What To Look For In A Spiritual Director

[tinytherese]

I've done a little researching on spiritual directors in my archdiocese and the state that I live in and found some possible candidates. How do you know if someone is right to be your spiritual director? All I know is to look for them believing what the Church does. The only person near me is a religious sister who works at a Catholic retreat house where they promote New Age practices. :pinch:  So whoever I would get would be someone I would converse with over the phone or skype.

[BarbTherese]

This article might help http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/11/30/skype-and-remote-spiritual-direction-is-this-ok  This article links to this: http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/06/26/how-do-i-find-and-select-a-spiritual-director-2

 

You have already in part made up your mind about spiritual direction.  You are looking for someone loyal to the Magisterium of The Church and it is ok to ask a potential director if they are loyal to the teaching authority of The Church.  Probably the only effective way to choose a spiritual director is to see/talk to them over a period and then see how you feel. You could make list of pros and cons for yourself and make a decision based on that.

A spiritual director ideally is a holy and deeply spiritual person - wise, experienced and educated .......... these qualities will start to show somewhat after a few visits or conversations.  It is ok too to 'contract' or say to the potential spiritual director that the first few visits (weeks or months) are so you both can discern if you can 'work' together.  At the end of a period - say 6 weeks, you both can review the situation and see how you both feel.  You can even discuss with the director your list of pros and cons - if you feel comfortable and so does he or she.

Edited July 15, 2013 by BarbaraTherese

[Spem in alium]

My spiritual director is a Sister of one of the communities I'm discerning with. I got put in touch with her after a "Come and See" retreat, during which she gave a very good presentation on spiritual direction. Faithfulness to the Church is important, yes, as is their qualification as a director. Some people market themselves as spiritual directors without having had proper training, so it's good to make sure. Additionally, it helps to make an assessment of their character, which is probably best done through talking with them. I haven't had many interactions with my spiritual director yet, but I can tell she's very thoughtful, genuine and open, and all these things are very important for me. Ultimately, I've found it helpful to know what you want out of spiritual direction, because that way you can work with someone who can best fit your needs. 

Best of luck to you :) I hope you can find someone!

[MarysLittleFlower]

I've had priests spiritually guide me. I think a good spiritual director would be faithful to Church teachings, very orthodox, and also experienced. Each one seems to have a unique approach to spiritual direction and sometimes it's about finding the one that is best for you! I think prayer is definitely important, and asking God to send you a spiritual director.