While this is true for the body, it is the same for the soul. Our spiritual life also needs a steady diet of healthy spiritual nourishment. So, how have you been feeding your soul? What have you been “consuming” to grow and develop your spiritual life? Are you spiritually “malnourished” or perhaps spiritually deficient because other things in life interest you more than developing your spiritual foundation? Do your spiritual “tastes” set some things like Sacred Scripture, devotions or daily prayer aside (like I set aside sweet potatoes, squash and sushi)? What we eat affects our physical health in this life. What we feed our souls affects our life of faith not just in this world but for eternity.

Every now and then when I am enjoying dinner at someone’s home, they serve something delicious that I’ve never had before. When I ask them where they got it and they usually say it’s right here in the local grocery store. I have concluded that I must only go down the same 4 aisles when I shop for groceries. Just as the many aisles in the store carry a variety of things, so our spiritual nourishment depends on a variety of resources that will build up our spiritual lives. Just as some grocery aisles have mostly unhealthy items (that taste good), so there is a vast array of “spiritual” material that while interesting might not be healthy for us. While we may be consuming things that interest us, they may be contrary to the revealed Word of God. Dabbling in non-Christian spiritual ideas might easily enough draw us away from the truth of divine revelation.

If it is often the case that in our busy lives we eat on the fly as we are going to the next thing, or that we eat “comfort” foods that may not be healthy, or we binge on things that we enjoy all the while knowing they will have a negative impact on our overall health. This is also true for the soul. Sometimes we more readily consume what may not be good for our Catholic faith, while neglecting the solid spiritual nourishment that comes from sound theology, the writings of the early Church Fathers, the lives of the saints or other sources that would keep us centered in Christ and his Church. What titillates our curiosity may not nourish our souls. Intriguing ideas may not serve us well.

Now imagine what would happen to the body if we ate nothing, or virtually nothing at all. Imagine how weak we might become, and over a long period of time, how debilitating this could be. If we would not do that to the body, why are so many of us starving our souls? Prayer is the first nourishment of our souls, yet how many people spend virtually no time with our Lord in prayer? At a minimum, we ought to begin our day with a time for prayer in the morning and again at the end of the day. Then, feeding our soul with Sacred Scripture – perhaps the Mass readings of the day – would allow God to speak to our minds and hearts. Likewise, reading through some spiritual book – whether a centuries-old classic or a more contemporary author – gives us a steady diet of material upon which to reflect and “digest.”

Seemingly, we spend more time in life on recreational activities than on that which renews us spiritually. There is nothing wrong with scrolling through Pinterest or watching a variety of sports programing. At the same time, if we don’t stop to feed the body with what nourishes our health, snacking on junk food, or skipping meals, we begin to wear ourself down by an unhealthy balance. Again, the same is true for our souls. With all that fascinates us in the world, and the limitless access we have to all that is on the internet, we can easily waste so much time on social media and exhaust our abilities with other activities that the soul ends up starving for union with its creator.

Let me encourage you to notice your spiritual “hungers.” Pausing long enough to get in touch with your desires, notice what might seem to be a persistent longing in your heart. Our souls long for acceptance, understanding, enduring union and consolation every day. If we don’t turn to the Lord for these things, we will feed those hungers and desires on passing things. But if we are honest with ourselves, these things only leave us feeling hungrier and emptier. More contemporary writers have called this a “God-hole” in our hearts. This hole in our hearts can only be satisfied by our Lord.

The grace of our baptism oriented our souls to God – to be drawn by him to the fullness of life and the redemption Christ won for us. But it is necessary to nourish our souls with spiritual goods. The Eucharist is the primary source of spiritual nourishment. When people stop going to Mass and stop receiving the precious Body and Blood of our Lord, they can more easily lose the vitality that comes from our life in Christ. Without spiritual nourishment, we often look to find fulfillment in what fails to satisfy. But Christ alone is the Bread of Life.

Now before you rush into making a ten-point plan for your spiritual life, spend some time praying into it. Ask the Lord to show you what he desires for you. With an open heart, ask him to reveal what he wants for you and how he wants you to receive it. Start with one or two simple things and ask him to lead you deeper to encounter the depths of his love for you and the more he desires for you. Pray that he would bring you a greater spiritual vitality than you ever thought possible. It’s ours for the asking!