Spiritual Direction...

  • Thread starter Thread starter chrisb
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

chrisb

Guest
With the decline of the numbers in the Priesthood it seems we suffer greatly in the quality and quantity of Spiritual Directors drawing from the Classic Catholic Tradition.

I’m interested in know how many Catholics here regularly have spiritual direction?
 
I’m actually interested in finding a spiritual director, where would I even begin?
 
1edyson said:
I’m actually interested in finding a spiritual director, where would I even begin?
Click to expand...
You might start by asking your pastor for a recommendation. Most likely he will not have the time, but he may know of someone. If you have a convent, monastery, or retreat house nearby you might check with them. Often a retired religious may have time to offer spiritual direction.

Mostly I think the answer is to pray because ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who finds you a spiritual director.
 
I have a priest I meet with regularly who I suppose you could say is my spiritual director.

For a good spiritual director, you should just find an orthodox priest or nun who is willing (many are too busy and simply don’t have time) to be your spiritual director.
 
I am not a Catholic, but I go for spiritual direction. I guess in some ways I have two spiritual directors. The curate of my church, who is also a good friend offers me a great deal of spiritual direction within the natural course of life, and they have been fantastic with me; but I also go to a Priory within my diocese which is now run as an ecumenical centre, and I meet with a spiritual director there once a month. I see her because I’m in a time of discernment, in relation to both priesthood (sorry, friends) and monastic life, or indeed any other path God takes me down.

The important highlight of Spiritual Direction is whilst it looks deep into “your life”, it’s not looking at “your” life, but rather God’s life within you, and how you respond to him.

Also re: “it is the Holy Spirit that finds you a spiritual director” that is very much true of the direction I get from my curate.
 
I have been in spiritual direction for many many years. A good director doesn’t tell you what to do but helps you to discern the action of the Spirit in your life.
 
I was told to go help with RCIA 🤷

That did not help at all.
That being said, if I have an issue to discuss, my priest is available and I schedule a meeting. As for regular spiritual direction, I read a lot and pray.
 
I also read alot (books of the Saints, mostly - I figure they’re pretty good at SD!) and pray also. I’m in a somewhat, rural area and the only priests or religious I’ve come across here have not been orthodox.
 
My sd is a deacon. I’m not at all regular about it. We talk at least monthly, I think, and as I’m in complicated circumstances at the moment, I feel pretty free to call and ask for more help when I need it.
 
My director is also my confessor … and of course thus, a priest. He is retired from parish duties.

Barb:)
 
A spiritual director may also be a lay person. There have been very good and holy lay spritual directors in the history of the Church. Two who come to mind are Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena. Francis became a religious after he had a following. Catherine never became a religious.

Today, the Church usually requires that spritual directors be trained in Spiritual Theology or Mystical Theology. Not all priests and deacons are trained in either of these two areas of theology, because they are electives when you are working for your theology degree.

However, many priests and deacons have done a great deal of reading on the spiritual life and have had good hands-on experience so that their superiors allow them to practice this ministry.

Religious men and women are in a different ball park. Part of their formation is the spiritual life. They usually spend from five to nine years studying nothing but the spiritual life before making perpetual vows. This is a canonical requirement for them. It is not for diocesan and other secular clergy or lay theologians.

You may have to ask around. There are also many lay Christian Counselors who are trained in the spiritual life, but they charge for their services. They are both spiritual guides and therapists. This is their only source of income.

Check with your parish office.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top