Question for People Who Have Spiritual Directors

  • Thread starter Thread starter JamalChristophr
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Oh, I think it was Clare that mentioned once, you can call the chancellory office and they often have a list of S.D.'s
 
Our diocese has trained Spiritual Directors (not many). When I applied the person I did not get the person I hoped for, but the one I needed. We meet about 4 times a year. She asks the most innocent thought provoking questions which upon reflection, causes me to rethink and delve further. In one way, I am not looking forward to my next meeting because it will be difficult, however, deep within me, I know that it will help me in a number of ways, some of which may be unexpected (even possibly painful) but will be good for me.
 
Eh, I’m just not ready yet.
Check back in 10 years, maybe by then I will be ready and have one
Maybe God will just put one in my path, who knows.
Or maybe I will have finally be living alone in the woods in a hollow tree like I have always sort of wished to do.
 
JamalChristophr said:
Anyways, who needs a S.D. when you have us?? mu-hahahahaa
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This is an excellent point. For a few years now I have actually thought of the Internet as being a kind of functional ministry. People do not see that dimension of it but I have seen that even on secular boards where people were not bringing up God but they just go out of their way to be kind to each other in bad situations (death, jail, people who have a hit out on their life, addiction, suicide, depression, job loss etc)
Lots of loving thy neighbor
 
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phil19034 said:
I’m a big fan of having a Spiritual Director. I meet with him about twice a month, and it’s very helpful.

Every time, I meet with him, I’m spiritually recharged.

I told my pastor that I was looking for a spiritual director and he prayed on it for a few days and then recommended someone for me. It’s been great.

I recommend starting by letting your pastor know you are looking for one. He will either recommend someone or offer to be your spiritual director.

God Bless
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This is what I did in once instance, where I went to talk to my Pastor at the time that I was looking for some spiritual direction. I went to ask him for a referral, and then he said that he would meet with me, which was fine.

We agreed on when to meet, and so on. I eventually stopped meeting with him.

If I recall correctly, I was trying to work through some spiritual issues that I was having at the time and needed some help with them, and he did help me out.

I had also been for spiritual direction before then, to a nun who I was referred to. That was her focus at the time–Spiritual Direction–as she had a PhD. in Divinity, if I recall correctly.

In both instances, I found it to be very beneficial to me.

I found it to be more like guidance, of where you are in your spiritual life.

Like Jamal said, it’s not therapy like secular counseling is.

To me, it’s more like if you need help in your spiritual life, that’s where you go–for spiritual direction. 🙂
 
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OH NO. Your Chancery has a list of good, CERTIFIED Spiritual Directors, Lay and Ordained.
One doesn’t just ask anyone, and someone who is not trained in this have no business agreeing to do it.
 
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Spiritual Directors come in 2 forms, Ordained and Laity.

In the Ordained field, there’s deacons, presbyters, and bishops.

for Laity, find one that at least has a certified class or a type of credential.

In my opinion, go Ordained, Presbyter (or Bishop, but you ain’t never gonna get a bishop). Do not go Deacon, though ordained and very well qualified for a director.

Oh, my “bent” on Spiritual Directors … they always seem to work out better if they are also your Confessor.
 
KatyCatholic said:
Oh, my “bent” on Spiritual Directors … they always seem to work out better if they are also your Confessor.
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This is my preference as well. I’ve had two SDs who were priests and it made talking about areas of sin easier because I had confessed my sins or was about to.
 
First you and the SD need to be clear on expectations and the nature of Spiritual Direction. “Spiritual Direction” is a misnomer. It is mor of a companionship and at times challenging. I think you need to share a life view and theology. You can see the vast differences presented on this forum even within the Catholic faith. Imagine someone here with who you disagree to be your spiritual director. And yet a competent SD could do it.
 
I have had about 6 in 35 years. The best ones were good listeners who gave me the space to say things I might not have said otherwise, add a well placed question, offer a suggestion.
 
Seems like it would be a bit embarrassing to ask a priest if he is a certified S.D.
 
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Well, that’s fine. We shouldn’t overload people.

The people who need spiritual direction are those who are discerning a vocation or who have a scrupulous conscience.
 
Any vocation I would have discerned would have been nixed as against the rules, so that was a dead end early on. I figure God has his reasons so I’m okay with it.
 
I had a spiritual director at one point.
Like other users have mentioned, you need to find someone you can trust. Someone who is also knowledgeable of spiritual matters.
 
Nothing wrong at all with asking what a person’s qualifications are
 
I have had the same spiritual director for 9 years and he has been extremely helpful. He is a Diocesan priest and is very busy so often it is difficult to get an appointment with him.

He took a sabbatical year a few years ago and I met with several other priests in the interim. One of those worked out very well and the other one was not a good fit.

Often your parish priest will be aware of local people who are spiritual directors and can recommend someone if he can’t offer spiritual direction to you himself
 
Here is a question: If you found someone trained and certified whom you feel you can trust, would you go to them if they were not priest nor religious order?
 
I too have a question: how do people get “certified” as spiritual directors?
What kind of classes, training etc. do they take?
I was not aware that there was a certification for it until recently and I thought it was more a matter of finding a priest or member of religious order that was open to doing the work and whose spiritual approach connected with yours.
 
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