Where to find a spiritual guide?

kryptonmight

I've been thinking about talking to some sort of Catholic spiritual guide, basically a priest who is perhaps trained in guidance etc.

Any ideas how I could go about finding one? If they specialised in counselling or psychology or something, that would be great too.

Thanks.

georgieporgy

kryptonmight wrote: »

I've been thinking about talking to some sort of Catholic spiritual guide, basically a priest who is perhaps trained in guidance etc.

Any ideas how I could go about finding one? If they specialised in counselling or psychology or something, that would be great too.

Thanks.

here's a good site that will be helpful
http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/

If you want a real live person instead of an internet site I would recommend talking to the priests at http://www.merrionroadchurch.ie/about_us,3,6

neemish

Try http://www.aisga.ie/

Very solid organisation

noel farrell

Open the bible gods word and the holey spirit will guide you

kryptonmight

georgieporgy wrote: »

here's a good site that will be helpful
http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/

If you want a real live person instead of an internet site I would recommend talking to the priests at http://www.merrionroadchurch.ie/about_us,3,6

Thanks for those links. Regarding the priests in Merrion road, do they charge money for spiritual guidance? Or would you throw them a bit of cash each time as a thank you or whatever?

Sorry if that's a stupid question!

georgieporgy

kryptonmight wrote: »

Thanks for those links. Regarding the priests in Merrion road, do they charge money for spiritual guidance? Or would you throw them a bit of cash each time as a thank you or whatever?

Sorry if that's a stupid question!

No money involved whatsoever.

Peregrinus

If you're googling, you might also want to consider the terms "spiritual director" and "spiritual direction". In Catholic circles this terminology is propably used as much, or more than, the guide/guidance terminology.

kryptonmight

Peregrinus wrote: »

If you're googling, you might also want to consider the terms "spiritual director" and "spiritual direction". In Catholic circles this terminology is propably used as much, or more than, the guide/guidance terminology.

Didn't know that, thanks for the tip.

Mrs OBumble

Peregrinus wrote: »

If you're googling, you might also want to consider the terms "spiritual director" and "spiritual direction". In Catholic circles this terminology is propably used as much, or more than, the guide/guidance terminology.

Correct. And good places to look for people like this are retreat centres - if they don't have people trained in spiritual direction on staff, they will know where to find one, and may be able to help you work out if some other type of service would be helpful too.

Some priests untrained in SD will sometimes offer to provide it - because "ahh, sure'n it's what we do all the time". Not a good idea, IMHO.

And yes it is normal go give a donation after each session. Mostlly for the church this would be based on what you can afford - which is not necessarily the same rate as a secular counsellor would charge you. BUT if you can afford it, your donations will be subsidising the time spent with other people who can't.

neemish

Many Jesuits are trained in spiritual direction. Try contacting one of their houses or Manresa, their Retreat Centre in D3

lazybones32

kryptonmight wrote: »

I've been thinking about talking to some sort of Catholic spiritual guide, basically a priest who is perhaps trained in guidance etc.

Any ideas how I could go about finding one? If they specialised in counselling or psychology or something, that would be great too.

Thanks.

Most spiritual direction consists of Confession with the same priest. Don't close your mind to the nuns either! I was recommended to visit a nun in Cork city if ever I was in the area by an old SD/Confessor of mine.

You'll need to respect and trust whoever you seek guidance from and you could be very surprised at how in-tune your local priest is.

veganrun

Does spiritual direction involve confession? What else is involved in it? It's something I've been thinking about recently and as luck would have it, it's been offered to me twice recently by the same priest.

Just wondering if I arrange it, what it actually involves? Is it just chatting about religious things or aspects of your life? Something else?

hinault

veganrun wrote: »

Does spiritual direction involve confession? What else is involved in it? It's something I've been thinking about recently and as luck would have it, it's been offered to me twice recently by the same priest.

Just wondering if I arrange it, what it actually involves? Is it just chatting about religious things or aspects of your life? Something else?

Spiritual direction can involve making what is known as a general confession.

Long story short, one has to be baptised and Catholic to attend Confession.
If you have been baptised but have not adhered to rules such as attending weekly Mass etc, you should attend general confession.

General Confession is usually reserved for someone who has not attended confession before or who has not attended confession for a very long time.

If you do undergo Spiritual Direction issues like joining/reconciliation with the church will be discussed. Your spiritual director should be able to outline the teaching of the Church and what you need to do in order to restore your relationship with the church.