Traditionally, how proper is a lay spiritual director?

[Deo_Gratias42]

???
Develop another term?
Spiritual Directors do not offer anything remotely similar to confession.
Spiritual Director give you advice on developing your spiritual life, not solving your personal problems. I’ve had both, lay people and ordained priests as Spiritual Directors. Both simply recommended Scriptures to meditate on and great books, retreat opportunities, etc. Advice for relationships. But they never counseled me as a confessor.
I’m not sure what you’re inferring?

The more modern notion of spiritual direction is really more of a spiritual companionship than the traditional form of spiritual direction in which one’s spiritual director, through the council of the Holy Spirit, directs the person’s soul to holiness and perfection. In order to do this effectively, the spiritual director needs to know the state of his directee’s soul, his imperfect inclinations, etc in order to give proper direction (which he does in various forms, sometimes indirectly) to overcome one’s imperfections and be purified. It’s complicated and unpleasant and really only someone who has access to the person’s confession has the proper knowledge to do this.

 

[pianistclare]

The more modern notion of spiritual direction is really more of a spiritual companionship than the traditional form of spiritual direction in which one’s spiritual director, through the council of the Holy Spirit, directs the person’s soul to holiness and perfection. In order to do this effectively, the spiritual director needs to know the state of his directee’s soul, his imperfect inclinations, etc in order to give proper direction (which he does in various forms, sometimes indirectly) to overcome one’s imperfections and be purified. It’s complicated and unpleasant and really only someone who has access to the person’s confession has the proper knowledge to do this.

I guess the sticking point for many is the term “Traditional”.
Nope, trad’s don’t like the notion of lay people working with people. In or out of church. We see that all the time here on CAF.
But in today’s world, with a shortage of priests and the vast amount of good catechesis out there for lay people, and their desire to work in the vineyard…yes. Modern Catholics believe Spiritual Direction to more of walking the path with you kind of endeavor.
No modern Catholic believes that only their confessor can guide them in spiritual exercises.
A confessor, a priest, yes, does what you say a Spiritual Director does.
If you need counseling, yup. Go to a priest.

 

[dconklin]

I am on staff at a Jesuit parish and Jesuits are known for their devotion to and practice of Ignatian Spirituality. I, a lay man, have been trained as a Spiritual Director in the practices of St Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. I have completed a two year Lay Ministry program conducted by our diocese and a one year spiritual direction training program led by one of our priests.

 

[pianistclare]

I am on staff at a Jesuit parish and Jesuits are known for their devotion to and practice of Ignatian Spirituality. I, a lay man, have been trained as a Spiritual Director in the practices of St Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. I have completed a two year Lay Ministry program conducted by our diocese and a one year spiritual direction training program led by one of our priests.

Very cool. Congratulations! I grew up in a Jesuit parish…wonderful, simply wonderful.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I am on staff at a Jesuit parish and Jesuits are known for their devotion to and practice of Ignatian Spirituality. I, a lay man, have been trained as a Spiritual Director in the practices of St Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. I have completed a two year Lay Ministry program conducted by our diocese and a one year spiritual direction training program led by one of our priests.

Very cool. I’m a Benedictine Oblate but had the opportunity to do the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises. They’ve been a great boost to my spiritual life. Making them more widely available would be wonderful.

 

[commenter]

I guess the sticking point for many is the term “Traditional”.
Nope, trad’s don’t like the notion of lay people working with people. In or out of church. We see that all the time here on CAF.
But in today’s world, with a shortage of priests and the vast amount of good catechesis out there for lay people, and their desire to work in the vineyard…yes. **Modern **Catholics believe Spiritual Direction to more of walking the path with you kind of endeavor.
No **modern **Catholic believes that only their confessor can guide them in spiritual exercises.
A confessor, a priest, yes, does what you say a Spiritual Director does.
If you need counseling, yup. Go to a priest.

Modern Western culture probably puts more emphasis on Spirituality, and less emphasis on God, than it has for many centuries. The modern culture has endless books, TV shows, and internet about Spirituality, as a goal in itself. Specifically the moderns tend to glorify individualizing spirituality. In other words, I follow my own unique spiritual gifts and spiritual creativity, which the Church had better start recognizing and appreciating. In that sense, “spiritual direction” abolishes traditional concepts like original sin.

