Spiritual Direction

          I have long wanted to have someone guide me spiritually. I have heard of priests as spiritual directors. I know that priests play a very vital role in the spiritual growth of a religious or a lay person. I am reminded of St. Faustina and her spiritual director, Blessed Michael Sopocko. 

I have had a few spiritual directors. Actually, I am the one who asked these priests to help me. As a lay Carmelite, I wanted to have a Carmelite spiritual director/guide so that he could understand me. I do not know what happened, but the priest who agreed to help me lacks enthusiasm; I am the only one who is proactive. The same goes for the other priests. I even asked a priest from the Discalced Carmelites, but they were all unsuccessful. My experience in the Third Order Carmelite is not very favorable. 

Fast forward to now. I want to wear the Dominican cross that I bought at Sto. Domingo Church. It was by chance that came across Bishop Napoleon "Jun" Sipalay, Jr. online. I am asking for his blessing and permission to wear a Dominican cross, even though I am not a member of any Dominican Laity family. He told me I can wear the Dominican cross. Actually, one Dominican priest told me that only the members of bonafide Dominican institutes can wear it. To be honest I cannot accept it so I looked for another opinion of a Dominican priest. Fr. Edmund Nantes. He said I can wear it and be faithful to what it symbolizes. 

 It also crossed my mind that I need a Dominican spiritual director even if I am not a member of the Dominican family. I know God sent Fr. Quirico to me through Bishop Jun. I know there's a reason why its Fr. Quirico. I read a lot of good comments about Fr. Quirico and I have seen his academic achievements that was posted online. We've had few conversations online and I really learned a lot from him.

One take away that I got from our conversation yesterday is that everything takes time. He even mentioned my favorite saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, we all know her story wherein she asked the Pope to let her enter the convent despite her age. 

I thank God for finally sending me a good spiritual director. Even if I am still not part officially of any Dominican associations. I will wait with great hope. May God's will be done.