spiritual advisor

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I mentioned wanting a spiritual advisor to a priest. I didn’t want him as he is my confessor. He hasn’t gotten back to me and perhaps he didn’t take me seriously. But I will mention it to him again. How does one go about finding a spiritual advisor?
 
I find it most helpful when my spiritual director and confessor are the same priest, but that is not always easy. Now that mine has finally retired to assisted living he cannot do this ministry any more.

I visit the same Jesuit priest each summer for directed retreat and infrequently email him for help but no longer have a regular director. Hopefully another priest will be found as an associate with the monastery where I am an oblate and I can once again have that resource.
 
How sad it is that our priests are now so far and few that they can no longer afford the time required to provide members of their own flock spiritual direction. I live in a very large city and, although I know my parish priest would provide me spiritual direction if I pressed him, I don’t because he has so much on him as it is.
Some Monasteries, Catholic Colleges, Seminaries, and Convents do specifically provide spiritual direction however; no matter where you go, it is not a free service. It would be best to decide which of the above works best for you and call them to inquire as to their fees. I get mine at the Monastery where I go once a year on retreat. God bless you in your search. I will pray for you to be matched with someone you respect and admire.
 
As your confessor he is in someways already your spiritual advisor and if he felt unable to deal with the issue he would then find you another. This will sound harsh but what you siad sounds disrespectful to the priest and i’m not surprised he did not take you seriously.
I suggest you say a Rosary on the matter and think again. 🤷
 
With very few priests available due to priest shortage and being tasked so much leaving them with very little time to tend to their flock (through no fault of their own), it’s no wonder that some catholics end up leaving to join another non-catholic church (not saying that I agree with that). I was raised catholic, left and became protestant (while stationed in southern calif) just to find a sense of community. I came back to the catholic faith in 2005-feeling somewhat discouraged for I must go to confession very badly yet will not be able to go until May 21st. Tried three times to get ahold of my priest-twice by leaving message and once by e-mail to make an appointment. Unfortunately, no luck-feeling very bad about all this-had no idea how difficult it is to go to confession. I work on the air base and was hoping to meet during my lunch time or something-I work Mon-Friday. This Saturday, I will be out of town. Next Saturday, my youngest daughter will be making her first communion, the following Saturday is my reserve drill weekend. Yes-this can be quite disheartening! I need both a confessor and a spiritual adviser-since the air base and navy combined, it left him with virtually no time to schedule appts. How discouraging! 😦
 
For sure, Leticia-and good counselors, too- (some of them) -the base chaplain-a civilian priest also has a psychological background-helped me out with issues involving my ex-husband and autistic son. This was when the air base and navy wasn’t combined and he had more time for appointments-really grateful for all his help and support 🙂
 
Not all priests are qualified to be ongoing spiritual directors. They take maybe one course in pastoral counseling in the seminary which includes offering spiritual help. Those who are spiritual directors have a specific charism and are available to dedicate the time necessary to take on a directee. If your priest hasn’t got back to you, perhaps he feels he cannot take you on because he does not feel he is qualified enough to take on that responsibility. My director has a wonderful gift for it, and he has taken post seminary courses on giving direction. Someone who has not gone through some spiritual direction training, unless he or she is exceptionally gifted, can do spiritual harm to a person.

Why not ask your priest if he knows of any spiritual directors. If you are not looking for a confessor, perhaps you can be recommended to a religious or lay director who has been certified to offer direction.
 
GKCT said:
I mentioned wanting a spiritual advisor to a priest. I didn’t want him as he is my confessor. He hasn’t gotten back to me and perhaps he didn’t take me seriously. But I will mention it to him again. How does one go about finding a spiritual advisor?
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God Spiritual advisor is I think to hard to find. God spiritul advisor do not have time for simple people like you and me, only if you have luck.
Find someone who is advarge that is OK for start also, and you can read book of spiritul person.
 
To all who responded.

Thank you for your advice.

My confessor has given me spiritual advice this past year as I have just returned to the church after a long absence. He understood what I was saying–his spiritual advisor is different than his confessor. And he really doesn’t have the time, it’s a big parish, the cathedral, and there are many to serve besides me. We have some Franciscans in the area that might be able to help.

thirddec–I was not being disrespectful, he knew exactly what I meant. And he agreed with me. Perhaps I worded it wrong in my message. A spiritual advisor should be other than your confessor, that is, if you have a regular confessor and don’t go to several priests.
 