In the same way **modern****culture also glorifies individualized morality. That’s how pro abortion politicians get re elected. They talk about morality far more than politicians 50 years ago. In my former, modern parish, they removed the crucifix, which they labelled traditional, and replaced it with different kinds of spiritual symbols, responding to, appreciating and nurturing the unique charisms of the congregation.

I need strong spiritual direction, lest I yield to the constant temptation to be a modern media Catholic.
(I added the “bolding” to the quoted post, not mean to minimize the insights of that poster).**

 

[commenter]

The more modern notion of spiritual direction is really more of a spiritual companionship than the traditional form of spiritual direction in which one’s spiritual director, through the council of the Holy Spirit, directs the person’s soul to holiness and perfection. In order to do this effectively, the spiritual director needs to know the state of his directee’s soul, his imperfect inclinations, etc in order to give proper direction (which he does in various forms, sometimes indirectly) to overcome one’s imperfections and be purified. It’s complicated and unpleasant and really only someone who has access to the person’s confession has the proper knowledge to do this.

It probably works both ways. The spiritual director who hears the person’s confession has a more complete view, to consider personal obstacles to coming closer to God. But the confessor who also happens to be the spiritual director may be better able to give guidance specifically in Confession. They are more aware of challenges that affect the morality of certain actions, and also aware of potential strengths and resources in this particular person that they can draw on, specifically regarding sins and temptations.

Perhaps some people don’t really need the spiritual director and confessor to be the same person, but for others, it is helpful, and for some, even a necessity. People are different.

 

[pianistclare]

Modern Western culture probably puts more emphasis on Spirituality, and less emphasis on God, than it has for many centuries. The modern culture has endless books, TV shows, and internet about Spirituality, as a goal in itself. Specifically the moderns tend to glorify individualizing spirituality. In other words, I follow my own unique spiritual gifts and spiritual creativity, which the Church had better start recognizing and appreciating. In that sense, “spiritual direction” abolishes traditional concepts like original sin.

In the same way modern****culture also glorifies individualized morality. That’s how pro abortion politicians get re elected. They talk about morality far more than politicians 50 years ago. In my former, modern parish, they removed the crucifix, which they labelled traditional, and replaced it with different kinds of spiritual symbols, responding to, appreciating and nurturing the unique charisms of the congregation.

I need strong spiritual direction, lest I yield to the constant temptation to be a modern media Catholic.
(I added the “bolding” to the quoted post, not mean to minimize the insights of that poster).

Wow.
I do no subscribe to all the evil qualities of what you believer “modern” to encompass, but thanks anyway. Modern does not equate to “immoral”. Have never been a cafeteria Catholic, have never voted pro-abortion.
Serve in the pro-life ministry, actually.
Our parish has a huge crucifix, thanks, and I take offense to being labeled as a “liberal”.
I’m out.

 

[hope19]

In a world where we are in a lack of priests, lay people can also be spiritual guide.

hope19

 

[zab]

I don’t doubt that lay people can be a spiritual guide. But I think people have different ideas on what spiritual direction is. There are spiritual direction centers that I would never go to and pay money for guidance that would only deter my spiritual growth. A person who is trying to live an inner life of perfection, that is, trying to live a holy life, and is seeking a Spiritual Director possibly to share some experiences that they have had -they need a person with more than (or other than) a college degree to guide them. They need someone who is knowledgeable of the spiritual life that St. Teresa of Avilla, St. John of the Cross and other saints speak of. Not every priest has the knowledge of what it takes to be a good spiritual director. But at times that is all one has available to them.

 

[RyanBlack]

In the East, we have an ancient and honored tradition of monks, most of whom are not priests, serving as spiritual directors, and even as confessors (though if they are not ordained, they do not have the power to absolve). So I would say that it is not necessary to be ordained to be a spiritual director. Of course, most monks have a degree of devotion to prayer that most non-monastics simply are unable to cultivate.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Ryan,

I agree with you. I think two essential qualities for a spiritual director – whether cleric or lay – is that they exhibit wisdom and holiness themselves before they try to guide someone else.

 

[babochka]

Spiritual Directors do not offer anything remotely similar to confession.

