Guided by the Spirit: A Jesuit Perspective on Spiritual Direction.Guided by the Spirit: A Jesuit Perspective on Spiritual Direction. By Frank J. Houdek, S.J. Chicago: Loyola, 1996. 181 pages. Paper. $18.95. Frank Houdek has several working assumptions about God and the person seeking spiritual direction: God exists; God exercises a caring concern for the human family; there is a personal God; God is knowable; God invites us into a relationship with God and with one another. The person seeking spiritual direction needs to have the capacity for self-reflection, verbal skills, and a sense of the mystery in life. Houdek writes that spiritual direction is an art involving conversation and dialogue. As the work of the Spirit of God, it expresses both faith and mystery. Furthermore, spiritual direction is neither psychological counseling nor psychotherapy. Spiritual direction is Spirit-driven. I enjoyed the story of George Bernard Shaw's play St. Joan (Joan of Arc Joan of Arc, Fr. Jeanne D'Arc (zhän därk), 1412?–31, French saint and national heroine, called the Maid of Orléans; daughter of a farmer of Domrémy on the border of Champagne and Lorraine. ) when the presiding judge presiding judge n. 1) in both state and federal appeals court, the judge who chairs the panel of three or more judges during hearings and supervises the business of the court. asks, "Do you mean to tell us that you hear voices?" Joan pauses and replies, "Doesn't everyone?" In spiritual direction we, too, hear voices ... the voice of the Spirit working in our hearts and in our minds. There are four useful chapters discussing the directee and the process of spiritual growth; particular types of directees and their needs; prayer and spiritual discernment; and the director and the process of direction. Houdek underscores the notion that God is the initiator in the process of spiritual direction. The role of the spiritual director is not to get in the way of God's action. This thought needs to be uppermost in what we do as spiritual directors. This process is not about us; it is about following God's lead. Chapter 3, regarding prayer and spiritual discernment, is most helpful. Prayer begins with God as the center and starting point Noun 1. starting point - earliest limiting point terminus a quo commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the of prayer. The spiritual director never pesters or nags the directee about his or her prayer life. Prayer is not so much about us as about God. A spiritual director can only assist the directee to become aware of God's action in life. Prayer is an awareness of God's constant and loving presence. Prayer involves giving God the power to possess us. I found it refreshing to hear Houdek's emphasis on the "unconditional love This article is about concept of unconditional love. For other uses, see Unconditional love (disambiguation). Unconditional love is a concept that means showing love towards someone regardless of his or her actions or beliefs. " of God. God offers compassion, mercy, and justice to everyone. After all, "God is love." We need to come to an awareness that one cannot live without God. A good-spirited directee is one who is growing in personal responsibility, freedom, and maturity, as well as developing Christian virtue, particularly the theological virtues the three virtues, faith, hope, and charity. See 1 Cor. xiii. 13. u> - Addison. See also: Virtue of faith, hope, and charity. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. chapter 4, both director and directee need to be aware of transference TRANSFERENCE, Scotch law. The name of an action by which a suit, which was pending at the time the parties died, is transferred from the deceased to his representatives, in the same condition in which it stood formerly. (directed at the spiritual director) and countertransference countertransference /coun·ter·trans·fer·ence/ (koun?ter-trans-fer´ens) a transference reaction of a psychoanalyst or other psychotherapist to a patient. coun·ter·trans·fer·ence n. (directed at the directee). When these issues occur in a spiritual direction session, it is necessary to terminate the sessions and make a referral to a counselor or psychotherapist psy·cho·ther·a·pist n. An individual, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or psychiatric social worker, who practices psychotherapy. . Supervision is essential for anyone practicing spiritual direction. I heard again that the role of the spiritual director is not to get in the way of God's action. The spiritual director needs to create a sense of ease, a safe haven 1. Designated area(s) to which noncombatants of the United States Government's responsibility and commercial vehicles and materiel may be evacuated during a domestic or other valid emergency. 2. , and a place of comfort in order for directees to relax and share their stories, thereby allowing the Spirit to do the work. Chapter 2 made me aware of the numerous types of directees. Fear, anger, depression, sexuality, and authority are significant issues for any person. The whole section on dryness or aridity in personal prayer helped me reflect on the places to search for God's presence in work, leisure, nature, and relationships. I heard once again that dryness may actually mark the beginning of a more genuine gift of prayer. Charles J. Lopez, Jr. Anaheim, California |
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