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Spiritual Direction as Climbing the Mountain
Do you want to grow in virtue and your spiritual life? Are you struggling to find someone to help you in your Catholic Faith?
St John of the Cross in his famous book "The Ascent of Mount Carmel" discusses the importance of Spiritual Direction in the spiritual life as follows:"Even though these souls have begun to walk along the road of virtue, and our Lord desires to place them in the dark night that they may move on to the divine union, they do not advance. The reason for this may be that sometimes they do not want to enter the dark night or allow themselves to be placed in it, or that sometimes they misunderstand themselves and are without suitable and alert directors who will show them the way to the summit. God gives many souls the talent and grace for advancing, and should they desire to make the effort they would arrive at this high state. And so it is sad to see them continue in their lowly method of communion with God because they do not want or know how to advance, or because they receive no direction on breaking away from the methods of beginners"
In the Bible, mountains are a privileged place of encounter with God. This was the case for the close friends of God - Moses & Elijah, who were both present when Jesus manifested his divinity on Mount Tabor at the Transfiguration. Jesus died on Mount Calvary, and in the letter to the Hebrews it talks about how we are all called to the heavenly Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22). As we carry our cross to follow Jesus, we are also called to Climb the Mountain, purifying ourselves, to reach union with God on the Summit.
Br Jerome Mary can help you grow closer to God and accompany you on your journey. "Come! Let us climb the mountain of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:3)
Learn to grow in intimacy with the Holy Trinity so your relationship with God is one of a lover and the Beloved. Discover friendship with God.
- Spiritual Direction can help you discern where the Holy Spirit is leading you
- Spiritual Direction can help you grow in intimacy with Jesus
- Do you want to grow in virtue and holiness?
- Are you struggling to find a priest who understands you or is available to talk to you about your spiritual life?
- Would you like to go deeper with your prayer?
PHONE +61422486878
EMAIL br.jeromemary@gmail.com
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Location
Opening Hours
Monday or Friday 10AM to 6PM (by appointment)Saturday 10AM to 4PM (by appointment)
Overview
Br Jerome Mary of Divine Mercy is a privately professed hermit in the Carmelite tradition, under obedience to his Parish Priest and his Spiritual Director. With the approval of his local Archbishop, he has been granted Spiritual Affiliation to the Carmelite Order (O.Carm) by the Prior General in recognition of belonging to the wider Carmelite Family as sharing in the charism & spirituality of the Carmelite Order. He serves in his parish on Sundays an Instituted Acolyte & occasionally gives talks or retreats when requested by his Parish Priest.
He has completed a course on a General Model of Christian Counselling through AIFC, along with multiple courses through Udemy on Existential Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Person Centred Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Metacognitive Therapy and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. He has completed a Diploma of Modern Applied Psychology, & CBT Practicioner Certificate through Achology. He has completed certificates as an ADHD Coach, Grief Coach & Christian Coach through Certified Excellence. In 2023 he completed his Certificate in Spiritual Formation with the Avila Institute, and is now completing Graduate Level Studies in Spiritual Theology with them.
In 2024 he completed his Australian Nationally Accredited Diploma of Counselling through AIFC, which is a Christian based training organisation that provides Nationally Recognised Qualifications from a Christian perspective that are Biblically integrated along with integrating theology, psychology and spirituality. He is now a Registered Counsellor with the Australian Counsellors Association (ACA) and has an online Private Practice called Logismoi Therapy. He is a member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, and the Catholic Psychotherapy Association. He regularly participates in training schools with Victorious Ministry Through Christ (VMTC) and is a Released Support Prayer Minister with them.
Products & Services
“Climbing the Mountain Spiritual Direction” is an apostolate of Br Jerome Mary to help support himself in his eremitic vocation in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth as a hermit. Standard rate is $70AUD per hour for Spiritual Direction. Talks in parishes or for groups can be negotiated at no cost on a case by case basis.
*If you are having financial issues, I can consider your individual circumstances on a case by case basis
All enquiries to br.jeromemary@gmail.com
Options for Services:
- Spiritual Direction
- Pastoral Counselling
- Vocational Discernment
- Retreats and Spiritual Talks
- Planning a "Rule of Life"
- Lectio Divina
- Contemplative Prayer
- How to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office)
- Integrating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Catholic Spirituality
- Parish Talks or Retreats
Spiritual Direction according to the Popes
As she has never failed to do, again today the Church continues to recommend the practice of spiritual direction, not only to all those who wish to follow the Lord closely, but to every Christian who wishes to live responsibly his baptism, that is, the new life in Christ. Everyone, in fact, and in a particular way all those who have received the divine call to a closer following, needs to be supported personally by a sure guide in doctrine and expert in the things of God. A guide can help defend oneself from facile subjectivist interpretations, making available his own supply of knowledge and experiences in following Jesus. [Spiritual direction] is a matter of establishing that same personal relationship that the Lord had with his disciples, that special bond with which he led them, following him, to embrace the will of the Father (cf. Luke 22:42), that is, to embrace the cross- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Personal accompaniment in processes of growth …In our world, ordained ministers and other pastoral workers can make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze. The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5). The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.- Pope FrancisEvangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel)
Personal accompaniment in processes of growth …In our world, ordained ministers and other pastoral workers can make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze. The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5). The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.- Pope FrancisEvangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel)