Do you have a spiritual advisor?

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Do you have a spiritual advisor? Who is it? How did you find a spiritual advisor? What is it they do for you? Oh so many questions.
thanks Mary
 
I’m praying for one. I’ll let you know when I find one 🙂
 
Yes. He is a retired priest who serves as spiritual advisor for our Secular Franciscan fraternity.

Findng a spiritual advisor is not an easy task. Figuring out where to even look can be difficult as you’ll want to find one that you can feel comfortable with while at the same time knowing that they won’t steer you in a wrong direction. It’s not a lot unlike choosing a doctor–you don’t just pick the first one listed in the phone book.

As to what they do, for me it is a combination of confessor and advisor. He can look at where I am in my journey, my struggles and my growth, and give me ideas on directions to pursue and resources to help. You’ll want one that understands that different people have different personalities, different styles of prayer to which they will be drawn, different backgrounds and gifts, and are at different stages in their journeys–in other words that spiritual direction is not a “one size fits all” process. They will, like any good counsellor, know when to provide you with information and when to let you find or experience it on your own.

As to how to find one, I would probably start with my parish priest to see if there was someone he might recommend. Beyond that, or possibly contacting the diocese, you might talk to people that are part of Third Orders to see if they know of someone they can recommend.

I commend you for your interest as that alone is a great sign that your journey is progressing.

Peace,
 
Yes I have a spiritual director. He is a priest who lives in a monastary. The monastary has a spiritual director service so if anyone calls them, they set you up with one. I give an offering every month of their recommended amount of $40. Although you can give whatever you can. I have come across other monastaries and retreat houses where they have spiritual directors. You might want to check out such places and they can set you on the right path. I asked my spiritual director a number of questions before I committed because I wanted to make sure he was someone who was loyal to the Magesterium and that he didn’t hold to liberal church ideas. Best wishes in your search. I am forever grateful that I have a spiritual director.
 
maryj said:
Do you have a spiritual advisor? Who is it? How did you find a spiritual advisor? What is it they do for you? Oh so many questions.
thanks Mary
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Not yet. However, the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center that is nearby offers Spiritual Direction, and I am trying to set up an at least monthly session

Also, next February I have booked a retreat in Orange County for 12 days, and have asked for spritual direction on a frequent basis. This is intended as a basis for my first confession. I want to do it right, and I doubt if my RCIA class will be worth a hill of beans on this topic
 
I have bad luck with spiritual directors:
  1. First one was an SSPX priest. When I left the group, I lost him as an SD.
  2. Second one I met over internet turned out to be a 14 year old kid, not a budding Theologian.
  3. Third one almost became a Monk, but didn’t take orders. He had a good theological knowledge. But, based on prophecy he became a Sedevacantist with the election of Pope Benedict XVI, so I broke contact with him.
  4. My fourth one is a genuine Catholic priest that is convinced Jesus and Mary had a “spiritual child” named “L…P,” and that to enter the next Christian Milleniam, we must be “linked” with said “spiritual child.” He’s not acceptable either for obvious reasons–that he’s lost his mind!.
I have BAD LUCK!!!

Isn’t anyone in Communion with Rome anymore? How do I find these people?!?!?!? Or rather, how do they find me? I guess I’m too trusting of people.
 
I am currently directed by His request by the Holy Spirit. It is much more difficult than by a human.
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It is really commendable that you’re able to do this. My problem is that I get things too easily mixed up–and therefore—sometimes I get the suggestions of the Holy Spirit mixed up with the suggestions of the devil in such a way that I sometimes can’t tell one from the other!

I just don’t trust my ability to discern anymore.

But it is good that you possess the gift of disernment, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Me? My best discernment tool is Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma by Ludwig Ott. If I recieve an “inspiration,” I now look up my inspired idea to make sure it isn’t heresy!

As an aside—I think Ott’s book is more user-friendly than the CCC because the Dogmas are in bold print. It’s also got an Index of Persons, an Index of Subjects, and a very detailed Table of Contents. I’ve found it takes 20 minutes to find something in the CCC when it takes 2 minutes to find the same subject in Ott’s book. Just a personal preference. Nothing against the CCC. It’s quite beautiful when you can find what you’re looking for in a timely fashion.

