Father,
On September 16 during the Holy Father's reflections on Symeon the New Theologian he encouraged priests, consecrated, lay people, especially the young, "to take recourse to the counsels of a good spiritual father.” He mentioned that a spiritual guide should help to grow in knowledge of oneself and lead a person “to union with the Lord, so that one’s life is increasingly conformed to the Gospel.” “We always need a guide, dialogue, to go to the Lord,” Benedict XVI affirmed. “We cannot do it with our reflections alone. And this is also the meaning of the ecclesiality of our faith, of finding this guide.”
This brings about a few questions. How does one go about finding a spiritual director? Does a spiritual director have to be a priest? Are all priest trained in spiritual direction?
Thanks and God's blessings to you,
Connie
Fr. Pisut
Connie,
Any person should be able to feel comfortable with those whom they choose to be their spiritual director. However, there should be more to a spiritual director than someone that you feel comfortable with. Though a spiritual director and directee should be compatible this should not be confused with agreement on all issues since a spiritual director needs to be able to challenge a directee. Any orthodox Catholic priest with a sound formation should be able to function as a competent spiritual director inasmuch as he has pastoral care for the good of souls in his parish. However, some persons may desire a much more in depth and prolonged program of spiritual direction. While some persons may have a gift in the area of spiritual direction without in depth training it is probably best for interested persons to seek out those who have been formally trained. Though spiritual directors have traditionally been priest trained spiritual directors can include persons besides priests.
Religious orders and retreat houses are often good sources of spiritual directors or they can help to direct you. There is also word of mouth from good priests who may know someone.
Religious orders and retreat houses are often good sources of spiritual directors or they can help to direct you. There is also word of mouth from good priests who may know someone.
