Spiritual direction has its origins in the early Christian church. According to the gospels, Jesus acted as a mentor to his disciples. In addition, Ananias is described in Acts of the Apostles Chapter 9 as assisting Paul of Tarsus in growing in his newfound faith. Similarly, Paul is described as mentoring Timothy and Titus, among others, in various Pauline epistles. Polycarp, the 2nd-century bishop of Smyrna, is said to have been instructed by John the Evangelist.
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John Cassian, a fourth-century theologian, wrote some of the first known principles on the Christian practice of spiritual direction.
In the monasteries, he established mentoring. Each novice was assigned to an elder monk for supervision. Cassian's precepts were incorporated into what is now known as the Rule of Saint Benedict by Benedict of Nursia.
Spiritual direction is common in the Catholic tradition: a wise and spiritually discerned person, generally but not always a priest or a consecrated person in general, counsels a person who aspires to embark on a journey of faith and discover God's will in his life. The spiritual guide's goal is to identify and grasp what the Holy Spirit is telling the person accompanied via life events, spiritual insights gained through prayer, reading, and meditation on the Bible. The spiritual father or spiritual director may give advise, give life and prayer hints, and resolve doubts in areas of faith and morals without taking the place of the accompanying person's choices and judgments.
What is the role of spiritual director?
Spiritual directors assist people examine issues of the soul, faith, and God by leading them on their spiritual journeys. Spiritual guidance is a practice that can be found in a variety of religious systems.
Who can be a Catholic spiritual director?
Could Spiritual Direction be a further step for you in your spiritual journey as you consider ways to embrace our Church's mandate to Intentional Discipleship?
Spiritual guidance is a Christian tradition of holy listening that dates back to the first century. A directee (seeker) in spiritual direction studies their spiritual path with the guidance of a skilled director in order to find God's movement and action in their lives.
A professional spiritual director walks alongside a directee, i.e. an adult seeker, on his or her spiritual path in spiritual direction. The director and the directee meet in sacred discourse to listen to the Holy Spirit's promptings. Spiritual direction necessitates the ability to discern God's will in one's life. This exercise can also take place in a group setting, such as in group spiritual guidance.
People seek spiritual guidance in order to deepen their relationship with God and to learn more about how God is working in and leading their lives.
Spiritual directors are trained professionals who follow directees on their faith journeys in order to assist them in spiritual growth. Spiritual directors are trained in a variety of spiritual activities and assist directees in entering a state of prayerful presence. A spiritual director might be either a formally trained religious or a formally trained layperson. Directors get spiritual guidance and are supervised by a certified supervisor on a regular basis.
Spiritual Directors at St. Thomas More and Newman assess and approve directors who participate in the ministry. The SDI (Spiritual Directors International) Code of Ethics is followed by directors.
The coordinator handles spiritual direction requests and connects directees with possible directors. The directees then have an initial conversation with one or more directors in order to determine which director is the best fit for them.
Spiritual guidance is available to adults aged 18 and up. Directees come from a wide range of religious backgrounds and can be found anywhere on the planet.
Spiritual direction takes place in dedicated rooms on the campuses of St Thomas More Church, at Newman at UNC facilities, and in various other area church meeting locations, as well as via Zoom.
When it comes to spiritual direction, psychotherapy, and pastoral counseling, what's the difference?
Spirituality and psychology are intertwined yet different disciplines. Spiritual guidance focuses on how God interacts with and communicates with a person's life in order to help them grow spiritually healthy. Psychotherapy or psychological counseling is used to assist a person function and attain well-being by addressing mental and emotional disorders. Spiritual direction and psychotherapy are both possible for a directee. Pastoral counseling is advice given to individuals, couples, families, and organizations on matters of faith, theology, and religion by a priest, deacon, or parish pastoral associate.
For spiritual direction sessions, directors ask for a gift or a stipend. The hourly rate in the area is between $45 and $100. Some directors use donations to promote faith and spiritual direction institutions that are linked with them. Stipends are used by certain directors to aid with director expenses, ongoing education, supervision costs, and the use of professional space.
Initially, a directee and his or her director may meet regularly (once a week or every other week). Following that, spiritual direction sessions are usually held once a month for roughly an hour.
Can any priest be a spiritual director?
You may already have a good relationship with your priest and feel comfortable asking him to be your spiritual director, but even if you don't, it's appropriate to ask him.
Because many parish priests are overburdened with responsibilities, it may be more effective to ask, “Is there someone you can recommend to give me spiritual direction if you are unable?”
Not only does this relieve your parish priest of stress, but it also prevents you from being disappointed if he is unable to serve as your spiritual directorand it allows him to consider making a recommendation for you.
When a good friend asked her parish priest to be her spiritual director, he was unable to do so, but he offered her the names of two other priests in her diocese who were available for spiritual direction! She was quite appreciative.
Our pastor or another priest, our confessor (the priest from whom we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis), a religious (monk, friar, or nun), or an experienced and well-formed lay person could all serve as spiritual directors.
The Catholic Church's Catechism says this about seeking and finding a spiritual director:
For the sake of the common good, which is prayer, the Holy Spirit bestows the gifts of wisdom, faith, and insight on a select group of believers (spiritual direction). Men and women with such gifts are worthy servants of prayer's living tradition.
According to St. John of the Cross, anyone seeking perfection should “take care into whose hands they entrust themselves,” because “as the master is, so will the disciple be, and as the parent is, so will the son.” ‘A spiritual director should be experienced in addition to being learned and discreet… If the spiritual director has no experience of the spiritual life, he will be unable of leading the souls whom God is calling to it into it, and he will not even understand them.'
What questions does a spiritual director ask?
