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Spiritual Direction

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Spiritual Direction Spiritual Direction Spiritual direction is the art of leading souls progressively from the beginning of the spiritual life to the height of Christian perfection, the guiding of a person into a life truly under the dominion of the Holy Spirit. The Spiritual Director: • Helps the directee to be more and more docile to the light and promptings of the Holy Spirit, identifying impediments to this, as well as ways to overcome them; Is it necessary that the director be a priest? • Gives instruction and encouragement in overcoming vices and living a life of virtue; and Normally, the director is a priest, for many reasons: • Assists the directee to advance on the path of prayer – the road to union with God. 1. He has both theoretical and the practical knowledge required; 2. The function of spiritual Do I need Spiritual Direction? director is usually closely related to the office of The Holy Spirit is our principal director; nonetheless, in the ordinary confessor; providence of God, spiritual direction of some kind is generally 3. The grace of his priesthood necessary for the attainment of Christian perfection. The means he participates in necessity of guidance from elders in the faith is stressed by the ministerial binding and Scripture and many theologians and spiritual writers. A good loosing, teaching and spiritual director can provide guidance in: sanctifying powers given • spiritual reading and lectio divina by Christ to the Church; • detecting mediocrity or inner weakness and • handling periods of difficult, dry prayer 4. The Church forbids any • doing penance (types and extent) person who is not a priest, • carefully moderating enthusiasm for extraordinary even religious superiors, to phenomena probe into a person’s inner • discerning a vocation life –though we can • detecting shadings among virtues and vices always voluntarily share it. • identifying psychological problems (with appropriate referrals to a professional if necessary) Nevertheless, there are • assessing progress (or the lack of it) exceptions and it is possible in • providing support and accountability particular cases that spiritual direction may be given by a As directees, we need to be open to deeper conversion. We prudent and experienced need to ask ourselves these questions: Do I want truth, all of it? person who is not a priest. Do I really want holiness, or will I settle for a refined mediocrity? Examples from Church history Am I really seeking direction? Or am I merely looking for a soul- include: direction given friend, a sympathetic ear, or a sounding board – someone who is among the desert fathers and likely to affirm me and to agree with my views? hermits, direction given by Saint Francis of Assisi, St. Am I truly committed to trust all to God and become the fullness Ignatius of Loyola before his of the person He created me to be – to be love, to be eternally ordination, St. Catherine of happy? Siena, and St. Teresa of Avila. What qualities should a spiritual director possess? Saint Teresa and Saint John of the Cross emphatically stated that a good spiritual director should be 1) learned, 2) spiritual, and 3) experienced. A Spiritual Director should be learned. What spiritual formation and theological education does he/she have? Is the director trained and competent to address the many issues that may come up in spiritual direction? Examples: interpersonal problems, questions regarding prayer, contemplation and spiritual reading, vocational issues, Biblical matters, Church questions, moral issues, doctrinal questions, etc. How does he/she How do I find a good continue their own formation and education? spiritual director? A Spiritual Director should also be spiritual and experienced. • Pray and ask the Holy Spiritual Spirit, our principal director, “You may be quite sure that if I found that they were disobedient, I to enlighten you and would neither see them nor listen to them anymore.” provide you with the guidance you need. - St. Teresa of Avila to the Father General of the Carmelite Order • Contact your parish about two Carmelite priests priest, your diocese, and local religious Orders – let He or she should be a devout person who keeps the them know you are commandments; exhibits a sincere pursuit of Gospel ideals, and a interested in spiritual refusal to compromise with worldliness. Saint Teresa of Avila direction and ask whether advised that one of the surest proofs of a person’s holiness is they know anyone you obedience to the Catholic Church and one’s superiors. Does he could talk to. or she express opinions or beliefs contrary to the teachings of the • While searching, God Church? Does he or she murmur or complain about those in can provide interim authority (the pope, bishop, superiors, etc.)? If the spiritual director guidance and direction is a priest, is he faithful to follow the words and instructions given by through confessors, visiting the Church for the celebration of the sacraments, or does he insist priests, and spiritual friends – on “putting his own spin” on them? Is this someone who lives a life people who are wise and I would want to use as a model of Christian living? trustworthy. • Don’t be discouraged – Experienced it can take a while (weeks or Personal Experience: A good spiritual director will possess spiritual months) to connect with a wisdom and maturity gained through reflection, prayer, and good spiritual director. Stay concrete dealings with fellow human beings. What is the spiritual committed to growing in director’s personal experience tending toward their own prayer, your relationship with God. meditation and contemplative life? Does he/she possess the He will not leave you alone wisdom that should come with experience and a feel for the things and will reward your of God which accompany a deepening prayer life? Has he/she perseverance! grown in his/her own spiritual life into at least the beginnings of infused prayer, together with the holiness it supposes and produces? As a Spiritual Director: What is his/her experience as a spiritual director? Are they naïve or closeminded on any issues related to the spiritual life? Do I understand what he/she is saying (is it clear and understandable)? Is this someone I feel I can trust with my inner life? References Dubay, S.M., Thomas. Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within. Servant Books, 1993. Royo, O.P., Antonio and Jordan Aumann, O.P. The Theology of Christian Perfection. Priory Press, 1962. ©Dominican Nuns, Corpus Christi Monastery, Menlo Park, CA. opnunsmenlo.org .
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