{"id":1872,"date":"2011-05-25T22:57:46","date_gmt":"2011-05-26T04:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/?p=1872"},"modified":"2011-07-29T10:49:58","modified_gmt":"2011-07-29T16:49:58","slug":"benedict-invites-all-to-spiritual-direction-but-perhaps-not-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/blog\/2011\/05\/25\/benedict-invites-all-to-spiritual-direction-but-perhaps-not-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Benedict Invites All to Spiritual Direction, But Perhaps Not You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>You need a spiritual director.<\/p>\n

Actually, I need a spiritual director too.<\/p>\n

The question is, can you find one?<\/p>\n

The necessity of spiritual direction<\/h2>\n

Spiritual direction is a great thing for growth in the spiritual life.<\/p>\n

You might even say it’s a necessary thing. It’s difficult to go it alone spiritually.
\n<\/p>\n

Going deeper spiritually without a director is kind of like trimming your own hair in\u00a0the mirror. <\/strong>Have you ever done that? It’s difficult to get a true picture of yourself. You can’t figure out which way to move the scissors. You can’t see the side of your head. The whole thing ends up a mess.<\/p>\n

Once, when I was in\u00a0the Navy, I was scheduled to be\u00a0the watch officer but I forgot to get a haircut. The watch officer needs to be sharp. You can’t be sharp with long\u00a0hair in the Navy. I tried to trim it myself but kept messing up. Trying to correct the mistakes only made it worse. In the end, I had huge whitewalls on the side of my head. Not a pretty sight. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Pope Benedict recommends spiritual direction<\/h2>\n

Recently, Pope Benedict recommended<\/a> that everyone (not only priests but lay\u00a0people and especially youth) “have recourse” to spiritual direction. It was in the context of talking\u00a0about Symeon the New Theologian and his emphasis on having this kind of guide.<\/p>\n

To go towards the Lord we always need a guide, a dialogue. We cannot do it with our thoughts alone.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is all well and good, and I agree. The problem is the average person can not find a spiritual director.<\/strong> There just aren’t that many\u00a0around.<\/p>\n

You can go to a parish priest but have you seen their schedules? I work\u00a0around priests and I can tell you they are booked!<\/p>\n

In large cities there are monasteries, convents and spiritual centers spiritual direction is available. I don’t live in a large city. Parish priests, and a few nuns, are the only clergy\u00a0around.<\/p>\n

And, to be honest, the average parish priest isn’t really trained for spiritual direction. They’re not really sure what to do.<\/p>\n

A pastoral problem yet to be solved<\/h2>\n

It seems to me that spiritual direction is one of those things that hasn’t quite caught up<\/strong> to the increased emphasis on lay holiness.<\/p>\n

In the larger history of the Church, the pursuit of holiness took place behind the monastery and convent walls. Mostly monks and nuns got spiritual direction–only a few lay persons and usually they were wealthy.<\/p>\n

It’s very different now. Vatican II renewed\u00a0the idea of the universal call to holiness.\u00a0Pope John Paul II began a revolution in spiritual growth for the entire Church.<\/p>\n

Every year more lay\u00a0people awaken to the wonder and excitement of the Catholic Faith. The first thing they’re told is they need a spiritual director. Good luck\u00a0with\u00a0that one.<\/p>\n

Spiritual direction for\u00a0the laity is still not a serious pastoral priority–but it needs to be<\/strong>.\u00a0Somehow we need more spiritual directors for the laity.\u00a0Perhaps more priests could be trained but it would need to be a serious part of their duties as a priest. Not just one among too many.<\/p>\n

Whatever the case,\u00a0I think we desperately need more spiritual direction in the Church today.<\/p>\n

It’s your turn to talk to me! <\/strong><\/p>\n