When you are in the desert.....?

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bring on the locusts and honey, yum yum. Practice of the Presence of God, is one of the best guides I have seen to that question. When I find myself in a certain condition of life, psycholigical state, spiritual state, which is causing pain, depression or dysfunction, first I try to determine how I got there, and if there is anything about my own actions and choices I can change, I change it, if it is something harmful. If it is something harmful from outside-toxic people, workplace etc.-that is something I can evade or move away from, I do it. If it is a spiritual condition wrought by God, which I try to discern through prayer and spiritual direction, I stay there as long as it pleases God to leave me there.

I will be spending July in the actual desert, on retreat at the monastery, please pray for me.
 
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puzzleannie:
I will be spending July in the actual desert, on retreat at the monastery, please pray for me.
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Will do :blessyou:
 
What would either of you suggest as a way to deepen my prayer life? I am at the stage described by Theresa of Avila - sometimes the emotion of what I am experiencing is overwhelming. I know this is the ‘infant’ stage, and that I may be on the right path but I am definitely a baby. I want to deepen the experience. How did you facilitate your own spiritual growth?
 
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LSK:
How did you facilitate your own spiritual growth?
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I try to understand and live in the spirit of the Benedictine vows of obedience, conversion of life and stability; frequently attend Mass; pray the daily Rosary; pray Morning and Evening Prayers of Liturgy of the Hours; contemplate daily on spiritual reading from the Bible and sometimes I get a little help from a good spiritual director.
 
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contemplative:
I try to understand and live in the spirit of the Benedictine vows of obedience, conversion of life and stability; frequently attend Mass; pray the daily Rosary; pray Morning and Evening Prayers of Liturgy of the Hours; contemplate daily on spiritual reading from the Bible and sometimes I get a little help from a good spiritual director.
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Where did you find a good spiritual director? I have a great Parish Priest but he is so busy ministering to such a large flock I wouldn’t want to take away from his time. Did you go to your Bishop and ask for guidance to someone?

Also, regarding the Liturgy of the Hours. I am a single woman, no family, and do my morning and evening prayers alone. I find copies of the Liturgy of the Hours with responses - if I am a community of one, do you think there might be better prayers to do or should I just say the entire prayer myself.

And I apologize if these seem like childish questions. Thank you for your guidance and help.
 
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LSK:
Where did you find a good spiritual director? I have a great Parish Priest but he is so busy ministering to such a large flock I wouldn’t want to take away from his time. Did you go to your Bishop and ask for guidance to someone?

Also, regarding the Liturgy of the Hours. I am a single woman, no family, and do my morning and evening prayers alone. I find copies of the Liturgy of the Hours with responses - if I am a community of one, do you think there might be better prayers to do or should I just say the entire prayer myself.

And I apologize if these seem like childish questions. Thank you for your guidance and help.
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I use
litpress.org/Search.aspx?q=a+shorter+morning+and+evening+prayer (found here)

A Shorter Morning and Evening Prayer
The Psalter of the Liturgy of the Hours made especially for laypeople.

I understand your perception of the busy parish priest. Do you have a monastery nearby? Sometimes the priests there are much less hurried with people.
 
I live in the Central Valley of California. In the diocese of Stockton, particularly, so I would find out through my Bishop if we have a monastery or other contemplative communities nearby?I want to be in full communion with Rome and I know sometimes what looks to be a holy community could be in schism. I don’t want to just go jumpin’ off the deep end, as my Daddy would say.
 
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LSK:
I live in the Central Valley of California. In the diocese of Stockton, particularly, so I would find out through my Bishop if we have a monastery or other contemplative communities nearby?I want to be in full communion with Rome and I know sometimes what looks to be a holy community could be in schism. I don’t want to just go jumpin’ off the deep end, as my Daddy would say.
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You have the Abbey of New Clairvaux down the road from you. newclairvaux.org/ Don’t be afraid to jump a diocese boundary to get there and check it out. I can’t be certain what you will find but it maybe worth a try. Read their website carefully. There are special driving directions. I wish I could check it out too! Many people come from across state, out of state, and from other countries to visit the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance that I visit. One hour once a year with a good spiritual director there is worth more than 12 months straight with a parish priest who is ‘hurried’.
 
There is a lay carmelite community in Stockton you could check out.
carmelites.org/laycarmelites/al_ak_ar_az_ca.htm
Scroll down for email address to obtain more information.

Many people find that joining such a community is helpful to their spiritual life. Plus, spiritual direction is often a part of the program.
 
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LSK:
Where did you find a good spiritual director? I have a great Parish Priest but he is so busy ministering to such a large flock I wouldn’t want to take away from his time. Did you go to your Bishop and ask for guidance to someone?
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Ask your priest, if you think he’s the one. Pose the question like this: “I feel drawn to a more intense living out of the Gospel and would like to touch base with an experienced guide now and then. I would be honored if you could do that for me – but I know you are pressured from all sides. If you can’t do this, can you recommend someone who might spare the time?”

It isn’t “spiritual direction” but if there is a priest you find particularly good at receiving your confessions, you could start by asking him if you could come to him exclusively for confession. The consistency is a remarkable help in spiritual growth.
Also, regarding the Liturgy of the Hours. I am a single woman, no family, and do my morning and evening prayers alone. I find copies of the Liturgy of the Hours with responses - if I am a community of one, do you think there might be better prayers to do or should I just say the entire prayer myself.
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For my money there is no prayer “better” than the prayer of the Church – and that is what the Liturgy of the Hours is called. All kinds of people pray the Liturgy of the Hours on their own. Virtually all secular priests do it alone. I am a Novice in the Confraternity of Penitents (www.penitents.org); we pray the entire Office, and most of us pray it alone (on the bus, in waiting rooms, before Mass, after Mass . . . )
And I apologize if these seem like childish questions. Thank you for your guidance and help.
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Nothing childish about wanting to bring your life closer to God.
 
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LSK:
Where did you find a good spiritual director? I have a great Parish Priest but he is so busy ministering to such a large flock I wouldn’t want to take away from his time. Did you go to your Bishop and ask for guidance to someone?

Also, regarding the Liturgy of the Hours. I am a single woman, no family, and do my morning and evening prayers alone. I find copies of the Liturgy of the Hours with responses - if I am a community of one, do you think there might be better prayers to do or should I just say the entire prayer myself.

And I apologize if these seem like childish questions. Thank you for your guidance and help.
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Paul, I love him.
 
When you are praying the Liturgy of the Hours, know that somewhere else in this world others, monks, sisters, clergy, lay persons, are praying it also and you are in communion with them.
 
contemplative said:
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Christ loved him also. He accepted Christ and preseverded. The Spirit of the Lord works through him. He teaches, I could go on. Christ brings Hope through him. Paul directs us to Christ. That may qualify as a spiritual director.
 


Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
 
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