Spiritual Direction
According to the Church, “spiritual direction has been practiced from the earliest history of the Church down to our own times. It is sometimes referred to as spiritual counseling or spiritual accompaniment. It is an ancient and tested practice which has produced fruits of holiness and evangelical readiness.” (sussidio_per_confessori, 64) In practice, spiritual direction is a three-part encounter – the director, the directee, and the Holy Spirit. People come to spiritual direction for many reasons, but the ultimate purpose is to allow the directee to see the divine in the ordinary activities of life.
What is spiritual direction?
According to the Church, “spiritual direction has been practiced from the earliest history of the Church down to our own times. It is sometimes referred to as spiritual counseling or spiritual accompaniment. It is an ancient and tested practice which has produced fruits of holiness and evangelical readiness.” (sussidio_per_confessori, 64) In practice, spiritual direction is a three-part encounter – the director, the directee, and the Holy Spirit. People come to spiritual direction for many reasons, but the ultimate purpose is to allow the directee to see the divine in the ordinary activities of life.
Three Chairs
Jennifer Jinks Hoffmann
You are a spiritual director, I sit in my chair and you sit in yours.
I have come to see you with a longing that mystifies me.
You draw my attention to the third chair in the room.
You invite me to see with the eye of my heart the Source of my longing.
The eternal, invisible, loving, guiding, challenging, insistent Mystery in the third chair.
Who needs spiritual direction?
In short, everyone who desires to deepen their faith or grow in their relationship with the Lord. Pope Benedict XVI said it this way: “The Church continues to recommend the practice of spiritual direction not only to all those who wish to follow the Lord up close, but to every Christian who wishes new life in Christ.”
“The Church will have to initiate everyone into the “art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.”
Pope Francis, Evangelii Guadium, 169
What are the benefits of spiritual direction?
Some seek spiritual direction to deepen their faith, discern a decision, or receive counsel from a trained spiritual guide. Benefits include deeper peace and balance in life. In short, spiritual direction “must lead others ever closer to God, in whom we attain true freedom.” (Pope Francis)
[Spiritual Directors] make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze.
Pope Francis, Evangelii Guadium, 169
What happens in a spiritual direction session?
A session is usually an hour. Most prefer a monthly schedule. In an environment of trust and confidentiality, the directee usually does most of the talking. The director listens intently, both to what the directee is expressing and to how the Holy Spirit may be speaking in the directee’s life.
The pace of accompaniment must be steady and reassuring,
Pope Francis, Evangelii Guadium, 169
reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals,
liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.
What do I need to enter into a spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction is best approached with an openness to how the Lord may be present in your life and a willingness to take that next step, whatever that may be. The directee sets the agenda and sets the pace of what is shared in a spiritual direction session.
Deacon Scott Gilfillan
Deacon Scott D. Gilfillan is a father of three and a husband for over 40 years. He was ordained as a Catholic deacon in 2001. He has a wide range of experience in pastoral care and leading retreats. For many years, he was the director of the deacon formation for the diocese of Charlotte, assisting and guiding deacon candidates and their wives in discernment and formation. In 2018 he became the director of the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory and began focusing his ministry on spiritual direction. He has met all of the requirements to be certified in spiritual direction through Divine Mercy University.