Spiritual Direction?

[TotusTuusIesu]

For a while now, I’ve been confused on the subject of spiritual direction. I know what it is basically, but I suppose I just don’t understand the process, the time period, the “ins-and-outs” of spiritual direction. I’m receiving a Dominican education, and religious of the order do not generally receive spiritual direction. As far as spiritual direction for discerners, how does it work? If one is discerning, at what age should he or she contact someone (who would be contacted?) about spiritual direction, and how often does one go about…being spiritually-directed? I suppose the more I think about it, the Dominican charism is one of deep reflection and study where the student grows in knowledge of self through this contemplation; I know that Carmelites like St. Therese of Lisieux received spiritual direction, and this would, I suppose, make some sense, being that Carmelites do not focus on study and education, but on prayer, since they are contemplatives. Excuse my long Socratic…monologue?

I really would appreciate any help and clarification I can receive on the matter; I hope I don’t receive any negative comments, as this is purely an inquiry, asking for assistance. Thank you.

Pax et caritas!

Note: I’ll be out of town on retreat for the next five days, so pardon my future temporary inability to respond.

Edit: I meant to add in here that my parish is in [the middle of] the process of transferring priests, as I know many will probably say, “Just go see your parish priest.”

 

[Joannm]

For a while now, I’ve been confused on the subject of spiritual direction. I know what it is basically, but I suppose I just don’t understand the process, the time period, the “ins-and-outs” of spiritual direction. I’m receiving a Dominican education, and religious of the order do not generally receive spiritual direction. As far as spiritual direction for discerners, how does it work? If one is discerning, at what age should he or she contact someone (who would be contacted?) about spiritual direction, and how often does one go about…being spiritually-directed? I suppose the more I think about it, the Dominican charism is one of deep reflection and study where the student grows in knowledge of self through this contemplation; I know that Carmelites like St. Therese of Lisieux received spiritual direction, and this would, I suppose, make some sense, being that Carmelites do not focus on study and education, but on prayer, since they are contemplatives. Excuse my long Socratic…monologue?

I really would appreciate any help and clarification I can receive on the matter; I hope I don’t receive any negative comments, as this is purely an inquiry, asking for assistance. Thank you.

Pax et caritas!

Note: I’ll be out of town on retreat for the next five days, so pardon my future temporary inability to respond.

Edit: I meant to add in here that my parish is in [the middle of] the process of transferring priests, as I know many will probably say, “Just go see your parish priest.”

You state that Dominicans do not receive spiritual direction, yet I know many Dominicans who themselves are spritual directors. When you go on retreat, do you talk to someone there about what is going on spiruitally in your life? That is spiritual direction. Most retreat houses have directors available.

Most people think of going to their parish priest for direction, and while that might be good for an immediate problem or in a general sense, most parish priests are not particularly trained in spiriutal directon and only generally in pastoral counseling. A growing number of lay people are discovering the benifits of ongoing direction by qualified directors, be they priests, religious or lay people. Someone in ongoing direction usually meets with a director once a month and discuss what is going on in their spiritual life, how their prayer is going, what they hear God saying to them, how they can better discern God’s will in their lives. Often a director makes suggestions for prayer focus. It really has nothing to do with the focus of a religious orders charism or ministry whether spiritual direction is good for them. I would think that those whose charism is study and education would benifit greatly from direction because it would get them out of the “head,” which is where study and education lies, and into the “heart,” where the Spirit of God resides. Look at the Jesuits…they focus a great deal on study and education…they also are not only required to have spiritual directors but to be trained as a spiriutal director as well, practicing the art even before they are ordained a priest.

 

[TotusTuusIesu]

I believe I said that “generally” Dominicans do not receive spiritual direction; as you said, Jesuits generally “do.”

The retreat is not to visit a religious congregation; it is more of a community retreat, so we will see if there is spiritual direction on-hand. As I said in my original post, I’m aware of the basic concept of spiritual direction, but just don’t understand, I suppose, the process of self-growth through it - how often one usually meets, etc., which you explained in your response.

Many thanks! God bless!

 

[puzzleannie]

For a while now, I’ve been confused on the subject of spiritual direction. I know what it is basically, but I suppose I just don’t understand the process, the time period, the “ins-and-outs” of spiritual direction."

this surprises me since I was also educated for 12 years by Dominicans and for many years after my retreats and other spiritual formation was directed by Dominicans, and they excel in spiritual direction and place a great emphasis on authentic direction especially in regards to discernment. all the Dominicans I know (upwards of 100 then and now), sisters, priests and lay associates, make a point of recourse to regular spiritual direction.

 

[TotusTuusIesu]

None of the Dominicans I know receive spiritual direction, but the minor details obviously throw things a bit off topic and I probably should just ask more cut-and-dry questions in the future, but…any explanation about spiritual direction would be most enlightening.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Spiritual direction is a personal choice…some directors today prefer to call themselves “spiritual companions”. A spiritual director or companion is usually one long experienced personally in the spiritual life and sometimes nowadays has also received training in spiritual direction. Here is the New Advent entry on “Spiritual Direction”:
newadvent.org/cathen/05024a.htm
I think that probably in most instances another sees one more objectively than one can see oneself and certainly perhaps a person admitted to one’s most private and personal dispositions and thoughts etc. While on the other hand there have been those, and notably amongst some of our saints who have suffered more at the 'hands of their director" than they have been helped. St. Therese of Lisieux for example experienced some distress when her confessor told her (in a derogatory manner) that she still prayed as a child. St. Teresa of Avila also had unpleasant experiences due to her director(s) at a point in her life.
Nowadays of course and especially amongst lay people one has complete freedom in whom one chooses to direct or accompany one on the spiritual journey…although even in convents and monasteries nowadays one is free to choose an “extraordinary confessor (director)” to the one that may actually be the regular confessor or director appointed to a convent or monastery.
I think nowadays especially with so few attending in the main the confessional, Father probably has more time to give spiritual advice than in the past when faced with many waiting to receive The Sacrament…and especially if one attends the same confessor for The Sacrament and Father gets to know the person.

Blessings…Barb