msahara Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 Hey guys- How do I go about finding a spiritual director? I'm discerning a vocation to be a cloistered Dominican nun and it would be helpful to have a spiritual director but I'm not sure where to start. Thanks!
Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 You can talk to your parish priests, or if you know of an religious community nearby, you can probably find some help there.
the_rev Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 Pray About it. Pray a novena maybe one to St. John Vienney. Ask God to guide you to the priest who he wants you to be led spiritually. Your brother in Christ, Eddie Lee
MC IMaGiNaZUN Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 as for a first spiritual director, i would definitely recommend getting a priest, instead of another religious. But That is why you have to pray about it. I just moved here and need to find one. One member of the order is renown for his spiritual direction, but i am thinking of looking elsewhere. SHALOM
msahara Posted August 30, 2005 Author Posted August 30, 2005 thanks for the advice- especially about finding a priest and praying a novena to St. John Vianney!
FlyLikeABird Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 I'd give the opposite advice! If you are going for religious community get a religious (qualified) spiritual director. How much does a diocesan parish priest really know about religious life? No offense to all the priests here but you just don't live in community!
Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 [quote name='FlyLikeABird' date='Aug 30 2005, 02:07 PM']I'd give the opposite advice! If you are going for religious community get a religious (qualified) spiritual director. How much does a diocesan parish priest really know about religious life? No offense to all the priests here but you just don't live in community! [right][snapback]705268[/snapback][/right] [/quote] In the Seminary they sure have a pretty good idea though! And they still live in a community, just a much smaller one when assigned at a Parish.
catholicflower Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 you might want to contact you diocosian vocation director. My diocese (arlington,VA) has a whole list of priests who volunteered top help spiritual direction for discerners (boys + girls)
catholicflower Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) sorry double post Edited August 31, 2005 by catholicflower
ForHimAlone Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I had been praying for a Spiritual Director for a long time, and I finally have one!! God truly led me to this priest, and I knew the first time I saw him that he was supposed to be my Guide. That's my main advice- PRAY! God will bring you to your SD.
Totus Tuus Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Oh that's awesome! Thanks for the advice. I really need one. Will you pray for me?
ForHimAlone Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 [quote name='Totus Tuus' date='Aug 30 2005, 08:58 PM']Oh that's awesome! Thanks for the advice. I really need one. Will you pray for me? [right][snapback]705780[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Of course! Spiritual Directors are so crucial!! I'll keep you in my intentions during my Rosary tonight.
ofpheritup Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 i am looking for one too. Unfortunately where I live there are not too many to choose from. They are either "flaky" or busy. Years ago I went to a friend's SD on her advice that "this is the greatest SD I've ever had." So I went. HUGE MISTAKE. Long story, short. The SD pulled out a Ouija Board asked me to get comfortable, I told her to "get real" and I walked out the door. BE CAREFUL
Totus Tuus Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I'm only looking for a priest. I've had kind of spiritual direction with very good religious, but I really, really need a priest now.
msahara Posted August 31, 2005 Author Posted August 31, 2005 [quote name='ofpheritup' date='Aug 31 2005, 07:34 AM']i am looking for one too. Unfortunately where I live there are not too many to choose from. They are either "flaky" or busy. Years ago I went to a friend's SD on her advice that "this is the greatest SD I've ever had." So I went. HUGE MISTAKE. Long story, short. The SD pulled out a Ouija Board asked me to get comfortable, I told her to "get real" and I walked out the door. BE CAREFUL [right][snapback]706088[/snapback][/right] [/quote] hahahaha, that's really funny until you realize that it's actually really sad.
msahara Posted August 31, 2005 Author Posted August 31, 2005 [quote name='Totus Tuus' date='Aug 31 2005, 09:09 AM']I'm only looking for a priest. I've had kind of spiritual direction with very good religious, but I really, really need a priest now. [right][snapback]706130[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Yes, I'm kinda in the same situation. My SD is an Opus Dei numerary and she's very helpful but I really need a priest who understands the religious life better.
Totus Tuus Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Well, Saint Faustina REALLY believed that your priest spiritual director is simply the man Jesus uses to speak through... so I think it's kind of imperative for me to find a priest! And you're right, priests really do understand religious life, even if they're diocesan priests, just like they understand married life. God infuses them with the grace to perform the duties of priesthood! But actually the priest I *think* I have found is the spiritual director for an Order of [i]very good[/i] cloistered discalced Carmelite nuns in New Caney, TX.
Fair Verona Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 This has been my big trouble too. GOOD Spiritual directors are so hard to find. Another huge problem I've got is ... most every religious community at least requires a priest's recommendation on their application ... but as a vagabond, transient college student, there aren't any priests who know me very well! I'm only in one place for about 7.5 months out of the year, and then I move! I really am a parish-hopper. And I feel awful just thinking about asking an over-worked, overtired priest to help me with anything so time consuming, when I'm a newbie really just "stopping by" his parish.
Fides_et_Ratio Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I recommend priests as spiritual directors (and I think this is a more common case in most saints I think of who've had spiritual directors...) because priests can also act as confessors and that gives them an edge in directing you. The Sacrament of Confession is a great grace to spiritual direction... and you can only receive that with the aid of a priest.
msahara Posted August 31, 2005 Author Posted August 31, 2005 [quote name='Fair Verona' date='Aug 31 2005, 05:10 PM']This has been my big trouble too. GOOD Spiritual directors are so hard to find. Another huge problem I've got is ... most every religious community at least requires a priest's recommendation on their application ... but as a vagabond, transient college student, there aren't any priests who know me very well! I'm only in one place for about 7.5 months out of the year, and then I move! I really am a parish-hopper. And I feel awful just thinking about asking an over-worked, overtired priest to help me with anything so time consuming, when I'm a newbie really just "stopping by" his parish. [right][snapback]706604[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Is there a priest on campus that you can get to know?
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now