Reading through the news today I ran across a story about a school called Spa Catholic. Now this name to me invokes the idea of a school where rich Catholics would send their children for a watered down faith.
Now I have no idea of whether this applied to Spa Catholic or not., but I like the idea of a Catholic spa or more specifically a spiritual health spa.
A place you can go to to develop spiritual muscles that have gone flabby. Where you could get a faith lift. Now a holy water hot tub wouldn’t be appropriate, but perhaps one with regular
water you could sit in where the temperature slowly increases as you listen to a sermon on Hell.
A spiritual fitness trainer would also be cool. Somebody that could evaluate your spiritual life and give you good spiritual direction and work with you one-on-one in a designated chapel.
Or how about aroma therapy relaxation with a Deacon or a Priest giving a blessing using the thurible.
Then there would also be the special mud bath with mud made from dust and ashes to remind us of our mortality.
Possibly they could offer spiritual exfoliations
to get rid of unwanted heresy.
They could also have a room filled with Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Equipment. Though you would want to make sure you bought the older Ignatian equipment since many of the models built in the last 40 years depart from sound spiritual exercising practices. But then again if you shop around you can still find some sound models from this period.
5 comments
sign me up for a lenten retreat.
For muscle strengthening, you could use the benching-crossing machine, seeing how much cross you can lift. For aerobic, you could train in spiritual self-defense and how to resist the tempting attacker.
For pilgrim knees, how about a SaintlyStairMaster? Ascend the stairs on your knees while praying the rosary.
I don’t know if actual Saratogans do it, but on the East Coast, Saratoga Springs is sometimes referred to as “The Spa.” Horse players most certainly do so.
I think a truly unique experience at Spa Catholic would be the sulfur aroma therapy. A whiff of your final destination if you do not shape up your spiritual life.
Spiritual workout routines, yes, but we must remember to follow these in apostolic succession to get the full benefit.