Seeking a mentor

[Rising_Suns]

Hello my fellow brothers and sisters. I just wanted to share with you all my thoughts...

I think as the next page in my life turns, I will begin to seek out a spiritual mentor. I am finally graduating college soon, and will move back with my family to help take care of my dad and be with my mom for a while. But once my time there is up, I am thinking of leaving my family and devoting all my time to seeking the Lord. I will be moving to maybe Italy for atleast a year, and seeking out refuge in a Catholic monestary for work. While doing so, I will be seeking out a mentor to help guide me along my path. Of course Jesus is my one true mentor, but I do believe that if we are truly serious about living the word (which includes living sinless), then we should all have a spiritual mentor to help catalyze our growth. My mom has been my mentor all my life, but I feel there is something special in a mentor that is not a parent. I know there have to be amazing people out there living among us, and I am sure that if we look hard enough with a discerning heart, we will find them. I am looking forward to this time in my life, but at the same time I realize it is a difficult journey i have chosen, and one that requires great discipline (and Lord knows I could use more discipline). I am very serious about this, so I welcome any thoughts of encourgement, concerns, ideas for preparation, or anything at all.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.

 

[Papist]

Hello my fellow brothers and sisters. I just wanted to share with you all my thoughts...

I think as the next page in my life turns, I will begin to seek out a spiritual mentor. I am finally graduating college soon, and will move back with my family to help take care of my dad and be with my mom for a while. But once my time there is up, I am thinking of leaving my family and devoting all my time to seeking the Lord. I will be moving to maybe Italy for atleast a year, and seeking out refuge in a Catholic monestary for work. While doing so, I will be seeking out a mentor to help guide me along my path. Of course Jesus is my one true mentor, but I do believe that if we are truly serious about living the word (which includes living sinless), then we should all have a spiritual mentor to help catalyze our growth. My mom has been my mentor all my life, but I feel there is something special in a mentor that is not a parent. I know there have to be amazing people out there living among us, and I am sure that if we look hard enough with a discerning heart, we will find them. I am looking forward to this time in my life, but at the same time I realize it is a difficult journey i have chosen, and one that requires great discipline (and Lord knows I could use more discipline). I am very serious about this, so I welcome any thoughts of encourgement, concerns, ideas for preparation, or anything at all.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.

You could do a lot worse than go to Taizé, in France.

http://www.taize.fr/

If you spend any significant amount of time there, you are assigned a spiritual director with a lot of experience.

I spent a fortnight there at a time of crisis. It was a major turning point.

 

[Rising_Suns]

hey papist,
I'm not so sure that is quite what I'm looking for. I am looking to get back to the simplicity of life for a while, outside of "society". I want to live completely free from any of the shackles of society so i can truly focus on God alone and use those years of my life to give myself the opportunity to grow as much as I can. So in a way, I suppose I am more curious about a monk's way of life. A life of solitary. A life of simplicity, where I can seek the Lord with the guidance of my mentor. Really, when it all comes down to it, i'm looking for a saint, and I want to grow to become one. I don't care about getting a "title" of a saint. I just want to live a saintly life, free from this world. I do not want to be a slave to sin. I want to be more than a conquerer, as Jesus has conquered this world.

Me and my dreams.

 

[Philip James]

Hi RS,
Living a saintly life should be the goal of all of us. May the Lord strengthen you in your walk and lead you to where He wants you.
I know this may not be what you were describing, but there is a new and growing community in Canada, that may interest you: http://companionscross.ca/

May God ever bless and guide you!
Peace and Love!
PJ

 

[Rising_Suns]

Hey Phillip,
thank you for the reference. It looks like a nice program if I am to become a priest one day.

May the peace of our Lord be with you always.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

I just wanted to commend you on wanting to seek the Lord with your whole heart. This is so incredibly godly and so rare these days. Many blessings to you.

 

[BAChristian]

hey sun...did I ever tell you that you're ma hero...

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Wow, that sounds exciting!

Good luck!

 

[Rising_Suns]

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement. You guys are the best. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

 

[bluenova]

You could do a lot worse than go to Taizé, in France.

If you spend any significant amount of time there, you are assigned a spiritual director with a lot of experience.

I spent a fortnight there at a time of crisis. It was a major turning point.

I quite agree with you papist, Taizé is a great place for searching, but just felt the need to correct you on behalf of the brothers, although you do have one to one meetings with brothers if you stay for more than a week, they do not see themselves as spiritual directors, and they feel quite strongly about this point, so thought it should be clear



And Rising sun, you just summed up Taizé in a sentance

I am looking to get back to the simplicity of life for a while, outside of "society". I want to live completely free from any of the shackles of society so i can truly focus on God alone and use those years of my life to give myself the opportunity to grow as much as I can

Yours in christ

 

[Rising_Suns]

I quite agree with you papist, Taizé is a great place for searching, but just felt the need to correct you on behalf of the brothers, although you do have one to one meetings with brothers if you stay for more than a week, they do not see themselves as spiritual directors, and they feel quite strongly about this point, so thought it should be clear



And Rising sun, you just summed up Taizé in a sentance



Yours in christ

Thank you.

..and why did you dig up such an old thread? I posted this last september, lol. You did a search on Taize didn't you

But thank you for the advice.

