tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post6176132278799221865..comments2023-11-14T19:04:57.141-05:00Comments on The Catholic Mom's Corner: Do Normal People Have a Spiritual Director?CatholicMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03889676714379171157noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-29551049099612629602013-09-04T23:00:45.720-04:002013-09-04T23:00:45.720-04:00I contacted a spiritual director for the first tim...I contacted a spiritual director for the first time about nine months ago. Like you, I was getting deeper into my Catholicism and fund the constant references to a spiritual director. I didn't know what to do. I Googled "catholic spiritual director" and my region of the country. I found a woman's name (because I knew I wanted a woman) with credentials on a website that listed such things. I sent her a text message and she responded immediately. I have to drive a few hours to meet with her, but it's been great. It was a real interaction with the Holy Spirit -- she and I have so much in common and she has helped in discerning how to advance in my prayer life and in what work God wants me to do. I could go on and on but I wanted to encourage you to go find a spiritual director even if it means googling. There are a lot of women out there with training and it's a great experience.Bridget Cowlishawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05712209368702693235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-79294092021231892252013-02-09T21:21:55.029-05:002013-02-09T21:21:55.029-05:00I'm glad you have people whom you can trust th...I'm glad you have people whom you can trust that you can talk with! What about your Bible Study? Have you met any interesting people there?CatholicMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889676714379171157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-63668613716813748432013-02-09T21:16:22.035-05:002013-02-09T21:16:22.035-05:00Hi Dawn, For some reason, I missed your comment un...Hi Dawn, For some reason, I missed your comment until just now. Thanks for sharing. Yeah, I actually found another litle book like that in a "FREE BOOKS" box. With a bunch of unwanted books headed for the trash. It sounds similar, and I enjoy this little Faith boost also.CatholicMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889676714379171157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-65445353314874954752013-02-05T10:44:34.128-05:002013-02-05T10:44:34.128-05:00.... and in regards to Spiritual Direction, I thin....... and in regards to Spiritual Direction, I think my husband and a very good friend of mine, who although, practices a different religion, are both much like a "guide" to me. DeeMariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535922017962913995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-45163144209697356332013-02-05T10:42:14.004-05:002013-02-05T10:42:14.004-05:00I absolutely agree that we need that little bit of...I absolutely agree that we need that little bit of wisdom each day. It guides us in many ways. I have a couple of great reads like that. I think the one was a gift from my elderly aunt, a few years ago. (Bless her heart, I think it was meant for those struggling with addiction).. but all the same, it offers a daily reading with a quote at the end. It's all Faith based and I really enjoy it. DeeMariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535922017962913995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-70731274817583582412013-02-02T21:34:35.831-05:002013-02-02T21:34:35.831-05:00Hi Susan, What a great comment! Thank you so much ...Hi Susan, What a great comment! Thank you so much for all you have to say about this. The Introduction to the Devout Life, I haven't noticed before, but I will keep my eye out for it. (These books usually turn up for me when I go to adoration.) I have True Devotion, but it is, as of yet, untouched on my bookshelf. I tend to collect a lot of books and sometimes they sit until "the time is right"... this is one of those that I haven't tackled yet. I very much apprecitate your advice and all that you have to say. Thank you for sharing your insight.CatholicMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889676714379171157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-49676988297509989962013-02-02T21:25:24.026-05:002013-02-02T21:25:24.026-05:00A consecrated religious women or sister... I hadn&...A consecrated religious women or sister... I hadn't really thought about that... but what a wondeful idea. (I wish I had some connections with some women religious...unfortunately, I don't have that. But I will pray about it.) I like what your priest friend had to say. It sounds like your NFP couple/woman friend has been a good mentor to you when you've needed it... you are lucky. Thanks for your thoughts.CatholicMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889676714379171157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-15010390625099813052013-02-02T19:02:17.256-05:002013-02-02T19:02:17.256-05:00I do not remember which Saint said this, but they ...I do not remember which Saint said this, but they said that the next best thing to a spiritual director is a Holy Book. That would refer to books written by Saints, not modern spiritual writers. On my journey in the faith different books have helped me at different times. But one important fact is to be willing to learn from them. The Precisous Blood book you mentioned is great. I do not have that one, but I have another one in their series; among others from those same years. But I have also found much help from the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. He wrote this believe it or not to women in his century. Typically women who could read and desired a better life beyond their riches, one for God. He believed what our Vatican II proclaimed and that is that we are all called to holiness. his book will challenge you and invite you to look deep into getting to know who you really are. I know people who have stopped reading it because it as too challenging. Other books are True Devotion by St. Louis de Montfort. It is a way of holiness where everything you do is united with the Blessed Mother and she presents it to Jesus for the good of souls and for the Church. Our Blessed John Paul II based his motto off of this book with his motto, totus tuus. I have others I could tell you about, but I would need more time to visit my bookshelf. I would be glad to look up more if you desire me to.<br />Next, though it is important to note that the first and foremost need we have is to have a routine Confessor. I believe this is the real first need. It is the healing power of forgiveness from Christ through the priest that guides us And gives us the grace to persevere to union with God. The more active the Holy Spirit is in our life, the more we become open to His Will rather than our own. But it is the Sacraments, daily routine prayer, and a firm resolve to take Mary as your Mother that will guide us to this desired union. I strongly suggest daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament, even if for brief moments of complete quiet to say "I love you."<br />Also, good spiritual friends are nothing to put aside. They are as precious as gold, as long as it is a pure relationship and not selfish in any way.<br />Lastly, I prefer Priests as spiritual directors. I also look at the qualities of their lives. If they have a deep prayer life, it will show in the way they say Mass, in the way they speak and their unbelievable patience with others. They see their vocation as serious and a duty given to them by God to bring the Sacraments to the faithful and preach God's Truth in and put of season, with gentleness I may add. It is never good to be hasty to put ourselves under the direction of just anybody. But a regular confessor, now that cannot be undermined. The way I went about finding a confessor was just asking a local priest if he minded if I focused on coming to him regularly for confession. He was fine with it. And it helped me make better confessions because I wasn't trying to update on too much, I could just state the facts and move on freely. Also it gave me someone that if I had a question, I felt comfortable to ask, as long as it did not make others wait too long upside the confessional. <br />God bless you and may he fulfill your desire to be near him.<br />feel free to check out my blog at www.theeighthstation.blogspot.com It is to encourage Catholic women, especially mothers, to persevere in prayer and living lives that are holy for our souls and for the souls of our children. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053434170897179634.post-30722024869914965672013-02-01T15:55:54.718-05:002013-02-01T15:55:54.718-05:00I don't have one, but I wish I did. A good pr...I don't have one, but I wish I did. A good priest friend of mine said in order to find one to pray about it and ask God. Well, my prayer life isn't what it ought to be and I haven't figured it out yet. The main guidelines my priest friend gave me was: a consecrated religious woman or sister or a priest. Under no circumstances was I to seek out a lay man for spiritual direction. And I completely get that.<br /><br />I have on occasion reached out to the woman of the couple that taught my husband and me NFP and she's been great. I have never formally asked her to be my spiritual director though. I need to pray about it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com