Spiritual Direction.

[scc11]

Can someone please explain to me exactly what spiritual direction without giving me a long definition from a website or book? If anyone here had done it and feels comfortable, what general things were discussed? Is it an extended form of confession where you tell your director what’s going on in your life and they guide you?
Thank you,
scc11

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I have been in spiritual direction for about 5 years now.
Initially, when I had first returned to the church, I was also going through a lot of emotional stuff, and spiritual direction helped me to sort out a lot of things. I had been away from the Chruch for nearly 20 years, was not properly catechized, and really had no idea how to pray. My spiritual director helped me by giving me books to read and discuss with him, and to look at different ways to pray, how to find God working in my life and a greater appreciation for the sacramental life.

Two years ago I did the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Spiritual direction is a integral part of the exercises, and again the directors job is to help the directee see where God is working in one’s life, and how one is working either with or against God.

My current director is also my confessor. For me, it works out better because I have a tendency for scrupulosity, and my director helps me to keep that in check.

I know you were not looking for a long answer, but I find it difficult to “sum up” spiritual direction in a few words. I guess you could say a spiritual director is a “tour guide on the road to heaven”.

 

[Edward_H]

They help you grow in the interior life.

They encourage. They ask about your pray life. They give advice about struggles. The might help you see the supernatural aspects of the natural moments of your life, strengthening your supernatural outlook.

 

[fred_conty]

Mainly after confession, the priest advises the penitent.
The penitent works on the worst fault to weed it out.
.

 

[Cara_Serrano]

My spiritual director is also my confessor. I like this arrangement because he can sometimes see a pattern emerging in my confessed sins that we can discuss later in spiritual direction. I am honest in my confessions, but I can’t always get to the root of the problem. My spiritual director is good at figuring ourt why I have sinned and helping me find a remedy. He’s like a good diagnostician of spiritual diseases.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Can someone please explain to me exactly what spiritual direction without giving me a long definition from a website or book? If anyone here had done it and feels comfortable, what general things were discussed? Is it an extended form of confession where you tell your director what’s going on in your life and they guide you?
Thank you,
scc11

Greetings Scc11,

I have been being directed by a spiritual director for the last 6 years and have had my current Spiritual Director for two years this January.

Basically spiritual direction is used to help one to grow closer to God in their spiritual life. It can be a time to talk about things that are hindering one’s growth in the spiritual life or what actually is helping one to grow at the same time. What the spiritual director does is listen and gives guidance or counsel as to the person being directed how to grow closer to God.

For me usually that consists of how I am doing spiritually. As other things going on in my life can impact my spiritual life, we do talk about what is going those things as well. Spiritual direction is not counseling as in psychological or psychiatrical counseling. It’s not an extension of Confession either, though if you do use your spiritual director as your confessor, the things that you confess can come up in spiritual direction.

It was only that I decided to use my spiritual director as my confessor as well. I do this because it is easier to have the same priest as both because he really helps me with my spiritual direction because he knows what I am confessing. I believe I am helped the most in this arrangement, because he is getting the large picture of my life.

If you are looking for a spiritual director I would encourage that whomever you choose as your sprititual director that they follow ALL the Teachings of the Church.

God bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[InLight247]

Like others have said, spiritual direction is helping us to be closer to God. It helps us working toward holiness. The content of spiritual direction can include anything you want to address. Any secular things can have an impact on our spiritual life. I bring up any of my concerns to him and seek his (name removed by moderator)ut and wisdom, from family matters, things going on with friends, my ministry in the parish, the books I read, my physical condition, etc. and how all of these affect my prayer life and my relationship with God.

Since my SD is also my confessor, it works out really well. Based on the facts I told him, he would point out where I fall short in an incident , or let me know where I did good and encouraged me. He knows me and my prayer life well. I am always transparent to him and follow his direction. Like any other relationship, after a long solid period of time, a friendship is naturally developed. Sometimes my SD also shares with me things in his life. A good SD is one of the best blessings in life. Pray for a good SD if you want to find one.