I really would like to find a level-headed, faithful and knowledgeable priest to bounce ideas off from time to time, because where two of you are, Christ is also.

God Bless!
 
No, but I often wish I did. I have not had a whole lot of luck finding someone out here in the boonies. I am continuing to pray for one, however.
 
GoldenArrow said:
As an aside—I think Ott’s book is more user-friendly than the CCC because the Dogmas are in bold print. It’s also got an Index of Persons, an Index of Subjects, and a very detailed Table of Contents. I’ve found it takes 20 minutes to find something in the CCC when it takes 2 minutes to find the same subject in Ott’s book. Just a personal preference. Nothing against the CCC. It’s quite beautiful when you can find what you’re looking for in a timely fashion.
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Note: The CCC has a good index. I can find things in under a minute with it All of it we are required to believe and follow.
 
So sounds like(except for that one cooky priest:whacky: ) the majority of good spiritual advisors are priests. Hmm interesting, yet difficult as most priests I know are so so busy. anyone else?
 
Note: The CCC has a good index. I can find things in under a minute with it All of it we are required to believe and follow
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Sounds good. I actually have been using an online version of the CCC and it doesn’t have an index.

Maybe I should just break down and get a printed copy. I’ve not done so only because I already have a zillion different catechisms—mostly those of Father Hardon.

Shucks. You talked me into buying one!

God Bless!
 
It’s great to see this thread as I am just now trying to decide how to go about finding one myself. I’m a new Catholic and am finding myself going in too many different directions, I’m all over the place and need help getting focused.

I also find that learning the Catholic faith, well, there’s just soooo much to learn and I’m getting burned out already, so I need some personal guidance I believe.

I just started a book by Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M., called “Seeking Spiritual Direction”. Haven’t even finished one chapter yet, as I have about 4 books going at once. Once again, so much to learn, going in too many directions at once! :whacky:

I’m going to call my parish tomorrow and try to hook up with a retired priest that helps them with confessions and see where that may lead. Gotta start somewhere, and I haven’t started anywhere so far.
 
InLight247 said:
How often do you meet?
And how long for each session?
Thanks.
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We meet once a month for about an hour. I have had a spiritual director and counsel from a parish priest and I find them to be very different from each other. For starters, my spiritual director is trained specifically in spiritual direction and is an expert in Lectio Divina. We usually start by discussing how my prayer life is going and we delve into where we think God is speaking to me in terms of areas of my life and what He is saying. He even had me keep a dream journal and we discuss if there is any meaning in specific recurring dreams. It’s hard for me to put into words the sessions but hopefully I’ve provided a little bit of insight.
 
T1Catholic said:
We meet once a month for about an hour. I have had a spiritual director and counsel from a parish priest and I find them to be very different from each other. For starters, my spiritual director is trained specifically in spiritual direction and is an expert in Lectio Divina. We usually start by discussing how my prayer life is going and we delve into where we think God is speaking to me in terms of areas of my life and what He is saying. He even had me keep a dream journal and we discuss if there is any meaning in specific recurring dreams. It’s hard for me to put into words the sessions but hopefully I’ve provided a little bit of insight.
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Thanks!🙂
 
I have a confessor, but I’m not sure whether he could be a good spiritual director for me. He’s very nice person and I feel comfortable talking to him (if not, he won’t be my confessor:p ). But I’m not sure whether he wants and can be my spiritual director. Most priests that I know are busy, don’t think they’ll have time to be spiritual directors.

Btw, how do you ask whether someone wants to be your spiritual director?
 
Btw, how do you ask whether someone wants to be your spiritual director?
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There was a show on CA Live a couple of weeks ago, Sep. 25, called “Seeking Spiritual Direction” by Fr. Thomas DUbay. YOu can download it on the Radio tab and listen to it, it was very good. I just bought his book, Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within.

On the show, he suggested asking someone you are interested in for a 20 minute meeting - don’t ask about being a spiritual director. Ask questions etc., and if you are interested that they might be good, ask for another meeting or then ask them to be a SD.
 
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