SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR:
A Companion on the Journey
Spiritual Direction has had a long and esteemed history within Christianity. Despite its name, it is not one person “directing” another person in what to do. Rather, it is a dialogue in which a person discovers and discusses with the director the action of God’s Spirit in one’s life. The director is privileged to act as a companion and facilitator in that process. A person commits to spiritual direction to learn how to be attentive to God’s grace in life; to grow in awareness of God’s grace; to explore what obstructs one’s attention to God’s grace; to name and honor near occasions of grace in one’s life; to find the grace offered in loss, grief, anger or fear; to attend to God’s grace in a moment of change or transition; to make an important decision in light of God’s grace.
I have taught the Advanced Seminar on Spiritual Direction in the Doctor of Ministry program at Catholic Theological Union. I've also designed and am currently leading a 2-year training program for spiritual directors in the diocese of Peoria, IL.
You can read my article about spiritual direction that appeared in the November, 2007, issue of St. Anthony Messenger magazine at www.americancatholic.org