Are there spiritual elders in Eastern/Western Catholicism?

[Casilda]

As there are in the Eastern Orthodox? You know, the kind that people trek 300 miles to talk to.

 

[Wannabe_Monk_16]

As there are in the Eastern Orthodox? You know, the kind that people trek 300 miles to talk to.

I think both St. Padre Pio and St. John Vianney would be two great examples to fit this description. If either one of these extremely holy priests were alive today, I would do my best to seek their spiritual counsel.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

As there are in the Eastern Orthodox? You know, the kind that people trek 300 miles to talk to.

I can think of a handful of Roman Catholic priests that folks flock to from miles around simply to “hear a word” from them. I can also think of a couple of Eastern Catholic monasteries in the U.S. that folks flock to to “hear a word” from the very holy monks living in them.

I think in the modern U.S. the dynamic is much different than even in areas of modern post-Communist Europe. We have cell phones, cars, airplanes, email, facebook, etc., etc., etc. Even many monastic communities are “plugged in”. It can be much easier to seek advice (or “a word”) from monastics who would traditionally be much more secluded than they are today.

 

[Casilda]

I think both St. Padre Pio and St. John Vianney would be two great examples to fit this description. If either one of these extremely holy priests were alive today, I would do my best to seek their spiritual counsel.

Thanks for this. So seek someone of renown. By the way, St. Padre Pio and St. John Vianney ARE still with us, spiritually.

I have said this before, I talk to dead people

 

[Casilda]

I can think of a handful of Roman Catholic priests that folks flock to from miles around simply to “hear a word” from them. I can also think of a couple of Eastern Catholic monasteries in the U.S. that folks flock to to “hear a word” from the very holy monks living in them.

Ask, seek knock. Handful, sad.

Genesis 18, when Abraham pleads for Sodom, which had not ten righteous people.

32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Ask, seek knock. Handful, sad.

Genesis 18, when Abraham pleads for Sodom, which had not ten righteous people.

32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

By “handful” is am simply referring to my own personal experience of wise priests, religious, and monks of my own acquaintance; particularly in my own eparchy and the local Roman Catholic dioceses. I can’t help but believe that the fact that I know a handful simply in my own local area is a good sign for the Church at large.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I would also suggest that simply because a priest or religious is not a renowned spiritual elder, does not mean that he is not, in fact, an actual spiritual elder. I’ve known and heard of too many spiritual elders who took a big fall when they became “renowned”. It is often better to remain little and unknown (as the Desert Fathers strove to remain).

 

[Wannabe_Monk_16]

Thanks for this. So seek someone of renown. By the way, St. Padre Pio and St. John Vianney ARE still with us, spiritually.

I have said this before, I talk to dead people

Well renown for their holiness! Sometimes I will just look up random quotes from these two saints for inspiration or consolation.

And yes thank God for the Communion of Saints and their intercession! “Talking to dead people” haha

 

[SyroMalankara]

hrmonline.org

aina.org/aol/syriac.htm

maronitemonastery.org