Going beyond the institutional forms.
I've been pondering a few things since first learning of the investigation into Pere Thomas Phillipe and Jean Vanier. There is a certain security Catholics believe they have from a spiritual director, whom they esteem and who may have a great reputation in the spiritual life. I have known 'mystics' convinced of their mystical experiences, affirmed by a spiritual director, who have been gravely misled. (Although not sexually abused.)
I know others who move 'beyond the teachings of the Church, as well as authentic Catholic tradition, seeking a greater freedom of spirit. Many people today follow the teaching or 'spirit' of Richard Rohr, for instance. Even Jesuits have been known to write glowingly of some of these spiritual directors... What?
Yet there are bad spiritual directors, as we all now know. Have you ever heard people boast, that this priest or that monk is my spiritual director? They seem to think they have a guarantee that whatever they say or write has an instant imprimatur/nihil obstat, if you will.
Discarding old religious forms and re-creating our spiritual and sacred world.
Being spiritual but not religious encompasses all of that, as well. Institutional religion is sidestepped or outright rejected. There is no religious order, no one spiritual direction, no set of doctrine, no dogma, no authority, no one set of rules - it is non-binary. It is permissive of everything... relatively speaking. One cannot harness the wind. Sometime ago, I wrote about these things, and discovered what seems to be a source which shed light on the source of some of the 'new' forms of spiritual direction and mystical experience, adopted by spiritual directors and directees, who chose to go beyond 'institutional forms'.
I'll leave it at that for the moment, but I want to close with a quote from Fr. Geiger, OFM Conv., which may explain how the going beyond the institutional forms happens.
The spiritual director, author, William Bloom who combines a long-standing interest in New Age approaches to spirituality with an identity focus in international relations, wrote:
"We are in changing times. Our culture and technology are continually transforming, and the intellectual certainties of the last few hundred years are no longer secure…It is our need to find a new authenticity in our spiritual lives — to bring back fully into our consciousness — the sacred dimension of life, but we want to do this in a way that honours personal freedom and personal growth. In essence, then, we are turning to the teachings and experiences of what is called the ageless wisdom, but we are doing so with completely new attitudes."
A key element of our changing culture is that we are discarding old religious forms and re-creating our spiritual and sacred world. - Theosophical Order of Services
I'll leave it at that for the moment, but I want to close with a quote from Fr. Geiger, OFM Conv., which may explain how the going beyond the institutional forms happens.
"The desire for union with God sometimes leads individuals to attach themselves to extraordinary manifestations of the “spirit,” but in such a way that weakens their attachment to the Church."
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ReplyDeleteVery good post Terry. I have never had or sought a spiritual director. Abuses run deep even historically. I have read about Legionners of Christ who used some unorthodox methods that bordered on abuse or at least vicarious sexual practices. Many years ago, out of curiosity, I visited a very old Theosophical Society in Bflo. It was full of books, old people and a “study circle,” that was dabbling in new age even occult like practices. They made in uncomfortable. It was also the age of Moonies, Hare Khrisna, Silva Mind Control Seminars, Scientology & more. Today they are all still around under the umbrella of what was called the human growth & development movement. Anyone remember “T Circles?” Within our Chirch we have our own groups. Legionnaires, Opus Dei, and a scattered variety of others. I recall Sr Nadine and her Community in Nebraska who wore salmon colored habits. She was eventually shut down and her sisters deprogrammed. Oversight seems sorely lacking which is a big part of the problem. Terry you always give me much to think about & pray about & be thankful I somehow weathered by youthful curiosity unscathed! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIn my return to the Catholic faith some 30 years ago, after being seriously depressed and maybe suicidal, a friend referred me to someone she knew who was a LCSW with experience in Spiritual Direction. She happened to also be a practicing Catholic active in the Charismatic Renewal. She was a gift from the Lord because she saved my life.
ReplyDeleteThough she no longer lives in So. Calif, it was through her powerful devotion to the Holy Spirit, her love of the Sacraments especially confession and the Eucharist, that I was born again, renewed, healed.
I had nowhere to go before our Lord Jesus Christ reached down and pulled me up out of the dark pit into which I was sinking.
Now, after all these years, I still remember my friend referring me, JK, my LCSW, guiding me and finally, the Lord Himself saving me from certain death both in body and soul.
If one is given the guidance of a good and sincere Spiritual Director, one is truly blessed.
It proved to be a life saver for yours truly.
Gracias a Dios y a la Madre de Dios!