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Grace_and_Glory
Guest
As some of you might remember, I posted here a while back about a connection I seemed to have with St. Athanasius of Alexandria. This week, he seems to have been especially busy in my life.
One of my good friends knows a lot about my interest in Athanasius, and but we will not be able to celebrate his feast day (May 2) together because she will be out of the country starting in a few weeks. She came to see me, and we went to Mass together on Tuesday, January 17. That was the feast of St. Anthony the desert abbot, a good friend of Athanasius. Athanasius actually wrote Anthony’s biography. So I feel like Athanasius had a hand in allowing me to see my friend.
I recently have been praying a lot about choosing a spiritual director. After over a month of this, I had basically decided on a particular priest, but I had some misgivings about it because of problems I have with men. After conversation with some friends about this, we all agreed that I should see if he will be my spiritual director. Even so, I was nervous. I wished that Athanasius could be my spiritual director, but we would obviously have some difficulties getting together to talk
.
Tuesday morning, I was thinking about how Anthony and Athanasius were friends, and I remember praying, “God, it would be really nice if the priest would mention Athanasius at Mass today.” Well, my friend and I went to Mass, which was celebrated by the priest I am considering as a spiritual director. He mentioned Athanasius at least 3 times in his homily, and the first time, he seemed to be looking right at me, even though he had no idea how special Athanasius is to me. Everyone with me at Mass was very excited for me, because they all knew how much I love Athanasius. I was really excited, too, and I decided to leave the priest a note on his message board. It just said, “Thanks for mentioning St. Athanasius in your homily. It made my day!” and then had my name. He saw me the next day and asked me if I had been reading anything by Athanasius. I told him that I hadn’t read anything by Athanasius, but that he was my favorite saint. The priest then told me that he had a book containing some works of Athanasius and that I could borrow it from him sometime. Of course, if I want to borrow the book, I probably have to talk to him. So, it seems that Athanasius may have found me a spiritual director, or at least confirmed that the priest I had decided on was the right choice!
Now I just need to approach the priest and ask for spiritual direction. I hope he says yes, especially after so many indications that this is the right choice.
One of my good friends knows a lot about my interest in Athanasius, and but we will not be able to celebrate his feast day (May 2) together because she will be out of the country starting in a few weeks. She came to see me, and we went to Mass together on Tuesday, January 17. That was the feast of St. Anthony the desert abbot, a good friend of Athanasius. Athanasius actually wrote Anthony’s biography. So I feel like Athanasius had a hand in allowing me to see my friend.
I recently have been praying a lot about choosing a spiritual director. After over a month of this, I had basically decided on a particular priest, but I had some misgivings about it because of problems I have with men. After conversation with some friends about this, we all agreed that I should see if he will be my spiritual director. Even so, I was nervous. I wished that Athanasius could be my spiritual director, but we would obviously have some difficulties getting together to talk
.Tuesday morning, I was thinking about how Anthony and Athanasius were friends, and I remember praying, “God, it would be really nice if the priest would mention Athanasius at Mass today.” Well, my friend and I went to Mass, which was celebrated by the priest I am considering as a spiritual director. He mentioned Athanasius at least 3 times in his homily, and the first time, he seemed to be looking right at me, even though he had no idea how special Athanasius is to me. Everyone with me at Mass was very excited for me, because they all knew how much I love Athanasius. I was really excited, too, and I decided to leave the priest a note on his message board. It just said, “Thanks for mentioning St. Athanasius in your homily. It made my day!” and then had my name. He saw me the next day and asked me if I had been reading anything by Athanasius. I told him that I hadn’t read anything by Athanasius, but that he was my favorite saint. The priest then told me that he had a book containing some works of Athanasius and that I could borrow it from him sometime. Of course, if I want to borrow the book, I probably have to talk to him. So, it seems that Athanasius may have found me a spiritual director, or at least confirmed that the priest I had decided on was the right choice!
Now I just need to approach the priest and ask for spiritual direction. I hope he says yes, especially after so many indications that this is the right choice.
