DIRECTION You might consider when choosing a In preparing for your session, it can be helpful to spiritual director: spend time in intentional prayer about what has been happening in your relationship with God since the last The director’s own experience of receiving • time you met. A few questions to ponder might be: and offering spiritual direction The director’s own experience of prayer, • What am I grateful for in my life and in my • celebration of the Sacraments and works relationships? of charity When/where have I been aware of and • The director’s theological education and • responded to God’s presence? spiritual training When/where have I moved away from God? • The director’s continuing education and • Am I discerning anything in my life or in my • enrichment relationships? The director’s participation in a supervision • Do I seek forgiveness for my own actions or do I • group feel the need to forgive others? The director’s sense of serving as a minister • What has been my experience in celebrating the • of the Church Sacraments? The director’s knowledge, familiarity and • faithfulness to Church teaching, particularly After the session, spend time asking God to help the Catechism of the Catholic Church understand any truths revealed during the session The director’s ability to listen attentively and • and any actions you feel God has asked of you to ask insightful questions while avoiding take as you move forward. Express your gratitude to monopolizing the discussion God. Express your desire to love God faithfully and to live the life that God desires for you. Some general thoughts to consider as you enter into the experience of spiritual direction "With all my heart I seek you” 119:10 —Psalm It is good to keep in mind that spiritual direction For the complete guidelines or more is not a replacement for the sacraments or active information, please us at participation in your parish. Spiritual direction by its Contact us at 1-800-382-9836 or very nature is integrated into and flows from our full, active participation in the life of the Church. Spiritual direction may be experienced as an ongoing process or during a time of retreat. A normal SPIRITUAL rhythm for ongoing spiritual direction, at least in the beginning, is once a month for about an hour. Preparing for a spiritual direction session:
You might consider when choosing a spiritual director: • The director’s own experience of receiving and offering spiritual direction • The director’s own experience of prayer, celebration of the Sacraments and works of charity • The director’s theological education and spiritual training • The director’s continuing education and enrichment • The director’s participation in a supervision group • The director’s sense of serving as a minister of the Church • The director’s knowledge, familiarity and faithfulness to Church teaching, particularly the Catechism of the Catholic Church • The director’s ability to listen attentively and ask insightful questions while avoiding monopolizing the discussion Some general thoughts to consider as you enter into the experience of spiritual direction "With all my heart I seek you” —Psalm 119:10 It is good to keep in mind that spiritual direction is not a replacement for the sacraments or active participation in your parish. Spiritual direction by its very nature is integrated into and flows from our full, active participation in the life of the Church. Spiritual direction may be experienced as an ongoing process or during a time of retreat. A normal rhythm for ongoing spiritual direction, at least in the beginning, is once a month for about an hour. Preparing for a spiritual direction session: In preparing for your session, it can be helpful to spend time in intentional prayer about what has been happening in your relationship with God since the last time you met. A few questions to ponder might be: • What am I grateful for in my life and in my relationships? • When/where have I been aware of and responded to God’s presence? • When/where have I moved away from God? • Am I discerning anything in my life or in my relationships? • Do I seek forgiveness for my own actions or do I feel the need to forgive others? • What has been my experience in celebrating the Sacraments? After the session, spend time asking God to help understand any truths revealed during the session and any actions you feel God has asked of you to take as you move forward. Express your gratitude to God. Express your desire to love God faithfully and to live the life that God desires for you. For the complete guidelines or more information, please us at Contact us at 1-800-382-9836 or SPIRITUAL DIRECTION