We continue our
3-part series on spiritual direction based on «Seeking Spiritual Direction» a
book by Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.
My last
article laid the groundwork by defining some few 1. Key Concepts. Here I
would like to 2. Define Spiritual Direction. In an upcoming article I
will touch on some reflections which pertain more pertinently to the 3.Director.
What is Spiritual
Direction?
Spiritual
Dubay begins by asking the question: What do we
mean by spiritual when we say
spiritual direction? First he shoots down other fakes: 1) We don’t mean only non-material, 2) nor do we want to
separate body and soul, as if direction only pertained to the soul side of
life—an idea which considers that the bodily doesn’t affect eternity. Then he
hones in on the real thing, the Holy Spirit. Spiritual means godly, in other
words, that which has to do with the life of the Blessed Trinity who lives in
our soul. The goal is to foster this life of God, this divine influence, in the
directee, such that he become docile to the Holy Spirit’s light and promptings.
Direction
Then Dubay tells us what direction means: the «Guiding of a person into a life truly
under the dominion of the Holy Spirit, who is the primary director». This
guidance will help remove impediments which get in the Holy Spirit’s way. The
director does this by «giving instruction and encouragement in living a life of
virtue, and assisting the directee to advance on the path of prayer—the road to
union with God».
As if his entire second chapter on mediation
was not enough, Dubay once again reminds us that spiritual direction is
grounded on the biblical principle of mediation, that is, God wishes to save us
through instrumental men and women. These directors are trustworthy in the
degree to which they are faithful to the magisterium. Direction should not be
just friendly counseling or encouragement, but real ecclesial guidance.
Direction thus only flourishes when grounded in the Church to whom revelation
has been entrusted.
The Holy Spirit has the main role in
direction. Dubay quotes Romans 8:14: «For those who are led by the Spirit of
God are children of God». Because of Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit
in John 14:26, we can remain at peace: «The Advocate … will teach you
everything and remind you of all that [I] told you». This peace comes because
God is in control, as long as the director remains united to the Church.
The director is called to carry out his role
with docility and fidelity, a role subordinated to that of the Holy Spirit, who
continues to teach and remind. The director assists the directee to be
receptive to this divine light and urge from on high, from within. His main
function is «to apply general knowledge to a person in a particular set of
circumstances according to that person’s capacities». In order to do this
effectively or successfully the director needs a «great deal of knowledge and a
keen perception» to detect obstacles, in order to help the directee to overcome
and remove them.
In summary, the director is helping the
directee to see the world, man and God, not from his own viewpoint, but from
the standpoint of faith. Sanctity is reached by living according to God’s will.
To reach this standpoint all other motives should be purified.
Fr. Thomas once again reminds us that the
director has no right to his own personal opinions. What we are seeking is the
truth found in the New Testament through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
He goes on to list what spiritual direction
is not: interpersonal psychological problem solving, Oriental transcendence
searching, and extremist ideologies. Some other types of positive direction
exist which, although they are good, are not spiritual direction, such as
parenting, confession, spiritual retreats or simple soul companionship.
The Goal of Direction
«The general purpose of spiritual direction
is identical with that of the whole economy of salvation, aiding the directee
to love God with the whole heart, soul, and mind, and the neighbor as oneself
(Lk 10:27)». No other purpose is sought outside of the Church’s mission, that
of saving souls. «This double love leads one to be filled with the utter
fullness of Triune beauty (Eph 3:19-20), a splendor so magnificent that eye has
seen nothing like it».
In short the director should help the
directee slowly but surely to advance along the path of perfection. Dubay puts
it in a nutshell—«to live concretely as the saints live». He mentions some of
the steps on this path: The need for inner order, active purification which
serves to break selfish clingings, living of the Pauline principle to have a
divine motivation in everything we do, and infused prayer which purifies us
passively.
Jesus is the focal point of all spiritual
direction. Heroic virtue is to be forged in the directee in imitation of
Christ. This goal is achieved in the here and now, according to the needs of
the directee and also, very importantly, according to the present readiness of
the directee. Everything must happen freely and willingly. God never forces
himself on anyone, not even—or much less—through a spiritual director. What’s
more, the director should be a source of comfort and strength, not of anxiety
or external pressure. The world hates «those who live in devotion to Christ»,
thus the director prepares and accompanies the directee during these
«criticisms of the world». Always, however, the focus remains on the «savior,
who “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8), who is always the
norm, the unsurpassable model, the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6)».
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