Starting spiritual direction today!

[blueshells]

I’m starting spiritual direction today–thank goodness! I’ve been needing some sort of guidance for a while. The only problem is that I have no idea what to expect procedurally. I’ve only heard tidbits of insights from friends, and the only direction I got from the priest was “Meet me in the confessional at this time.”

So what should I expect, and how can I prepare? I’ve been praying for humility and openness in the meeting, and that’s about it.

 

[Joannm]

I find it odd that the priest is doing spiritual direction in the confessional. I have only heard it done in the priest’s office. I can’t imagine sitting in a confessional for 45 minutes to an hour. Anyway he will probably just get to know you this first time. He probably will ask questions about your prayer and what is going on in your life.

When I meet with my director of 15 years we usually just start out talking about what is going on since we last met and then we talk about my prayer, problems I may be having spritiually, any insights I have had and where I might feel the Lord is leading me. He is usually very challenging and stretches me to a point where I sometimes don’t want to be…but he usually is very gentle.

At the end sometimes I go to confession or sometimes we just pray and he blesses me. He usually gives me an assignment of some sort; something to reflect on, a suggestion to read a certain passage, or some prayers to pray. I usually go every six weeks.

 

[vivificantem]

I’m starting spiritual direction today–thank goodness! I’ve been needing some sort of guidance for a while. The only problem is that I have no idea what to expect procedurally. I’ve only heard tidbits of insights from friends, and the only direction I got from the priest was “Meet me in the confessional at this time.”

So what should I expect, and how can I prepare? I’ve been praying for humility and openness in the meeting, and that’s about it.[/QUO!TE]

How wonderful to have found a spiritual director! How can every “civilian”, that is, not a religious or seminarian, etc. hope to have one, with the shortage of priests? Can a director be a nun or monk? A deacon?

I value the time I am able to discuss spiritual life with my priest, but I know he is so busy as the only priest for our parish.