My Role as a Spiritual Director
I do my best to keep my spiritual life as holy as possible. Before I joined the Diaconate Formation Program at Mundelein seminary, I was in the impression that I was one of “good” Catholics in the world. May be because I thought I attended mass almost every weekend. During the four-year program however, I realized, how little I knew about my faith. I recall how I tried to raise my children in faith. Then I realized how little authority I had over their faith life and their path to good citizenship. This is when I decided to help as many people as possible to grow in their spiritually. That is, of course, whoever is willing to listen.
As a spiritual director I am aware that one of my responsibilities is to manage my directees’ spiritual growth. I have my own spiritual director to keep my growth under review. I will also have supervisors who make sure that my way of guiding my directees is truly helping and not harming their spiritual lives. However, all this is done with a deep respect given to the trust they keep in me to protect their situations and identities.
I am only an instrument of the Holy Spirit and a help to those I direct.
I will prayerfully listen to the prompting or leading of the Holy Spirit regarding root cause issues hindering the spiritual progress of the directee.
I will Strive to listen and understand what the directees really mean, not just what they say.
I will be slow to speak and quick to ask clarifying questions instead of assuming that they understand everything right away.
I will gently but firmly challenge directees, out of love, to be open, honest, and accountable regarding their commitments, and to be faithful to what God is asking of them.
God will never change. Isn’t this such good news?
Spiritual Direction is the best way to reach deep inside our lives where God dwells.
