How Do You "Find" a Spiritual Director?

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I am struggling with what I believe is a call from God to become a deacon in the church. It is not a struggle any longer to believe it is what God wants - I’ve fought Him for many years - but a struggle to reconcile it with the direction my life is going to take, especially as it is not what I have wanted and what I fear will come. But I know I cannot deny it either.

I need someone to talk to badly. How do you go about finding a spiritual director? Start with someone you know to get a name? Can and/or should that person also be your confessor? I know this is not as simple as pulling a name from a hat; it is so much deeper than that. But I need some ideas and lots and lots of prayers at this point. May well be the devil trying to dissuade me right now.

Many thanks -
 
If you have a good confessor, ask him. If he can’t, maybe he can suggest someone. —KCT
 
Opus Dei is involved in spiritual direction and their priests are excellent. I suggest you contact them 🙂
 
searching06 said:
How do you go about finding a spiritual director? Start with someone you know to get a name?
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That might be the best idea. Spiritual direction requires a certain connection with yourself and the director so that you are working with someone who truly understands and properly appreciates where you are in life such that s/he can direct you well in the way you may need to be opened up to follow. Really, finding the right person could take some time and struggle. It’s trial and error at first to get the proper fit.
Can and/or should that person also be your confessor?
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It can be, and in some cases having the same person could prove quite beneficial and helpful, but it is not strictly necessary, either.
 
One route that I’m probably going to have to take is seeking out an SD from among the dioceses’ retired priests. They’re not as overwhelmed as parish priests. Some retirement homes might actually have religious order priests as residents, too.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Many diocesan chancery offices have official lists of spiritual directors. It may take a couple of attempts of meeting with a spiritual director before you find that serves your needs the best. Each one has a different personality and even approach on seeking a spiritual connection. When you find that person, you will be amazed how quickly you will respond to their direction…Good luck and pray always that you find the right person very quickly. My own director has impacted me so positively and I go regularly.

Remember not all priests are spiritual directors and not all spiritual directors are priests. 🙂
 
stbruno said:
Many diocesan chancery offices have official lists of spiritual directors. It may take a couple of attempts of meeting with a spiritual director before you find that serves your needs the best. Each one has a different personality and even approach on seeking a spiritual connection. When you find that person, you will be amazed how quickly you will respond to their direction…Good luck and pray always that you find the right person very quickly. My own director has impacted me so positively and I go regularly.

Remember not all priests are spiritual directors and not all spiritual directors are priests. 🙂
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Our chancery didn’t have such a list. They called back and said any priest should be able to do the job.

I think I just found mine at the nursing home. He still has a good, clear mind, and walks faster than my boys.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
That’s too bad. However, one more suggestion, are there any seminaries near you or motherhouses( convents) or monasteries near you that you could call and ask if they offer spiritual direction? Many times this is the best place to look for one.

A spiritual director is not necessarily a priest either.

Here is a link in our area…plus do a websearch…plug in your search engine…Catholic spiritual direction and see what comes up or try this link.
sdiworld.org/find_a_spiritual_director.html This is a link how to find one in our diocese.
 
chrysostom15 said:
The first step is to pray for one. God will handle the rest.
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I think I’ll go this route first as well. God will definitely handle it; He’s doing it so far! The idea of a retire priest bothers me only from running into ones in the past; nice guys,but just didn’t click. There are several retreat houses manned by Franciscans and Jesuits, plus a Catholic University. May try them as well.

God bless and good luck to all!
 
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