the Creator. Anything that makes your soul closer to the Creator can be a spiritual path.
2. You choose your own path. Nobody can dictate where your soul will grow.
3. Spiritual path is a rocky road and storms come often. It is because it is the way to healing and transformation.
4. Spiritual path is not limited to one path. Every life season can be your spiritual path. As long as you live each day dedicated to the evolution of your soul, you are walking through it.

The meaning of spirituality is often misunderstood. People can talk and preach about it but when all is said and explained, only a person who is feeling it and going through it will understand it. As the saying goes, “You will know when you get there.” If you are here because you are experiencing things that you could not explain, maybe you are already there. And I wish you a meaningful pilgrimage!

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If you have a story that you wish to share about spirituality, feel free to comment, and let’s exchange conversations. It feels good to know that we are not alone in our journey.

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