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Hello all - I'm knew to the forum

Would anyone know of any gifted spiritual directors in the NYC - Long Island area ?

Thank you

Dear kephalikos,

First of all welcome to ByzCath.

In response to your question, ByzCath is really not the place to be asking for recommendations such as you seek. Finding a spiritual father/director requires searching and matching. It requires someone that can help you grow spiritually. What may be a good spiritual father/director for one, may be inapprporiate for another. Also we have poster from several traditions, and each has certain disciplines that may not match your partcular spiritual tradition or discipline.

My suggestion is that you go back to your pastor or diocesan officals and find out any recommendations that they would be able to make. An Internet forum is not the place to be seeking that type of recommendation or direction.

Again, welcome and I pray that your experience here will be a spiritually rewarding one.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Administrator

Thank you Father Anthony

I appreciate your advise and correction.

Than you for the welcome. I've been on various forums over the years, and I've been reading the Byzantine Forum for a while now. I have to say this is the best forum I've read overall, atleast in terms of how people treat each other respectfully, even despite disagreements, which to me is evidence of Christ's love. People share their knowledge and experiences without being rude, offensive, and hostile towards others. I have found most forums, both RC and Protestant, to be full of hostilities and egos.

Anyway, it been a pleasure reading the forum, as I seek to learn more about Eastern (Orthodox)Catholicism. Growing up Roman Catholic, I had no idea there was the Eastern Catholic alternative. I'm learning.

thank you

Fr. Anthony

quote - "Finding a spiritual father/director requires searching and matching. It requires someone that can help you grow spiritually. What may be a good spiritual father/director for one, may be inapprporiate for another. Also we have poster from several traditions, and each has certain disciplines that may not match your partcular spiritual tradition or discipline."

I agree with you regarding searching and matching, which is what I am in the process of doing. I was open to personal recommendations for anyone from an orthodox-catholic tradition, but I will not pursue one via this forum as directed.

Please help my understanding. My understanding is that, in spiritual direction, the goal is to seek discernment of how the Holy Spirit is leading in a particular person's life, and so would hope that a gifted spiritual director would be able to help guide another person, even though their particular disciplines and traditions may not be exactly the same. I believe that in searching for an "SD", one should also consider and get to know the spiritual directors' own life experience of following our Lord, and their relationship with Him.

Do you believe that it is essential that one follow the same exact traditions and disciplines in order to help guide another person?

Thank you

Dear kephalikos,

I have read your post, and I would to offer some of my personal insights into your statements. I have to agree with the statement that the Holy Spirit is the driving force in the course of counsel and direction given by the spiritual father/director. Without it you have no insight from God in to the path that is necessary towards the goal of eternal life.

Where I tend to disagree with you though, is your outlook as to the relationship of the spiritual father/director and the person seeking direction. Those that are in the position of spiritual father or in some traditions director, have through gifts, virtues, and training that have qualified them to be set aside for that vocation. The relationship of the spiritual father/director is one that is part educator, part counselor, part �parental� leader all in the realm that is dealing directly with that person�s spiritual growth and development.

How that spiritual father/director achieved these gifts and their personal life experiences are generally not a matter that is brought into the exchange or guidance of the one seeking direction. If any of the spiritual children that I have were so to speak want to know my personal life experiences that lead me to that particular point of my spiritual life, I would probably dismiss them and send them seeking elsewhere for direction. The matters of my spiritual development and progress are a matter strictly between my spiritual father and myself and really not a point for anyone else.

Now the point that you were asking regarding tradition and discipline. It is rather difficult for most Roman Catholic spiritual directors to understand the traditions, liturgical and prayer life, and praxis of most Eastern Orthodox Christians. They have not been formed in that way of spirituality, and may actually have an ignorance in application of that spiritual outlook in helping lead that person in their path. The same could be held true with an Eastern Orthodox Spiritual Father or Mother to someone that comes from a Western Christian background. Ignorance in this case may contribute to confusion and retarding of that person spiritual growth rather than enhancing it. Also as in the case of the Eastern Orthodox, most times the spiritual father may have a prohibition given to him to be a spiritual father to someone that is not Orthodox by his hierarchy. I am not sure if this would apply also to those in communion with the See of Rome, but probably could be answered by others on this forum.

There have been cases in which myself and other colleagues of mine have been asked to be the spiritual father or director to someone, and the request had to be declined. There are various reasons for that, but generally the decision is made that the relationship would not be beneficial to the person seeking direction. Many ways can be had for encountering a spiritual father or director, but ultimately it is the direction of the Lord that makes the relationship work, not a referral or business like approach.

