Is Spiritual Direction appropriate for an inquirer?

[Havard]

My friend was in the inquiry (beginning) stage of RCIA, although she has moved recently to another state and hasn’t picked up with it yet at her new parish. After talking with her a bit about spiritual direction, she sounded interested and wondered whether a priest would help her, as a non-Catholic, with spiritual direction.

Is it appropriate for her to seek a priest for regular spiritual direction, or would most priests ask that she complete RCIA first?

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

You definitely don’t have to be Catholic to have a spiritual director, so if she feels she needs one, it’s definitely a good idea. Just like you wouldn’t build a house without blueprints, you shouldn’t build your Catholic faith without a spiritual director. Everyone should have a spiritual director, IMHO.

Here’s an article that helped me before I found a spiritual director:

catholicity.com/mccloskey/spiritualconsultant.html

 

[quiet52]

It may be an unrealistic expectation for OP’s friend to find a spiritual director. Some regions are short of priests, and long-term Catholics are unable to find one. I think it’s best for her to focus on learning about the faith, and experiencing the liturgy, through the RCIA process. In fact, I suspect that if the friend successfully makes an appointment with a SD, the SD would advise her to jump into the RCIA process.

The RCIA leader can help her find a sponsor to walk with her on her faith journey.

 

[tinalewis]

As a new Catholic, here’s my take:

If your friend is interested in meeting with a priest for spiritual direction and it’s in her best interest, then God will find someone for her. Our Lord listens intently to sincere inquiry and her interest in having spiritual director is a good sign, in my opinion.

I had informal spritiual direction even when I wasn’t immediately considering joining RCIA. Most priests love to discuss the faith and most will also admit to learning something from everyone they offer spiritual direction to. The priests I know would jump at the chance to meet regularly with an inquirer, no matter how busy they are.

For the super-busy priests, your friend might have to agree to meet less frequently or meet with a sister or brother religious instead of or in addition to meeting with a priest. Again, the priests/sisters/brothers I know would consider this a wonderful opportunity all-round.