Spiritual direction is an immense grace that God bestows upon the Church, offering a means of direct and personalised divine communication between Jesus and the faithful. It is not a form of prophecy, vision, or worse, spiritualism or channelling. Nor is it confession. It is also not psychotherapy, coaching, simple life accompaniment, or counselling. Neither is it private tutoring. Yet, the grace of God is truly communicated. This method is part of the grace of the Incarnation. While it is not a sacrament, it does convey grace. Furthermore, it is especially necessary when there is a real need (and one does not fully know oneself).
Avoiding or fleeing from spiritual direction can be deeply detrimental and hinder progress. St. John of the Cross highlights that God delights in communicating Himself to us through spiritual direction. He observed and understood this because spiritual direction is an extension of the Incarnation. The Incarnation does not cease when Christ ascends into heaven; instead, it is entrusted to the Apostles. Every aspect of Jesus’ mission is deposited in the Church as a divine gift to be safeguarded, used, and transmitted throughout the ages. Thus, spiritual direction cannot be neglected, as it is one of the most profound and beautiful continuations of the Incarnation in time.
Certainly, the challenge lies in finding a good spiritual director who is part of the living chain of transmission of Christ’s mission on earth.
Spiritual Direction involves a total focus on the person being guided, as well as attentive listening to what the grace of God is doing and desires to do in that person. It is a focus on the concrete situation, their abilities, specific circumstances, and so on.
The Desert Fathers practised Spiritual Direction. They often show us the disciple, the young, inexperienced monk, coming to the elder and saying: Abba, Father, give me a word that will save me. Of course, a person who is spiritually advanced has a clearer perception of the various aspects of spiritual life. This clarity stems from their purification and the light it brings, as well as from their long experience with various cases, their knowledge of the human soul, their familiarity with God’s ways of acting, and their understanding of His ultimate purpose.
The authority of the director arises from their experience, their commitment to the tradition of spiritual direction, the fact that they themselves have received it, reflected on various questions, prayed over them, and faced numerous challenges, difficulties, and obstacles along their path. By the grace of God, they have either overcome these or learned to live with them, developing wisdom and discernment, like St Paul, who received the reply: ‘My grace is sufficient for you,’ and ‘Grace abounds in weakness.’
Spiritual Direction is an immense grace given to the baptised because it is an extension of Christ’s presence as a Spiritual Guide among us. Certainly, Christ could see into the soul, which is a great advantage that most spiritual directors do not possess as a particular grace. However, over the years, they have learned to practise Lectio Divina, enabling them to read God, listen to Him, and discern His action in the soul. Thus, by “reading” the person before them, listening attentively to them, and hearing God speak to them as they listen, they engage in a form of Lectio Divina.
Without a doubt, spiritual direction requires science. Not just any science, but one of the highest quality. St. Teresa of Avila herself acknowledges that many spiritual directors caused her harm by overlooking important aspects of her life, dismissing them as insignificant.
There is another important aspect to spiritual direction. The spiritual director is a human being, with feelings, emotions, and perceptions—in a word, a human heart. However, this heart can become entangled with that of the directee. Even St. John of the Cross experienced this: he admitted that he was misled by a woman to whom he had been giving spiritual direction. It is essential to remain vigilant of the human and psychological dynamics that unfold during spiritual direction. One must cultivate self-awareness and regularly seek spiritual direction, along with proper examination of conscience and introspection, to maintain clarity and discernment.
Another aspect of spiritual direction for the director is that it requires a deep understanding of the various facets of spiritual growth: the stages of growth, how to discern them, and the means of growth suited to each stage.
As we can see, the qualities required for spiritual direction are both numerous and nuanced. This is why it is often said that spiritual direction is sought by one in a thousand. St. John of the Cross urges us to carefully consider which spiritual direction we entrust our soul to, as the direction we receive shapes the person we become. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reinforces this notion. For spiritual direction to be a profound grace for the Church, the director must be transformed, well-formed, and have received the gift of discernment. He or she must be deeply human and, above all, profoundly spiritual. The spiritual director is also on a journey of growth in their own practice.
They must continually perfect their art by learning about God, humanity, and the spiritual life, always progressing. They may learn from other spiritual traditions, psychology, and more, but this must be done in the light of God and with a full awareness of the power of His grace. Lastly, when the director cannot offer understanding or help, they must have the humility to say, “Go and see another person.” A spiritual director should never seek to bind the directee to themselves.
Spiritual direction is a great grace, but it doesn’t always work smoothly or lead to the desired fruit. The effectiveness of spiritual direction can vary depending on the director. The director can be “sacramental,” meaning they channel God’s grace effectively, or they can act as a filter, allowing only some aspects of grace to pass through. In some unfortunate cases, the direction may even be detrimental to the directee’s spiritual growth.
The role of the spiritual director is not passive; it requires deep awareness, discernment, and a well-formed spiritual life. A director who lacks these qualities, or who is not well-attuned to the movements of the Holy Spirit, can unintentionally cause harm. The directee’s progress can be hindered, or worse, misdirected, if the director is not properly equipped spiritually, psychologically, and pastorally.
One of the key conditions for the grace to flow during Spiritual Direction is the purity of conscience of the directee, along with their openness to the director—revealing, like an open book, their soul, thoughts, temptations, difficulties, and weaknesses. This openness, accompanied by total trust and faith in Jesus’ presence during the Spiritual Direction, allows the Holy Spirit to work with greater freedom.
Thus, it’s crucial to carefully discern the right director, as the relationship between director and directee is a profound one. A healthy spiritual direction should always lead the directee closer to God, offering clear guidance, fostering discernment, and nurturing spiritual growth. But for this to happen, the director must be deeply rooted in prayer, humility, and knowledge of both the soul and God’s will.