The words from scripture, �Seek and you will find� apply in this instance. You have to do it in all earnestness and faith that God is directing you towards a guide that will help enlighten and discipline you for the journey that you have started towards salvation.

Unfortunately, with the medication I am on to alleviate the pain I am experiencing for my broken leg, may have clouded what I have been trying to say. If so ask for a clarification, and either someone else or I can clarify the point for you.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Father Anthony:

Have been praying for your recovery and that your pain will be eased during the process.

Have to say, though, that your medication does not seem to have clouded your reply here. Good advice.

In Christ,

BOB

Sorry to hear of your broken leg, Father.

Thank you for your time in responding. I agree with your wisdom. I hope I didn't offend... forgive me I did.

The point you made regarding a spiritual directors gifts, virtues, and training are well received, but I would not think that all spiritual directors are created equal, which is the real issue I was addressing. If I lived in your community, I would already know that you are blessed, and I certainly would not disrespectfully delve into your or another spiritual father's personal life.

The point I was stating is that I would think a directee should have some sense of confidence or trust that the spiritual father/director one is placing his/her guidance into, is such the kind of gifted, virtuous, and trained person you mentioned.

kephalikos,

I may be reading too much into this and, if so, I apologize. A friend called your post to my attention and pointed out to me that, by your profile, you are a member of the CEC. I'd ordinarily expect that one would look to the clergy of his own Church for a spiritual director, as I think Father Anthony has suggested (altho I am aware of a few instances in which folks have crossed-over the lines with no spiritually ill effects).

With that as a premise, I wondered if you were looking beyond the CEC for such because of the present conflicts affecting the CEC. If so, and you are seeking to discern whether your spiritual home should continue to be within the CEC or elsewhere, then the question becomes much more understandable. In that instance, what you are seeking may be less "spiritual direction" as we typically think of such, than a place to understand how the beliefs and spirituality of other Churches fit with your personal beliefs, spirituality, and theology. Doing that can be accomplished in a variety of ways, obviously including reading and discussion with others, especially with learned clergy and laypersons who can answer your inquiries and educate you as to their particular Church. Welcome to the forum, where we will all certainly try to help you to understand whatever you wish to know about us and our respective Churches.

Should the issues confronting the CEC in particular be something that you wish to discuss with others who are also confronted by them, I'd strongly recommend taking a look at one of the forums on Ancient & Future Catholics [ancient-future.net] in which there is an ongoing discussion on the topic [forum.ancient-future.net] . Participants include a number of present and former CEC members, including some clergy. It's moderated by a friend of mine, David Zampino. David is a Latin Catholic, former CEC priest, and the son of Bishop Zampino, who recently parted ways with the CEC.

Many years,

Neil

Thank you

I appreciate your assistance. The lines are not all very clear which complicates the issue. The "direction" I seek is both to varying degrees. I certainly desire to know more about Eastern Catholicism as I am very attracted to it and have been impressed with the measure of devotion, knowledge and love from posters on this site. At the same time I am already concerned about Latinizations of EC traditions. At the same time I am not prepared to leave the CEC despite its problems. My bishop is still around and working hard to be faithful and true to his calling. And you know what Ignatius said....

As far as seeking traditional spiritual direction, the CEC's length of existence and formation add to complication and confusion I face, since I am very serious about spiritual direction and there are only one or two clergy, one being the Bishop, that I would feel comfortable with seeking direction from, but am not sure of their regular availability to do so.
While crossing the lines to RC or EC to find a spiritual director may present challenges and conflicts, I am atleast open to the possibility.

It's kind of funny that I'm seeking spiritual direction about spiritual direction. I am praying sincerely that our Lord would direct me to the right person for me at this time. As far as the future and my long term residence in the Church, I have confidence that I will really know the Lord's will when I really need to know it.

Thank you again.

Blessings and Peace.

Dear kephalikos,

Simple advice that I can extend to you. First, for your primary direction spiritually, you should stay with someone from your own church. By your statements you have expressed loyalty to that faith tradition and you should continue within that to develop spiritually.

Second, Just because you are being formed in that tradition, does not mean that you can not read and learn about the traditions and disciplines of the Christian East. You may find that some are similar, and some that can be added to your prayer life privately as long as you first consult with your spiritual father/director first.

What you seem to be expressing, that while you are seeking someone to help guide and form you spiritually, you also have an interest into the ways of the Christian East. There is nothing wrong with that, but one is a matter oF spiritual education, while the other is ongoing formation and discipline.

In most cases through our discussions here, we offer that place for spiritual education, by answering and commenting through the various posts. The matter of direction in your formation and discipline should be done by someone that knows the spiritual life of your church, has become familiar with you, and thus has a starting point to help zero in on and start with working with you.

I hope that this is helpful.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Yes - thank you