Lifeisawesome

That’s a terrific website. I put it in my favorites, so that I can take more time with it. Thank you.
 
GKCT said:
Lifeisawesome

That’s a terrific website. I put it in my favorites, so that I can take more time with it. Thank you.
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You are welcome - please let your friends know about it too!
 
=GKCT;7808577]I mentioned wanting a spiritual advisor to a priest. I didn’t want him as he is my confessor. He hasn’t gotten back to me and perhaps he didn’t take me seriously. But I will mention it to him again. How does one go about finding a spiritual advisor?
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My dear friend in Christ: Spiritual advisrs very often most often’ are also your Confessor. WHY? Because in order to guide you he needs to know where you are spiritually and morally. PRAY about it.

God Bless,
Pat
 
I think I may need to switch to another church-called twice and e-mailed once to try to make an appt to confess and the chaplain/priest hasn’t returned any of my messages. I know he is very busy being at both base chapels and the hospital, I know he is here on base being that on my lunch hour, when I drive to the base exchange, I pass the chapel on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and see his vehicle parked in front. I think it may be time for me to find another confessor. As for a spiritual advisor-fat chance! This chaplain has been there for me and my kids through thick and thin-has been very supportive, yet with both bases combining into one, I feel as if he is stretched too thin, I have a heavy conscience and must play like a baptist and go directly to Jesus with my sins. I am not able to go to scheduled confessionals until May 21st and by then I may get to a point where I may say, forget it! What if I die in my sleep before then? I have what I think may be mortal sins-and I feel awful! What can I say? I am really a nobody-just someone who wants to do what is right yet even with that intention, it doesn’t seem to work out. Sorry about the lengthy post yet I am venting in frustration-I’ll stop. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend-take care and may God bless you dearly-:blessyou::grouphug::signofcross:
 
=lauraabarlow;7816860]I think I may need to switch to another church-called twice and e-mailed once to try to make an appt to confess and the chaplain/priest hasn’t returned any of my messages. I know he is very busy being at both base chapels and the hospital, I know he is here on base being that on my lunch hour, when I drive to the base exchange, I pass the chapel on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and see his vehicle parked in front. I think it may be time for me to find another confessor. As for a spiritual advisor-fat chance! This chaplain has been there for me and my kids through thick and thin-has been very supportive, yet with both bases combining into one, I feel as if he is stretched too thin, I have a heavy conscience and must play like a baptist and go directly to Jesus with my sins. I am not able to go to scheduled confessionals until May 21st and by then I may get to a point where I may say, forget it! What if I die in my sleep before then? I have what I think may be mortal sins-and I feel awful! What can I say? I am really a nobody-just someone who wants to do what is right yet even with that intention, it doesn’t seem to work out. Sorry about the lengthy post yet I am venting in frustration-I’ll stop. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend-take care and may God bless you dearly-:blessyou::grouphug::signofcross:
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WOW! a BASE with a REAL Priest… Go figure. Never saw on in my time in the Military.

Your right, it would be spiritually prudent to find someone else! But keep praying for this priest, sounds like He can use the help!

God Bless,
Pat
 
PJM

My confessor has been a spiritual advisor of sorts for the past year. He has been very helpful as I am a revert after several years. But he is so very busy I would rather find someone who does not have to take care of a parish and all that it entails. He also told me that his director is separate from his confessor. I realize spiritual direction is not confession, it is what is says “direction”. I would love to go on a retreat but they are quite expensive; although they are the best for advice and direction.
 
=GKCT;7821930]PJM
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My confessor has been a spiritual advisor of sorts for the past year. He has been very helpful as I am a revert after several years. But he is so very busy I would rather find someone who does not have to take care of a parish and all that it entails. He also told me that his director is separate from his confessor. I realize spiritual direction is not confession, it is what is says “direction”. I would love to go on a retreat but they are quite expensive; although they are the best for advice and direction.
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PRAY daily to our Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit to take you where God wants you to be.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

God Bless,
Pat
 
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