The Vatican treats spiritual direction and confession together in this document: clerus.org/clerus/dati/2011-05/20-13/Sussidio_per_Confessori_en.pdf , indicating that the Church certainly believes that there is considerable overlap. I don’t think that is always the case, but it really isn’t accurate to say that they are not remotely similar. This is an interesting blog post from a priest who changed his view on the subject, after reading the above document: whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/spiritual-direction-and-confession/

Spiritual Director give you advice on developing your spiritual life, not solving your personal problems. I’ve had both, lay people and ordained priests as Spiritual Directors. Both simply recommended Scriptures to meditate on and great books, retreat opportunities, etc. Advice for relationships. But they never counseled me as a confessor.
I’m not sure what you’re inferring?

I absolutely have no problem with a lay spiritual director as you are describing, but for myself, I prefer my confessor to serve in that role. I have had a number of close friends who have served as spiritual guides and companions who have done what you describe. I’ve never considered them to be “spiritual directors” in a formal sense, but in a way, I suppose they are. They have helped me on the path to holiness with wise counsel, insight, and knowledge.

 

[babochka]

Thank you all for your replies. They have put me at ease to some extent on the issue.

When people speak to me, they typically seem to already know what they need to do, they just aren’t sure how to do it. The situations I’m more talking about are situations where the person knows what is right and what is wrong, goes to confession for it, but can’t seem to get past it. Does that still seem like an OK type of advice to be giving? I certainly would never give my opinions on definitive matters such as morals and faith and would always defer to the Church, but some of the “hows” are less definitive and need to be catered to the individual’s needs and lifestyle.

I think it is perfectly ok to give that kind of advice, as one Christian to another. We are supposed to rely on one another for help, encouragement and guidance. I guess I just never really consider this sort of thing to be spiritual direction, in the classic sense of the term. I have a very good friend who is scrupulous. Her confessor has told her to find a trusted friend with a healthy conscience, and regularly ask that person “is this a sin” when she is struggling. In many cases, she chooses to ask me. I answer her to the best of my ability. I don’t consider myself in any way to be giving her spiritual director.

I have no problem with lay spiritual direction in general, I just don’t think what you describe is it.

 

[hazcompat]

St John Of The Cross

To fulfill his role, the director must therefore not only appreciate a person’s human nature, his powers of reason and judgement, and his individual capacities, but also that the person may indeed be more advanced in the spiritual life than himself, and that in some cases one is better off alone on the spiritual journey than being misled by incompetent guides or by those who might tear down rather than build one up. The awareness of the person’s own radical ability to be led by God independent of the instrumentality of a human guide relieves the spiritual director of the expectation that he alone can lead a person to union with God and enables him to fulfill his true role more effectively.

And what is the spiritual director’s role in the spiritual life of another person? How does he best fulfill his task as an instrument of divine guidance? According to Book Two of the Ascent, the director’s role consists in helping a person to give up the attachments of his intellect to his own particular understanding of God and to progress in personal prayer in order to be disposed to God’s guidance to loving union with Himself through faith and contemplation. The spiritual director participates in the person’s own faith-process, walking in faith with him toward the goal of the spiritual journey. The director is aided in understanding his role by the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. Addressing his reader in the name of the Heavenly Father, John writes:

He [Jesus Christ] is My entire locution and response, vision and revelation, which I have already spoken, answered, manifested, and revealed to you, by giving Him to you as a brother, companion, master, ransom, and reward.

This model of Christ especially as brother, companion, and master (hermano, compañero, y maestro) helps the spiritual director conceptualize his own role in the faith-process of another.

To fulfill his role, the spiritual director most possess special knowledge, experience, and skills. He must have, first of all, an adequate theory of knowledge which includes the possibility of active knowing through the operation of the natural cognitive processes and passive knowing through contemplation. Through understanding the distinction made by the scholastic philosophers between the active and passive or “possible” intellect, the director can harmonize the acquisition of particular knowledge through the active use of the natural cognitive processes with the reception of a general, indistinct knowledge infused by God into the soul through faith. The director can thus understand that despite the human intellect’s inability to adequately conceive of God through the normal operations of the sense and spiritual faculties, God can directly bestow upon a person an obscure, loving, knowledge of Himself upon the passive intellect in contemplation. Furthermore, an adequate theory of knowledge enables the director to understand that the path of faith or unknowing which leads to contemplation does not exempt a person from employing natural reason and practical judgment as means for growth in faith. Thus equipped with an adequate theory of knowledge, the spiritual director will be able to make the clarifications and distinctions necessary to lead a person through the problems arising from attachment to particular knowledge of God to the darkness of faith.

carmelitesofeldridge.org/juan18.html

Peace

 

[xzereus]

St John Of The Cross

To fulfill his role, the director must therefore not only appreciate a person’s human nature, his powers of reason and judgement, and his individual capacities, but also that the person may indeed be more advanced in the spiritual life than himself, and that in some cases one is better off alone on the spiritual journey than being misled by incompetent guides or by those who might tear down rather than build one up. The awareness of the person’s own radical ability to be led by God independent of the instrumentality of a human guide relieves the spiritual director of the expectation that he alone can lead a person to union with God and enables him to fulfill his true role more effectively.

