Spiritual Direction

[Issa87]

When you go to a priest for spiritual direction, what are you going for? I have heard people go to help them overcome their sins, but is there any other purpose for spiritual direction? Like if a person wants to set up appointments to see their priest regularly, what are some things that they are hoping to accomplish? I just saw my priest for the first time for some guidance outside of confession. He gave me a book to read, but didn’t say anything else. The book is on a saint he thought I could relate to. Is it up to me to make another appointment when I think I need more guidance? How does this work?

 

[Suslar]

Many priests are too busy to offer on-going spiritual direction but there are deacons, nun and lay people who actually get certified from universities to provide this service. It’s also called “spiritual companioning” and the purpose is to help the directee recognize the presence of God in their lives. It’s not counseling. It’s not 100% focused on sin (unless you are having a particular issue). It more talking about what is going on in your life and where you see (or don’t see) God’s hand in it all. Some SD’s want to see their directees every 4 weeks, others go every 6 weeks . . it all depends on if you are in spiritual crisis or not and what you mutually agree upon. You might ask your priest if he’d be willing to see you for SD on an ongoing basis and if so, great, but if not, ask him for references or check with your diocese.

What you hope to accomplish is really up to you . . . it could be as general as “to grow in faith and holiness” or it could be discernment for something specific. I told my SD I want to become a great Saint and I need his help to get there.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

There’s a blog called Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction at rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/

You will probably get a lot of ideas by browsing around. In particular, you might want to take a look at “Spiritual Direction Is…” and the links it includes on what spiritual direction is not.

I basically see my spiritual director because I want to love God more, be a better disciple, and live a holier life. My director helps me do that.

We meet monthly. I contact him after one meeting to set up the next one.

 

[Issa87]

Thank you for your responses and thank you, SuscipeMeDomine, for the links. I should clarify from my first post, my priest and I did talk for an hour, but he didn’t say anything about following up, which is what I meant when I said he didn’t say anything. Like he didn’t make any recommendations for the future. At the end of the session he gave me a book he mentioned during the hour, so I could read it. He told me about this saint and how I reminded him of her. He told me about her a little.

I do enjoy talking to him. When I talked to the parish secretary about the idea of getting spiritual direction, she recommended I speak to one of our priests instead of our deacon. I like them all, so it didn’t matter to me, but I think the one I chose to talk to is more “fatherly” and seemingly more “holy” than the others. Well maybe not more holy, who am I to know, but there is something about him that brings forth more peace. I think they all have their strengths, but to me, he’s more of a “father-figure.” Like our deacon is a bit more approachable, our other priest is a go-getter, and this priest is just “fatherly” to me. Not that he doesn’t make himself approachable. I think it was a year or two ago, he knew I was going back to school and I wasn’t very confident in my math skills, so he offered to tutor me if I needed any assistance. I didn’t take him up on that offer, but I know who to go to if I need some help!

 

[Suslar]

If you click with him, then ask him if he’d agree to on-going SD.
That could be the Holy Spirit helping you to find the right guide . . . .
Good luck!!!

 

[Issa87]

Thank you, Suslar.