What is Spiritual Direction?

A woman approached me a number of years ago, and asked if I would be her Spiritual Director.  I told her I wasn't a Spiritual Director, but that I could meet with her as a prayer partner.  We began meeting on a fairly regular basis, as she tried to work through a few concerns in her life.  All was confidential: she shared; I listened.  There were times when she would have liked me to tell her what to do.  I never did.  But together, we would try to discern what it was that the Lord might be calling her to.  Not an easy task at the best of times.  Things changed, and this dear woman moved on.  I trusted that our time together had been a help to her, as she moved forward to new things in her life.

Soon after another woman came to me, with the same request.  And I responded in much the same way.  We met regularly.  This lady was interested in deepening her prayer life, and her relationship with the Lord.  We would meet to share, and again, I would not tell her what to do, but I would listen, and sometimes make suggestions.  Her relationship with the Lord deepened, and eventually she began to meet with an accredited Spiritual Director, who would eventually lead her through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.


A topic for a future blog.

This pattern of being approached for Spiritual Direction continued.  I wouldn't say yes to everyone; I would prayerfully consider each request before responding.


A beautiful friendship developed between myself and one person in particular.  Her gift to me was to invite me to provide Spiritual Direction, not just to herself, but also to a small group of women she was meeting with. I will be eternally grateful to her for her encouragement; she has now gone home to be with her Lord.

One day I felt particularly drawn to consider more closely the call to Spiritual Direction; I brought the matter to prayer.  I went to the Ignatian Centre for an interview, and was matched with a Spiritual Director.


My training had begun.


At a meeting tonight, I heard of a woman who refers to her Spiritual Director, as her Spiritual Accountant.  A retired banker, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Prayer for What I Want
Lord, grant that I may see thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
follow thee more nearly.
- Spiritual Exercises 104


To know more about Spiritual Direction, watch the following video with Joyce Rupp, OSM, and Susan Loretta, speaking about the importance of "generous listening" and integrating body, mind, and spirit.

Joyce Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, a spiritual "midwife", and retreat and conference speaker.
Joyce Rupp


Here below are links to several Ignatian Spirituality Centres in Canada.
The Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal

Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering

Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph