Is Discipleship a Craft?
An intriguing article from Neil over at Catholic Sensibilities.
A few excerpts:
Put more generally, “our minds are not adequate to the task until we have conformed ourselves to the objects on which we are focused.” How do we conform ourselves to Christ? We are conformed to Christ through Christ, not some universal notion of reason or a general kind of knowledge: “to know Christ is to apprentice with and for him.”
Second, the craft tradition of knowledge does not recommend abstract knowledge about pipe, but privileges knowing how to do things with pipe. . . The craft tradition, then, reminds us of the importance of real narratives of concrete actions and tangible results.Obviously, these skills are not learnt spontaneously, individually, or, for that matter, easily and quickly. Skilled and semi-skilled trades generally require a process of apprenticeship. Before drafting the creosote plant, Tex Sample’s father had necessarily worked for some time around machinery, pumps, and gauges. We have already suggested that becoming a disciple means becoming an “apprentice with and for” Jesus Christ. This cannot be done at a distance, or, for that matter, easily and quickly. One accepts Christ as a mentor when he or she participates in the life of the church and learns various skills: prayer, confession, Bible reading, caring for others, Eucharistic practice …
I know that having a spiritual mentor as a young Christian (in my case, a remarkable Quaker woman pastor) made a huge difference to my life and spiritual growth.
How many Catholics have "mentors" in the faith? Can we intentionally become such mentors for one another?
posted by Sherry W @ 9:54 AM
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10 Comments:
This idea of mentorship -- are you not talking about the traditional idea of having a spiritual director?
If so, then there's another question: Can a layperson be a spiritual director?
My answer is no, because part of spiritual direction is talking about one's sins, which is best done in the confessional when you're assured of the sacramental seal.
On the other hand, St. Teresa of Avila was a "mentor" to her sisters without being their spiritual director.
How would you delineate the role of mentor vis-a-vis the role of spiritual director?
Jeff:
You raise some excellent questions.
Actually the role of spiritual director is not necessarily the same as that of confessor and there have been effective non-ordained spiritual directors (whether formally acknowledged or done informally).
Then there is the tradition of the "spiritual companion" or "soul friend" which is more of a peer relationship but does involve some mutual mentoring.
And then there are relationships that involve a mix of the above. Not only have I benefitted from such a relationship but I have acted as an informal spiritual mentor to others in the past.
I'd like to hear from some others. What do you think? What has been your experience? Have you had a "mentor" or been in a mentoring relationship yourself?
These are some great thoughts from Neil. One thing that is not stressed enough in regard to discipleship is the necessity of aquiring virtue. This is something that can only be done through action. It is only be virtuous acts that we can overcome corresponding vicious habits. Moreover, as the Fathers make clear, the enemies of our soul make use of our disordered passions and vicious habits in order to overcome us. So the aquisition of virtue has often been seen not only as a craft, but as spiritual combat. Moreover, the Fathers of the Desert emphasized that in overcoming our bad habits and the demons, we need the help of experienced guides- for these monastic writers, this meant someone who had been proved and tested in the solitude of the desert. However, the need for guidance from those who have been tested in spiritual combat is crucially important for all states in life. People often complain of the rigor of the Church's moral teaching and see it as impossible. I think people often think this is the case because they have no guidance and no community to help them along. Jesus typically teaches and mentors us by way of other Christians.
As a religious I have an advantage in this regard. I live in a community of others who are involved in the same vocation. I can rely on them for guidance. Moreover, it is mandated that as a student brother I have a spiritual director. Lay people need this kind of formation as much as I do, but the structures for providing this are often not there.
It would seem that the sort of mentor you would need would depend a great deal upon one's vocation since the challenges and virtues that are central do vary depending upon one's call.
Our laughable goal has always been form 100 million formators who would then form the remaining 90% of the Catholic laity. You get 10%, you have them all - isn't that the formula?
But really, there is always that chicken and egg question - you can't have mature mentors to help foster other disciples unless you first have a significant number of intentional disciples, etc.
Guess we really need our parishes to be center of evangelization and formation, huh?
Meanwhile, what can we do to help each other as disciple-companions if an appropriately mature mentor isn't available?
Sherry,
Here are different areas in which I can see a mentor being valuable to someone, regardless of their state in life:
1) Growth in a life of prayer.
2) Growth in virtue/ struggling against sin.
3) Advice on problems that are vocation and situation specific.
(I'm open to more suggestions, this is just from the top of my head)
Now, taking a couple hypothetical persons, we can see how different situations can call for different solutions.
First: an active religious who struggles with anger and impatience. Such a person might recieve guidance in 1 and 3 through a spiritual director of the same congregation. However, if the spiritual director has never seriously struggled with impatience, it may be wise for this person to seek advise from someone who has learned the enemy's playbook firsthand, so to speak.
Another example may be a divorced lay professional. They may have help with 1 and 2 through a spiritual director (lay or not) or a prayer group. However, given the unique and difficult aspects of his situation as a divorcee and working person, he may have to seek out the hard earned wisdom and support of others who are trying to live faithfully in such a situation.
Again, this is just a little thought experiment on my part, and I would be interested in other hypothetical situations readers can come up with.
What it shows, I think, is that a necessary condition for formation can come about only if all Christians with some experience in following Christ, represting people in vastly different situtaions and states of life, are willing to share their experience and wisdom with those who need it. While a cadre of trained spiritual directors and experts in lay formation will be very helpful, it seems to me that this alone cannot adequatly address people's need for guidance in the 3 areas outlined above. I know you well enough, Sherry, to know that you are not saying a group of trained formators will solve all our problems- I'm just floating ideas. Sorry for any typos, this was written in haste.
One program that is specifically designed to help people form for the kind of spiritual apprenticeship/companionship that is being envisioned here is Formation for Spiritual Companions, at http://healingministry.org/fsc/index.html.
When I was pastor at St. Thomas More Newman Center in Eugene, a group of dedicated lay people went through the two-year long formation program for a ministry of healing prayer from the Institute for Christian Ministry. I was very impressed with the thoroughness and sensibility of the formation. The ministry, and the formation of new prayer team members, continues. I would imagine the Formation for Spiritual Companions would be equally as good.
The role of the sponsor in RCIA and the sponsor for confirmands ideally is a mentoring relationship. However, there is virtually no formation offered for those important roles, and often, I'm afraid, they aren't taken very seriously. If I were in pastoral ministry, I would make the selection and formation of sponsors for both types of individuals preparing for a sacrament of initiation a real priority.
In some ways the role of godparent for an infant being baptized would ideally develop into a mentoring relationship.
The goal of the mentor should be to eventually become a spiritual companion. Then they'd know they'd done their job!
Br. Matthew Augustine;
I know a fellow who was in an adulterous relationship for a few years. He has left the relationship, is in a "Sex Addicts Anonymous" recovery program and is in counseling with his wife. He is also undergoing a conversion, which has led him to attend daily Mass, keep a prayer journal, and receive the sacrament of reconciliation regularly.
Just the other day he and his wife approached their pastor to say that they would be willing to talk with individuals or couples who are undergoing similar situations. The pastor was deeply moved, as am I.
Although they are not using the word, "mentor", they are willing to act in that capacity, it would seem.
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