The Practice of Spiritual Direction

This book was "required reading" in a course on spiritual direction I took that was taught by the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality (centered in Denver). It is an excellent introduction to the ministry of spiritual direction, especially for people who are not priests, ministers, deacons, or religious. While these people have traditionally served as spiritual directors, there is growing acceptance that "non-professionals" may make gifted spiritual directors too.The book covers the basics from what spiritual direction is to the importance of developing the relationship between the Directee and God and the Director and Directee. It covers all the bases in a non-technical language. While I wouldn't call the book a "breeze" to read, it is well written by a master of the art of spiritual direction and thus "easy" to understand by the focused reader. Those interested in spiritual direction likely would have that focus.The ministry of spiritual direction does take training, and this book will likely help in that training or help a person discern if s/he would like to seek out training. I was fortunate to take direction through the Lanteri Center when they held a satellite program the Washington, DC area. There are a number of such programs across the U.S.

E.G. Melillo voiced a concern about the response given concerning a married woman who was having a relationship with a divorced man. I understand E.G. Melillo's concern, however, I interpreted the author's words in a different way.The authors didn't seem to be saying that the relationship was appropriate in any way. They seemed to be talking about how we "approach" a directee which can affect the listening relationship and working alliance. On page 143, the authors say, "In the first place, the directee usually knows that there is a discrepancy...God has an interest in the quality of the directee's life and that behavior that is seriously inconsistent with God's desires will lead to disturbances in the relationship with him...(Then) the director, whose working agreement has been to help her with prayer, can now begin to probe more deeply into the causes of the disturbance and thus help the directee." If the director strongly points out the "sin" in her actions right away, the directee is likely to tune her out. The authors are encouraging a director to be patient and maintain a relationship with the woman and then the director will be able to help "her" discover this discrepancy for herself. Allowing someone to hear God for themselves is always better than trying to be God for them. We can easily get in the way and interfere with the Spirit's action if we try to jump on a subject before the directee is ready to hear.I found the book to be good, basic knowledge. It doesn't wander from the main thing, which is a clear understanding and knowledge of spiritual direction. They state over and over again that the motivation for spiritual direction has to be the desire to grow in relationship with the Lord.

Each time I pick up The Practice of Spiritual Direction, I am fed with another awareness of who God is with any of us. There is always a note I missed before. This "missed it the first time" parallels my experience of listening to others. Often a listening experience opens a message that's been communicated previously; what seems "new" was really said before in other words and only now is grasped. Barry and Connolly write with a wealth of experience making it unlikely anyone will catch all their wisdom in one reading.

A very practical book which lays an excellent foundation for the practice of a form of spiritual direction that is entirely focused on helping people develop a growing, intimate relationship with a loving God. It helps spiritual directors facilitate, not dominate, the process. This book is very lucidly written and full of wisdom born of long, prayerful and practical experience. This book is must reading for anyone who is considering, or who is fulfilling, a vocation in this form of ministry. It's the kind of book I would want to read over again periodically to let it sink in.

I definitely believed that this book was one that was informative and indicative what people in our faith communities are in need of these days. However, I did find myself wanting to have more concrete, practical steps as to how to go about executing spiritual direction whereas the book seemed to take more of a mystical approach to it. Overall though, I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to further their relationship with God or has the desire to assist others in cultivating their walk with God.

This is a well written and highly informative book which covers a lot of ground. It will provide a good overview of what spiritual direction is, how to do it and how to recognise and avoid some of the most common problems.

EXCELLENT BOOK FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS

A good study book.

Heavy reading.