What is a Spirtual Director?

[QuietTimes]

Anybody have an idea… I read this about saints all the time.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

Check out my webpage on Spiritual Direction.

 

[Dorothy]

Anybody have an idea… I read this about saints all the time.

There are many who have spiritual directors because they have reached a point in their prayer life where they can see that they need guidance.

For many, it is hard to find a personal spiritual director, but if the Lord wants you to have one He will find one for you.

Going on a directed retreat can help also.

 

[jmcrae]

A Spiritual Director is someone assigned by the Church to help people in their spiritual journeys. Usually they are priests and members of religious orders; more rarely, they can be lay people who are specially trained in this area of ministry.

I have had two spiritual directors: one was a very good Jesuit priest, and the other was a lay woman. Both were very good, and gave me what I needed at the time in the way of guidance.

PS: You can go to any convent or monastery and ask about receiving Spiritual Direction. Normally one gives a donation to the convent or monastery each time one goes for an appointment there - the suggested donation is one hour’s wages, so for example, if you make $10.00 an hour, you would give ten dollars, but if you make $45.00 an hour, then you would give 45 dollars.

 

[QuietTimes]

Well thank you all for the info. I couldnt afford a director if I wanted one. But maybe when I get more time and money, right now my life is a bit hectic. Ihomeschool…I guess I would just use CAF if ever the time comes that I need direction, which is often .
At times I have questions and its funny but usually these questions always get answered,somehow, God knows what I need to know. I am a revert so its been interesting, but such a blessing to be back home!!

 

[baltobetsy]

Well thank you all for the info. I couldnt afford a director if I wanted one.

Perhaps there’s a center of Opus Dei near you in California. Check out their website at www.opusdei.org and send them an email to ask what is close to you. If you start going regularly to an Opus Dei priest for confession (the same one each time), you will find yourself with a spiritual director, at no charge. And a very fine one at that.

Betsy

 

[Augustine]

I couldnt afford a director if I wanted one. But maybe when I get more time and money, right now my life is a bit hectic.

Yes, you can. It’s not customary to pay for spiritual direction from a religious person, only from a lay person, but even then it’s not uncommon to receive spiritual direction without charge.

 

[QuietTimes]

I am not one that feels right taking and not paying for something that they require a donation or payment for. I have lurked around and usually they ask, so I will stay put for now.

 

[Augustine]

I am not one that feels right taking and not paying for something that they require a donation or payment for. I have lurked around and usually they ask, so I will stay put for now.

I don’t know about your experiences, but I’ve had 2 priests as my spiritual directors in my life and neither has ever asked even for a donation. Last Christmas, when I gave a gift to my spiritual director, he even asked if I knew that I didn’t have to pay anything, which I knew, it was just a way of expressing how thankful I was.

Don’t postpone your spiritual growth out of pride. If not now, you will be able to pay, not back, but forward. You know, the currency in the Church is love, not dollars…

 

[QuietTimes]

Don’t postpone your spiritual growth out of pride. If not now, you will be able to pay, not back, but forward. You know, the currency in the Church is love, not dollars…

I understand that it may look like pride but really and honestly thats the way I feel . I can ask the priest that I usually go to confession to.

 

[dbacks5439]

PS: You can go to any convent or monastery and ask about receiving Spiritual Direction. Normally one gives a donation to the convent or monastery each time one goes for an appointment there - the suggested donation is one hour’s wages, so for example, if you make $10.00 an hour, you would give ten dollars, but if you make $45.00 an hour, then you would give 45 dollars.

45 bucks an hour!!??? that priest shore is lucky!

 

[jmcrae]

45 bucks an hour!!??? that priest shore is lucky!

That would be quite rare, I think - the numbers are just examples. You’d give him whatever you get - if you’re at minimum wage, then the priest gets minimum wage, and of course if you’re unemployed, he doesn’t get anything at all.

 

[DarkNight_FL]

I would agree that a Spiritual Director if it is not a full time priest would be paid. Mine gets $45 a session (that’s one hour) but he charges on a sliding scale based on what you can afford. He’s a licensed counselor as well although he can only work in one capacity or the other for a person (counselor or Spiritual Director), I would expect to pay him as a professional. He actually runs the Audire program at the retreat center here in Central Florida. I think you could find a SD that would help you out for free and if they offer, don’t feel bad, they’re doing it because they want to. It’s only usually once a month, so twelve or so hours a year to help someone get closer to God would help their spiritual development as well.

Peace and All Good.

 

[Augustine]

I understand that it may look like pride but really and honestly thats the way I feel . I can ask the priest that I usually go to confession to.

Please, do and I believe that you’ll be surprised. Many dioceses run spiritual direction programs and can put you in touch with several directors.

Let me stress that, in spite of others have hinted at here, it is not customary to pay for spiritual direction by priests or religious. Spiritual direction is not the same as psychological counseling.

Finally, please forgive this proud sinner for presuming to know your heart.

 

[QuietTimes]

Finally, please forgive this proud sinner for presuming to know your heart.

I just feel like I need some guidance at times spiritually. Because I am kind of new to all the church has to offer. At times I cant discern certain things and my prayer life wanes. Scruples is one thing that I recently had to learn about. I think I got it. I understand it now.

 

[DarkNight_FL]

Let me stress that, in spite of others have hinted at here, it is not customary to pay for spiritual direction by priests or religious.

Did anyone say anything different? It is however customary to pay a Spiritual Director who is not a full time priest. One who has trained and makes appointments. In fact, what I said was:

I would agree that a Spiritual Director if it is not a full time priest would be paid.

You further stated that:

Spiritual direction is not the same as psychological counseling

No one has suggested that Spiritual Direction is the same as counseling in fact I believe I said:

He’s a licensed counselor as well although he can only work in one capacity or the other for a person (counselor or Spiritual Director),

If you’re going to quote me, please do it correctly.

Peace and All Good…

 

[QuietTimes]

There is NO need to get nit picky here. Why do I keep running across posters acting this way? Come on now it is a Catholic Forum for Answers I am sorry if I this sounds rude. But instead of bieng charitable, I get this all the time you say something it gets completely dismanteled.
We are here to learn from each other not act petty and sarcastic.

 

[Melanie01]

ummmm…your priest is a good starter, particularly in the confessional…

check out some of the 3rd orders if you are very keen to grow in this way…pm me if you like

 

[DarkNight_FL]

There is NO need to get nit picky here. Why do I keep running across posters acting this way? Come on now it is a Catholic Forum for Answers I am sorry if I this sounds rude. But instead of bieng charitable, I get this all the time you say something it gets completely dismanteled.
We are here to learn from each other not act petty and sarcastic.

I felt the same way. My answers were as exacting as possible and based on personal experience with several Spiritual Directors both paid and unpaid in social settings and one engaged in professional relationship. In this case, I tried to be charitable and someone seemed to indicate the exact opposite of what I said.

Peace and All Good.

 

[CRW]

Well thank you all for the info. I couldnt afford a director if I wanted one. But maybe when I get more time and money, right now my life is a bit hectic. Ihomeschool…I guess I would just use CAF if ever the time comes that I need direction, which is often .
At times I have questions and its funny but usually these questions always get answered,somehow, God knows what I need to know. I am a revert so its been interesting, but such a blessing to be back home!!

For me, I try to see the same priest for confession. He knows me and he knows my spiritual growth and weakness. As the priest becomes familiar with you, his counseling improves, IMHO. My trust is total in the direction he provides. There is no cost, just a little humility and trust. BTW, some parishes have paid directors on their staff so there is no charge for their services.