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WHAT
IS SPIRITUAL DIRECTION?
“… help given by one Christian to another, which enables
that person to pay attention to God's personal communication to
him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to
grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences
of this relationship.”
William A. Barry, SJ & William J. Connelly,
SJ
The Practice of Spiritual Direction
“… an inter-personal situation, in which one person
assists another to develop and come to maturity in the life of
the spirit: that is, the life of faith, hope and love.”
John Wright, SJ
A Discussion on Spiritual Direction
The Manresa Chapel Court
an oil painting by Ronald R. Parry (1982)
[click image for other "Manresa" art]
“… the gift, the charism, the ministry
of guiding a person in and through his/her passover in the Lord….
a unique participation in another's spiritual regeneration, deification,
transformation…. a God-willed contribution of one person
to another's spiritualization, interiorization, sanctification.”
Francis Kelly Nemeck, OMI & Marie Theresa Coombs
The Way of Spiritual Direction
“… the guiding of a person into a life truly under
the domination of the Holy Spirit, who is the primary director.
[Spiritual direction] helps the directee to be more and more docile
to the light and promptings of the divine Sanctifier, identifying
impediments to this, as well as ways to overcome them, giving
instruction and encouragement in living a life of virtue, and
assisting the directee to advance on the path of prayer —
the road to union with God.”
Thomas Dubay, SM
Seeking Spiritual Direction
“... a formal one-to-one relationship...a director and a
directee, the one helping the other to discern the work of the
Lord in his or her life and to distinguish among the various forces
or 'spirits' which seem to beckon in different directions….
the director may be seen ...simply as an informed human being
who represents a channel of grace.”
Gerald May, MD
Care of Mind / Care of Spirit
“… a dynamic and formative relationship in which individual
directees or groups entrust themselves to a director — a
gifted, authentic, and prayerful person who is honestly grappling
with life. The spiritual direction process develops in an atmosphere
of trusting vulnerability where the director helps the directee
interpret and draw out deeper meanings from his or her life experience,
thus helping them sift through experiences and come to a sense
of life direction in dialogue with God.”
Thomas Morris
“Gifted for the Journey: The Art of Spiritual Direction”
Spirituality Today
“… 'direction' does not mean one person
telling another what to do, even after careful seeing, listening,
naming and celebrating. The 'direction' of Spiritual Direction
refers simply to the seeker's orientation. Thus, 'direction' is
the goal of this interpersonal relationship, not its means. Spiritual
Direction facilitates the seeker's process of finding her or his
own direction, path, process and integrity in dynamic relationship
to the person and call of God.”
Elizabeth Liebert
Changing Life Patterns: Adult Development in Spiritual Direction
“The practice of reflecting on one’s prayer and speaking
of it to another person of faith … conversation wherein one
person reviews his or her prayer with another in order to become
more aware of God's prompting within. Having a guide in this process
helps people to listen more closely, to discern more carefully,
and respond more freely to the invitation of God in their lives.”
The Jesuit Center for Spirituality
Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown
“… a spirit-centered relationship in which a trained
and experienced companion assists an individual to reflect on
her/his spiritual journey in the light of the Gospel …. to
enable the individual to recognize and respond to God's self-communication
in their prayer and in the ordinary happenings of their life.”
The Bon Secours Spirituality Center
Marriottsville, Maryland
“… a 'companioning' process, in which you are invited
to reflect, deepen, and savor your relationship with God, through
a process of shared reflection with a 'director' … designed
to provide a spiritual friendship with a trained professional,
who listens, provides resources, and companionship on your spiritual
journey …. a way to bring to prayer life-decisions, challenges
in work and relationships, and to continue to grow in understanding
both God and yourself more deeply.”
St. Agnes Spiritual Life Center
San Francisco, CA
“… a contemplative process that focuses on conscious
development of the relationship between a person and God. The
director helps the person notice and respond to the already present,
ongoing movements of God in his/her life and prayer. The process
might include helping someone learn to pray, listening for or
noticing God's activity, discernment for decision-making, becoming
aware of images of God that influence the developing relationship,
and bringing wounds or life patterns to God for healing.”
Bread of Life Center
Davis, CA
“… a process through which we become more deeply attuned
to our relationship with the Divine. Through conversation with
a spiritual mentor in an atmosphere of trust, a person comes to
a deeper awareness of the presence and movement of God in everyday
life. As we share our dreams, struggles, triumphs and fears, we
open to our deepest and wisest source of freedom and joy.”
Interfaith Spiritual Center
Portland, Oregon
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