Spititual Directors

[Soldier4Him]

So I'm curious about one thing. Lots of teens have spiritual directors. I've really been thinking about choosing one, and am planning to pray about it very much. But, is it unheard of for a female to have a priest as a spiritual director? Or do men usually stick with priests, and women with sisters. Does it make a diference? Thanks.

Ali

[cappie]

Spiritual direction, or spiritual guidance, is a psychologically deep faith-formation process by which someone seeks to keep his or her life in proper perspective on a proper Christian path and to realise more completely a holy way of life. A spiritual director is a male or female pastoral minister, usually trained in spiritual direction, who guides others in this deep discernment process. One name for a director is "soul friend". The process of direction is a corporate journey; director and directed are united in faith. Above all it is the Spirit of God, not just the professional and pastoral talents of the human spiritual guide, that leads persons to to strive for a life directed by God's grace.

as long as someone is suitably qualifed a priest or other person can be chosen it doesn't matter the gender however most feel comfortable with priests or religious. In the life of saints many women have had priests as directore e.g. St Teresa of Avila had St John of the Cross. In my experience just because one is a priest does not qualify him to be a spiritual director, he can give spiritual advice, which is something different, but one must be qualified tpo give spiritual direction.