People frequently find it easy to answer the first few questions. They do not make people nervous or perplexed. These questions provide a foundation for the spiritual director to learn about the person and his or her spirituality. Leading questions aren't the same as starting questions. When someone wants a certain answer, they ask leading questions. On the other hand, there are no correct solutions to these questions. A person can reply in any way they want without fear of being judged.
Do you need a degree to be a spiritual director?
For the Education portion of the certification process, the CCPC has established the following requirements.
Formal classroom education in the field of spiritual direction is described as the required education. The foundation of information and skills connected with the basic functions must be addressed through education. Every aspect of your schooling must be documented.
A master's degree from a recognized accredited university with an emphasis in biblical, theological studies and a minimum of six courses in spirituality is required for accreditation. Individuals holding a baccalaureate degree in spirituality may be eligible in exceptional situations if they meet all other qualifications.
Can spiritual directors help?
Spiritual Directors International's rules state that spiritual directors should have their own directors, as well as mentors or peers who may give oversight and responsibility. Spiritual direction fees are usually on a sliding basis, ranging from $50 to $150 each 50-minute appointment. For those who cannot afford to pay, some directors provide pro gratis services.
The relationship between companion and seeker is personal, and spiritual directors must establish proper limits, just as they would in any other type of counseling. Some spiritual companions, such as Ms. Pannier-Cass, have social work degrees.
While therapy “may provide expert aid with recovering from mental health problems,” spiritual direction “focuses on your relationship with God or the divine” through prayer or reflection, according to Emily Malcoun, a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia who has worked with a spiritual director.
Some argue that the profession should be held more accountable. In an article published last October in Presence, a journal published by Spiritual Directors International, Andree Grafstein, a spiritual director in Avon, Conn., recalled an episode of sexual harassment from a director nearly 40 years ago. “I look forward to a day when the reality of sexual harassment by spiritual directors is as obvious as other forms of sexual abuse,” she added.
Ms. Grafstein said she has gotten supportive communications from other spiritual directors since the piece was published. She is particularly concerned about the need for spiritual directors to get instruction and assistance if they hear that a directee has been harassed or abused by another director.
Directees can be vulnerable, especially if they came to a spiritual director because of their rejection of organized religion or a previous religious community. Kristabeth Atwood, a spiritual director and former United Methodist minister in Burlington, Vermont, refers to herself as a pastor for individuals who don't attend church. The majority of her subordinates “I just don't feel at home in a traditional or formal religious group,” she explained.
How often should you meet with your spiritual director?
How frequently should we gather for spiritual guidance? The standard meeting schedule is once a month, although there may be periods or seasons when meeting twice a month or every other month is more appropriate and beneficial.
What should I look for in a spiritual director?
When we think about spiritual directors, we could picture a person or people who have accomplished a great deal. We can imagine a fearless commander directing us through dangerous terrain or a warrior slaying our foes in front of our eyes. A superb analyzer and teacher of the spirit or a drill sergeant of the soul come to mind.
Spiritual directors, on the other hand, are just like you in terms of being human and susceptible. They are humble, prayerful people who accompany us on our journey to improving our spiritual lives and become even more committed followers of Jesus. They are there to accompany us on our path, offering their presence, a listening ear, and practical insight to aid in our spiritual development.
These are all excellent attributes to look for in a spiritual director, but you probably didn't think about the fact that the spiritual director you connect with should also be following your lead in terms of spiritual guidance.
A good spiritual director has their own spiritual director.
A good spiritual director must have his own guide in order to help someone along the spiritual path. The purpose of seeking spiritual guidance is to give oneself with a neutral viewpoint.
A good spiritual director will be known by his pastor.
You may have assumed that your parish priest would be the finest spiritual director candidate based solely on his vocation. While most priests and even religious have some spiritual counseling training, being a well-trained spiritual director may require additional preparation.
Before a spiritual director begins mentoring others, it is recommended practice for him to have permission from his pastor. This allows the pastor to attest to the spiritual director's qualifications while also providing the church with a resource for parishioners seeking spiritual guidance.
A good spiritual director is not there to make decisions for you.
A competent spiritual director isn't the person who makes all of your decisions for you. Look for someone who can advise you rather than impose so you can make an informed decision. The purpose of the spiritual director is not to tell you what to do, but to assist you in discerning the Holy Spirit's promptings and hearing God's voice. In the end, the relationship is between you and God.
A good spiritual director has suffered.
Finding someone who is familiar with suffering is extremely beneficial and virtually necessary, as pain is unavoidable in the life of a Christian who wishes to follow in Christ's footsteps. Someone who has been converted into Christ's image through suffering is a wonderful spiritual director.
Someone who has been shaped by the pain God has allowed in life is qualified to be a competent spiritual director. A person who has come to understand that suffering is not a sign of God's rejection of them, but rather a grace and a demonstration of Christ's faith in them.
A good spiritual director is a person of prayer
Finally, ensure that your spiritual director is a prayerful person with a strong spiritual life. Nobody can share something they don't have.
What does a deep spiritual life entail? Visiting Jesus in devotion and regularly attending mass (perhaps even daily). A good spiritual director makes time for personal prayer or meditation every day. They have studied spiritual masters such as Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross. They may also have a close relationship with the Blessed Mother, who is our most powerful intercessor, and may pray the rosary or other Marian devotions frequently. Feel free to inquire about a potential spiritual director's spirituality.
Can a Catholic nun hear confession?
“Confession is a universal sacrament, conducted in the same way all across the world. Furthermore, it is theologically and canonically forbidden for a nun to hear confession. To do so, she would need to be ordained as a priest. However, confessing should not be prohibited.