Paying for Spriritual Direction?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lexee15
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lexee15

Guest
Ok, I guess it’s not really paying it’s making a donation after every meeting. I’ve been looking for a spiritual director for a while now and heard about this place on Relevant Radio. I decided to look at their website and it looks pretty good. The only thing that bothered me a little bit is that it looks like there’s a fee for this spiritual direction.

Is it the norm to pay for spiritual direction or am I being too critical? Maybe this setting requires payment, anyway I’ve posted the link to their site, maybe I read wrong or misunderstood something. Let me know what you think.

mayslakeministries.org/
 
There may or may not be a charge for spiritual direction. Often a priest or religious will provide it for free since they consider it part of their ministry and have the practical side of not having to pay for rent or other expenses. A lay person who works for a church or retreat house or the like may also provide it for free as part of the job they’re being paid for anyway. On the other hand, someone who isn’t being supported in some other way may request payment. Even if payment is requested it may be waived for those who can’t pay.

I wouldn’t consider it necessarily either a good sign or bad sign to be asked to pay. It’s hard to find a good spiritual director so I’d be appreciative of having one whether I’m paying or not.
 
Lexee15 said:
Ok, I guess it’s not really paying it’s making a donation after every meeting. I’ve been looking for a spiritual director for a while now and heard about this place on Relevant Radio. I decided to look at their website and it looks pretty good. The only thing that bothered me a little bit is that it looks like there’s a fee for this spiritual direction.

Is it the norm to pay for spiritual direction or am I being too critical? Maybe this setting requires payment, anyway I’ve posted the link to their site, maybe I read wrong or misunderstood something. Let me know what you think.

mayslakeministries.org/
Click to expand...
The first page, third column, bottom, of the brochure, states:

What does it cost?
It is customary to make a donation to help support
Mayslake Ministries and the ministry of spiritual
direction. Suggested donations range from
$25 - $50, with no minimum nor maximum
amount required. We accept Visa/M.C.

mayslakeministries.org/images/stories/Forms/2008_spir.direction_brochure.pdf
 
Even if the spiritual director do not accept fee, it is good to give donation to show your appreciation. You can never out give God.
 
InLight247 said:
Even if the spiritual director do not accept fee, it is good to give donation to show your appreciation. You can never out give God.
Click to expand...
I have 2 spiritual directors right now for different aspects of my spirituality and they work as a team. (Long story.) Neither one will accept money and additionally I offered to help one of them with some computer problems and he refused me. He said that he wanted to make sure that he was helping me out of charity and not because he could recieve something in return.

I had another spiritual director (a Priest) for about a year and he also wouldn’t accept payment either. I (of course) gave money to the church.

In lieu of money I have added all 3 persons to my nightly prayers and will pray for them for the rest of my physical life.
 
The book of Wisom says that what folks learn without self interest, they should pass on without reserve intending never to hide wisdoms riches.

I would be very weary of one who expected some payment after every visit. Was it not Christ who said what you have received freely, give freely?

As far as I am concerned I would say that spiritual direction should be always freely given.
 
Glad to see this thread !

Since St.Paul mentions about the worker being entitiled to his wages and since there is possibly a huge need for spiritual counseling in our culture along with many ministries and older religious that need support, it is concievable that the two can be linked well in our modern technological age ( where it seems a good bit of services such as toll free #s are even sent overseas !)

A good worldwide network of ? paid 999 service !🙂 - with good Holy Spirit filled spiritual warriors ready to listen and offer compassionate support !

A good philanthropist even willing to support same may be !

In life of St.Faustina, who had spiritual directors and mentions the great advantage of having a good spiritual director, towards the end, seems our Lord tells her that He would be her diretor !

And seems , inspite of presence of directors , a lot of the pain of purification or strengtheneing for spiritual warfare was still present to a good degree in the lives of such saints as St.Padre Pio and St.Faustina !

Well, in our day and age , with easily available abundant help in many forms , may be committing enough time to our Lord may alone go a long way !

Peace !
 
Fergal said:
The book of Wisom says that what folks learn without self interest, they should pass on without reserve intending never to hide wisdoms riches.

I would be very weary of one who expected some payment after every visit. Was it not Christ who said what you have received freely, give freely?

As far as I am concerned I would say that spiritual direction should be always freely given.
Click to expand...
I completely and totally agree.

I think that the original poster of this question would be well advised to talk to his/her Priest at their local parish about this. Find out if they approve of the person who says that they can provide direction for a fee.
 
It’s always better to have face-to-face spiritual direction. You should first start by calling your diocesan offices, because they would have the roster of spiritual directors in the diocese.

Some spiritual directors are ordained or religious, but many are lay people, often with background in counseling.

Different dioceses may have different policies about allowing charges for spiritual direction, but I’ve never seen a priest or a religious to charge a fee for spiritual direction.

Our diocese of Austin has a program to form spiritual directors and I’ve heard that it’s a model that’s been copied by other dioceses. I hope that it does spread out.

:blessyou:
 
My SD is a priest from a Benedictine Abbey. I went to him several times and at no time did he mention payment. However, I felt that surely there must be some fee because of the time he would make for me, especially since he had many other responsibilities.

Anyway, one day I asked him about what people usually did who came for spiritual direction. He told me that people usually make donation to the Abbey. So every couple of months I write a check to the Abbey. I can’t afford very much so the check is rather small when compared to the amounts I have seen listed on these threads. But at least I feel that I am helping out the Abbey in thanksgiving for his spiritual direction.
 
It seems to me that a good spiritual director would never request payment. For one thing it could become a temptation to avarice. You would never want anything to become an obstacle to good spiritual direction. An anonymous donation to the church or ministry should suffice. Just my opinion. God bless you and Mary keep you.
 
I see two people for my spiritual direction.

I talk with a priest concerning my catholic faith and how it works within my life. As a newbie to the CC there is so much to understand.

I also visit with a Sister, who I met through a spiritual mentoring program, about the dynamics of family life, marriage, relationships, and my spiritual growth…

The priest does not want compensation for his time, however, the Sister, she needs the compensation. This is part of her means of employment as she lives on her own. She does have a job through the Archdiocese and that is only part-time. I don’t think the Sister is “looking to get rich”, but she does need the monetary compensation. She charges about $25 for a session, and these sessions last for about an hour and half. I don’t think that is unreasonable. I also know, that if I couldn’t pay for whatever reason, she would still help me out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top