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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Oct 15 2008 at 3:15pm | IP Logged
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I am meeting a priest for confession and to see if he would help me with some spiritual direction. I have a great respect for this man. I had the most wonderful confession of my whole life with him a few months ago. He happened to preside at mass on Sunday and I thought-I need to talk to this guy! He is a substitute when our regular priests can't do mass. I called him and he will meet me and we are going to talk.
I have some tough issues in my life and need to know how to work with them, from a Christian standpoint. The counseling route was unhelpful.
Anyhow, if you have one I was wondering if you pay them and how much.
What kinds of things do you discuss? I am figuring how to deal with issues of my life as a Catholic christian. I need some tools.
I have never done this before, nor do I know anyone who has done this on their own. I do know some people who get spiritual direction from organizations like Regnum Christie, Opus Dei, etc. I am just doing it on my own and am a little nervous, yet, excited...
Any help would be appreciated....
Anne
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jdostalik
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| Posted: Oct 15 2008 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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I have never heard of paying a priest for spiritual direction.
I would go pray before the Blessed Sacrament with a notebook and prayerfully write down the areas of concern and stress in your life and then take this notebook with you to your first meeting in case you get nervous.
Also, you might want to draft in your head, a short biography of your life and what a typical day is for you and your family. All this will help the priest get a good feel for your life and daily obligations and then he can help you to begin to work on your prayer life and any problems you may be having, as well.
This is all general, I know, but I hope some of it is helpful!
Praying for a fruitful visit!
__________________
God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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florasita
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| Posted: Oct 15 2008 at 3:43pm | IP Logged
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No you do not pay your spiritual director 
Often a spiritual director is appointed or given not chosen . For example if your parish priest would know someone who would be good for you or if you belong to a certain order etc. they would assign a director to you . I know within our ministry Fr.Pinto usually assigns a director that is if someone is in need of one . Not everyone is given a spiritual director . Most people in our ministry do not have one they just follow the program . Some of us do need the extra help 
Now I know in our ministry we do not have the same person be confessor & dircetor . This is because what we bring up in confession will be much different then in our spiritual direction . This is not to say my confessor is not a great spiritual director but he is not for me he is absolutely the best confessor ever I now know not all priests are good confessors as not all are good directors .
A good director will have understanding and know you very well yet will also be able to let us know not always what we wish to hear and we will be able to take it .
If you really feel called to this person you can go to him or ask your parish priest first . If this priest you like is open and honest he will let you know what he feels . A woman in our parish who is now a friend asked me to be her director I could not accept the role because unless I am assigned someone I cannot be thier spiritual director permanently as a friend yes I help her the best I can . That is another thing I had another friend who thought once she joined DJM I'd be her director . She was put off when she was told just to follow the program and did not need a director . She quit the whole program because it did not go her way .
If you have a retreat center nearby too they can also help people find or come to know a director that is another option .
As someone who has a spiritual director I love it and him we are now friends , even facebook friends 
__________________
May I rise & rest with words of Gratitude on my Breath
May I have the Heart & Mind of a Child in my Depth
May I forever remember to be a Light
May Peace Love & Hope be My Sight
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Oct 15 2008 at 5:58pm | IP Logged
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Could someone explain to me what exactly a Spiritual Director is? How do you find one? Sorry for the ignorance
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Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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Helen
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| Posted: Oct 15 2008 at 6:49pm | IP Logged
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Hi Marilyn,
The Cathlic Encyclopedia has an entryon Spiritual direction
I thought paragraph 4 and 5 were helpful in explaining.
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Oct 15 2008 at 6:58pm | IP Logged
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Marilyn,
I really don't know, but figure since I started this I would tell you what I hope to get from one when/if I do get one
I am hoping to get ideas for prayer, changing my attitudes/behaviors towards the issues I have in my life, how to be more like Jesus and support to help me do that, such as, scripture, prayer, books to read, etc. My main reason in doing this is the
"answers" I get to some things in counseling or talking to others are not in line with the churches teachings. I am trying to do things right and need support and understanding and ideas for HOW to do some of the hard things I HAVE too.
Does that make any sense at all?
I hope that what I am looking for IS a spiritual director. I am sure others can give you hints on how to find one. My guardian angel just tapped me on the shoulder at mass and said to get in touch with this guy. I called and he was very open to seeing me for confession and talking about providing spiritual direction.
I am hoping and praying that this will help me in my journey right now.
And thank you everyone for the info.
Anne
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Oct 16 2008 at 12:19pm | IP Logged
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I do go to confession with my spiritual director, and it seems to work well for me. I will however go to someone else for confession if I can't get a meeting with my director in as timely a fashion as I'd prefer for confession.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Spiritual Director ?'s
