How does it work when u ask a priest if u can meet with him regularly to be your spiritual advisor? Wut is “regularly”?
What is his role and my role in the process?
What things do i talk about with him?..like my prayer life or questions of what i read?
I know its not pastoral counseling. I have a counselor i see but im looking for additional help in being a better christian as i wasnt raised religious. I have my rcia sponsor but i cant really get a hold of her ever sadly. Ive been baptized for a lil over a year now. Im catechized but ive been reading the catechism over. Should i write down questions i have from that to ask him? Do most ppl have a spiritual advisor? I have no family i can talk to in my walk in the church.
Welcome Home Lovefaithhopech!
First, am sure not trying to give you the “run around”! Going from experience, the answers to your questions will vary with different people and different stages of their lives. There was a time that “regularly” meant every other week, at other times it meant on a monthly basis. It can change.
If I were you, I would ask a Priest whom I know a little bit – not a perfect stranger. Do not be surprised if the Priest tells you that he is too busy to do spiritual direction. If so, then simply ask him where you should seek the spiritual advisor/director. Father might suggest you call the house of a religious order (Franciscans, Dominicans, Passionist, etc.) for “they have more time”. Look in the diocese website to find those. There are also lay people (also Sisters and Nuns) in dioceses who are trained at spiritual direction.
Your and his/her role would be to walk the path to Christ together. He or she would be your guide in your walk. It is also a two-way street. Remember that when you give someone a rose, some of its perfume stays with you!
What do you talk about? An infinity of things! Life . . . meditations you have had. If you have ministries at the parish, you might talk about difficulties you may have with it or ask how you could do this specific ministerial thing better. You talk about your joys, trials, your reaction to. . . the meaning of a passage in the Bible . . . if it is ethical to . . . troubles with the husband, child, caring for the parents. The list can go on and on. This should be a person with whom in time you will feel comfortable talking about any-thing at all and whom you trust.
Of course you may write down questions to bring to the appointment. Just make sure you can keep it safe if it has private information – or write in code/s
.
You have gone through RCIA and studied quite a bit. Congratulations! Am glad that you are looking forward to learning more about our faith. You might want to further your studies by taking “classes” that the diocese might give. You, yes you, might even like to become a catechist
. If so, you might want to take courses that your diocese might provide (there could be a cost per course - not class) to become certified. You would learn more there and then could meet others and take “advanced” courses with them.
I do not know if most people have a spiritual advisor. I really have never asked anyone that question.
You might also want to attend weekend retreats. The diocesan website would have retreat houses listed where you may call and get information.
I hope this helps you a little – or maybe it made things more confusing! :frighten: LOL! Feel free to PM me if you wish.
Luz Maria