 

[ukok]

I was just about to say....Hey DefensOrFidei is back !

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

My advice?? Become a beggar... beg all who you meet for their prayers- it gives them a chance to grow in their faith and charity. Carry two things with you always- your rosary and your Bible--and as little else as you can. Make the Sacraments the focal point of your life- do not miss a single day of Mass unless you absolutely, positively must. Confess weekly. Say as little as you must- to do whatever you need to do. Trust in Jesus- that He loves you very much- and that He will direct your paths. Maybe a trip to San Giovanni Rotondo?? I will be begging St. Pio for your protection and sanctity!! God Bless you!

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

When Shannon said to carry only a Bible and a rosary. I was reminded of Fr. Pablo Straub on EWTN. Wherever he goes he carries around a 2-3 ft. crucifix around with him. I would think that carrying around a crucifix around with him all day would definitely attract inquiries.

 

[Rising_Suns]

My advice?? Become a beggar... beg all who you meet for their prayers- it gives them a chance to grow in their faith and charity. Carry two things with you always- your rosary and your Bible--and as little else as you can. Make the Sacraments the focal point of your life- do not miss a single day of Mass unless you absolutely, positively must. Confess weekly. Say as little as you must- to do whatever you need to do. Trust in Jesus- that He loves you very much- and that He will direct your paths. Maybe a trip to San Giovanni Rotondo?? I will be begging St. Pio for your protection and sanctity!! God Bless you!

This is essentially what Saint Francis did all throughout his life, and while I would like to go at it alone, I may be called to the brotherhood in the monastic life or the Priesthood or both. It is really too early to tell just yet, but when I first got this desire in my heart, it was exactly what you just described. When I first got this vision, I wanted it to be an adventure, traveling the world with just the cloths on my back and a bible. But really, it can be just as much an adventure without having to travel or reject society completely. It may actually be a temptation to desire adventure, when God may be calling me to other things; but we'll see. More than likely I will sell my posessions and take up my cross; but where and how I do not know. I am still completing school now, so God hasn't unvieled any more of His plan for this part of my life yet. Once I graduate though, He'll let me know.

 

[BAChristian]

Well brother, you know I got your back. If you ever need to talk, call me. You know you're always in my prayers ask you seek a life dedicated to our Lord and Savior..

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

This is essentially what Saint Francis did all throughout his life, and while I would like to go at it alone, I may be called to the brotherhood in the monastic life or the Priesthood or both. It is really too early to tell just yet, but when I first got this desire in my heart, it was exactly what you just described. When I first got this vision, I wanted it to be an adventure, traveling the world with just the cloths on my back and a bible. But really, it can be just as much an adventure without having to travel or reject society completely. It may actually be a temptation to desire adventure, when God may be calling me to other things; but we'll see. More than likely I will sell my posessions and take up my cross; but where and how I do not know. I am still completing school now, so God hasn't unvieled any more of His plan for this part of my life yet. Once I graduate though, He'll let me know.

But do you know-- that I am, by vocation, immersed in the world, and this is how I strive to live. I beg people for prayers. I try to live as simply as I can, I always have my "essentials". The Sacraments are the center of my life. There is the monastic spirit which can be achieved when we rely on Christ to provide everything for us, and surrender all our needs to Him. Seek Him in Adoration- give him every corner of your will and your life-- and He will take you on the grandest adventure of all!!

 

[Photini]

The eldersaid: When we have stillness there is a desert. The place is not a desert. In the desert I must make myself deserted of all my passions. When I adjust the desert to myself, I do not live in the desert. I must adjust myself to the desert. And in the world one can accomplish a lot. It'senough to try to do away with mistakes. If you have, for example, a faucet that leakscontinually: drip, drip, drip - or an alarmclock that continuallytick, tick, ticks, - you'llchange it. One can do a lot. ~Elder Paisios the Athonite

http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0123/_P4.HTM

 

[Rising_Suns]

But do you know-- that I am, by vocation, immersed in the world, and this is how I strive to live. I beg people for prayers. I try to live as simply as I can, I always have my "essentials". The Sacraments are the center of my life. There is the monastic spirit which can be achieved when we rely on Christ to provide everything for us, and surrender all our needs to Him. Seek Him in Adoration- give him every corner of your will and your life-- and He will take you on the grandest adventure of all!!

Amen. And I agree. One does not have to live in a monastery to experience God on grander levels. What you just described should be at the core of every laypersons life.

Well brother, you know I got your back. If you ever need to talk, call me. You know you're always in my prayers ask you seek a life dedicated to our Lord and Savior..

I know I can count on you woody. You're in my prayers as well (although my prayer list seems to be getting bigger by each passing day so sometimes i forget people, but i manage to meditate on your life with God each time).

 

[Rising_Suns]

The eldersaid: When we have stillness there is a desert. The place is not a desert. In the desert I must make myself deserted of all my passions. When I adjust the desert to myself, I do not live in the desert. I must adjust myself to the desert. And in the world one can accomplish a lot. It'senough to try to do away with mistakes. If you have, for example, a faucet that leakscontinually: drip, drip, drip - or an alarmclock that continuallytick, tick, ticks, - you'llchange it. One can do a lot. ~Elder Paisios the Athonite

I remember reading this a while ago, but I cannot recall where.