Bishop’s Perspective on Spiritual Direction (Part I of III) Dear Catholic Spiritual Direction Friends, A few of you know that I travel a great deal between Connecticut and Colorado. When I am in Connecticut my home parish is Our Lady of Lebanon, a parish of the Eparchy of Saint Maron in Brooklyn. I have had … Read more
Dear Father John, what is the difference between confession and spiritual direction? Confession and spiritual direction are like partially overlapping circles: they share some common characteristics, but their centers, their essences, are distinct. The Distinction of Confession The essence of confession is the sacramental grace that Christ gives to our soul through the ministry of … Read more
Spiritual Direction Posts and Series Index Dear Friends, To make it easier for you to find key posts on spiritual direction, we have updated our Spiritual Direction Posts and Series Index page. As well, we have ordered the posts in a way in keeping with the flow of topics. These posts cover topics such … Read more
Dear Father John, How much of a discussion in spiritual direction should focus on moral issues, such as habitual sin and possibly that of grave matter which may not necessarily be mortal sin? So much discussion here is only about how to pray well, making a program for life, finding a spiritual director and things … Read more
Where is Spiritual Direction in Scripture & Tradition? Dear Father John, Is the idea of spiritual direction found in scripture? What is the basis for spiritual direction in scripture and/or tradition? Do you remember when St. Paul had his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus? Taking a look at Paul’s own brief … Read more
Dear Father John, I have loved reading your blog and have gained many insights from it that I will put into practice! I have been wondering about a spiritual direction question: I live quite a distance from the priest I would prefer to seek direction from and it is difficult for us to connect. I … Read more
Dear Father John, I have heard that most saints have had spiritual directors in their lives. Why would a saint need spiritual direction? Is there something about the human condition that does not allow spiritual progress without this kind of assistance? Let me answer your question with a question: Why did God choose to save … Read more
Dear Father John, I am new to spiritual direction. After asking a newly ordained priest if he would be my spiritual director, he graciously accepted…thanks be to God. We have met several times over the past eight months, however, at our last meeting he caught me off guard. It had been four months since our … Read more
Pope Benedict XVI Recommends Spiritual Direction VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Everyone — priests, religious, laypeople — and especially youth, should have a spiritual director to help them in the Christian life, says Benedict XVI. The Pope affirmed this today when he reflected on Symeon the New Theologian during the general audience held in … Read more
Dear Father John, What are the key characteristics of good spiritual direction? There are three ways to answer this question, depending on the point of view. From the point of view of the person receiving it, spiritual direction is an extremely useful (many would say essential) help for growing in holiness, which is the same … Read more
Seeking Spiritual Direction – How to Grow the Divine Life Within By Father Thomas Dubay, S.M. Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within by Father Thomas Dubay, is a book which has been written as a practical guide for Christians who are considering spiritual direction or who are already engaged in the spiritual … Read more
Thank you for completing Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits. Would you be willing to share your thoughts in this quick survey? It won’t take more than 5 minutes. This will give us opportunities to make improvements for future course participants. If you chose to receive small group resources, fill out our survey here.
A Reflection from “The Silent Witness of Nazareth” by Fr. Serafino M. Lanzetta Nothing less than a truly just man, the most righteous of men, would be fitting in order to be a worthy spouse of the Blessed Virgin. St. Joseph was indeed the most holy spouse of Mary and their marriage was a true … Read more
In this episode of The Devil Is in the Details, we continue our walk through St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Rules for the Discernment of Spirits by unpacking Rule 10: “Let the one who is in consolation think how he will conduct himself in the desolation which will come after, taking new strength for that time.” … Read more
Join us for this episode of Divine Intimacy Radio “Change My Spiritual Director – How to Know When and How to Do It?” as we speak with Dr. Anthony Lilles about how to discern when it is time to change your spiritual director and how to make the change! Want to listen to more? Subscribe … Read more
“As I lay there, I visualized Jesus on the cross. I meditated on the soldiers hammering the nail into His foot, since that was the epicenter of my pain.” – Leslie Rowe
“Solomon is a type. He stands for Jesus Christ. The Queen of Sheba is a type too. She stands for the soul seeking wisdom.” – Fr. James Brent, OP
Ever find your good intentions and resolutions fade quickly? Do you struggle to keep a steady prayer life, even when you truly want to grow? Have you ever wondered why you’re not growing spiritually—even though you receive the sacraments and desire holiness? Learn how environmental conditions influence spiritual growth, why vague goals fail, and how … Read more
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