Help
With Your Rule
About a Spiritual Director
Dear Holly,
I am looking for advice about finding a spiritual advisor. I became a Catholic about 9 years ago and feel as though I need more information and guidance than my RCIA classes were able to provide. So how do I go about getting a spiritual advisor? Who can be a spiritual advisor? Any advice?
Labels: 1st P Prayer
posted by Holly at 3:17 PM
2 Comments:
I always prayed to the Blessed Mother for a spiritual advisor. I always prefered priests, altho sometimes a chat with a good Catholic friend can help one get perspective too. I also have gone to talk to my parish priest when I was in need. AND! I also have considered books to be a primary means of spiritual direction as well. Tapping into the saints - I have lists of recommended books on my website - somewhere! - these books are as good as sitting at the feet of the saints.
I have had a spiritual guide for the past 10 years through Regnum Christi, of which I am a member. Spiritual Guidance has been such a GIFT to me. My spiritual guide, a Catholic laywoman, helps me not only to see things objectively, to analyze through the eyes of Christ, but she challenges me to growth in my vocation as wife, mother, and educator. She guides me to make the right choices for myself. Rarely does she just come right out and tell me exactly what to do. She is there for me in every sort of situation just like a mother figure sort of. And she is not like a "mentor". She receives ongoing training through conferences with Legionary priests and consecrated ladies and also monthly training through teleconference. It is her special apostolate to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance in helping her "guidees" as she calls those of us under her care. I talk to her once a month, and there are certain topics we always cover such as prayer, vocation, and apostolate, and then ANY questions or comments that I have. Sometimes it is painful for me to take the steps to open myself up, but the Holy Spirit always gives me such wonderful fruits through her words and helpfulness. I agree with Holly that we should always be close to our Blessed Mother and she will certainly guide us - she has guided me all my life - but sometimes Our Mother in heaven leads us to someone who we can speak to face to face who in turn leads us even closer to her! The other point I wanted to make is that my spiritual guide in no way takes the place of a sacramental confession and the advice I receive there. And there have been times I have spoken to a priest for particular advice too, but there is something about having regular contact with a spiritual guide that allows me to grow more continously.
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