And what is the spiritual director’s role in the spiritual life of another person? How does he best fulfill his task as an instrument of divine guidance? According to Book Two of the Ascent, the director’s role consists in helping a person to give up the attachments of his intellect to his own particular understanding of God and to progress in personal prayer in order to be disposed to God’s guidance to loving union with Himself through faith and contemplation. The spiritual director participates in the person’s own faith-process, walking in faith with him toward the goal of the spiritual journey. The director is aided in understanding his role by the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. Addressing his reader in the name of the Heavenly Father, John writes:

He [Jesus Christ] is My entire locution and response, vision and revelation, which I have already spoken, answered, manifested, and revealed to you, by giving Him to you as a brother, companion, master, ransom, and reward.

This model of Christ especially as brother, companion, and master (hermano, compañero, y maestro) helps the spiritual director conceptualize his own role in the faith-process of another.

To fulfill his role, the spiritual director most possess special knowledge, experience, and skills. He must have, first of all, an adequate theory of knowledge which includes the possibility of active knowing through the operation of the natural cognitive processes and passive knowing through contemplation. Through understanding the distinction made by the scholastic philosophers between the active and passive or “possible” intellect, the director can harmonize the acquisition of particular knowledge through the active use of the natural cognitive processes with the reception of a general, indistinct knowledge infused by God into the soul through faith. The director can thus understand that despite the human intellect’s inability to adequately conceive of God through the normal operations of the sense and spiritual faculties, God can directly bestow upon a person an obscure, loving, knowledge of Himself upon the passive intellect in contemplation. Furthermore, an adequate theory of knowledge enables the director to understand that the path of faith or unknowing which leads to contemplation does not exempt a person from employing natural reason and practical judgment as means for growth in faith. Thus equipped with an adequate theory of knowledge, the spiritual director will be able to make the clarifications and distinctions necessary to lead a person through the problems arising from attachment to particular knowledge of God to the darkness of faith.

carmelitesofeldridge.org/juan18.html

Peace

Great link, thank you!

 

[ringil]

I have a layman for a Spiritual Director and I do have to admit it feels a bit odd at times. It’s my problem though- not his.

 

[commenter]

Nowadays if you tell someone they are extremely spiritual they will think you are offering them a compliment.

In my diocese there is a “center” for spiritual direction. It is or was somehow affiliated with a convent, which trained these 4 spiritual directors, all laypeople, in spiritual direction. This convent’s spirituality program in the past was heavily involved in the New Age Movement.

The convent itself, locally and its national federation, has frequently dissented with the Magisterium.
Looking over the bios of the spiritual directors, and other info on the internet, at least one of them is solidly prolife, and participates in movements I know to be reliable. But the director of these Spiritual Directors once gave a workshop for Call to Action

so I am not sure how to evaluate them. You might say that you aren’t going there for doctrine, just spiritual direction…okaaaa, but I worry about spirituality becoming almost freestanding, as a thing in itself.
Historically in the Church, spirituality was never considered as good in itself. It simply is raw material for moving closer, or farther, from God.
Every time there is a deep conversion to God, there is one less person interested in spirituality. It reduces the “floating vote” by one. The reverse is also true. When individuals or whole countries, like the US, get caught up in spirituality, fewer people are fully committed to God.

 

[jimdi3]

I have a layman for a Spiritual Director and I do have to admit it feels a bit odd at times. It’s my problem though- not his.

As long as you remember that your discussions are not under the seal of confession and may be used to research an authentic answer.

 

[Dempsey1919]

I receive excellent spiritual direction from an Opus Dei numerary. The spiritual direction I receive from Opus Dei laymen is better than the spiritual direction I receive from most priests.

As an aside, it is also common practise for the priests of Opus Dei to have lay numerary spiritual directors.

This may sound strange, but the numeraries receive thorough a thorough spiritual and doctrinal education and are qualified to give spiritual direction.