The Practice of Spiritual Direction

The "gold standard" for texts on spiritual direction. I refer to it constantly. Barry and co-author William Connoly cover what spiritual direction is, why it is needed, how it should be done, and who should do it. Barry and Connolly look at the difficulties that can arise during spiritual direction and give extremely helpful advice on how to deal with them. They also remind the reader that spiritual direction must be flexible, according to where the directee is in her/his relationship with God. I began using the book as an assigned text in a certification program for spiritual directors. I now know that this is one of the books I will keep with me and use frequently

As the director of the DeepWardly School of Spiritual Direction, a program that trains and certifies spiritual directors, this is a primary and essential textbook. It is well-written and has stood the test of time. I highly recommend it to every spiritual director or person in training to be a director.

Over the past couple months I have been considering the possibility of formal training to become a spiritual director. I have not made a decision one way or another. But I have committed to reading more about spiritual direction (because that is how I process), praying about it, and seeking out advice from people around me that I trust.The Practice of Spiritual Direction is a classic book on spiritual direction originally written in 1982. The authors are both Catholic, but it is very ecumenical in tone (at least the 2009 edition that I read.) The first couple chapters are rough descriptions of what spiritual direct is and is not. There are some definitions that are stricter and some that are looser, but roughly the spiritual direction here is understood as, ‘helping a person directly with his or her relationship with God.’After the brief introduction, the rest is a more technical look at how spiritual direction works, how one is trained in spiritual direction, about supervision and its importance, etc. This was a very helpful introduction. And while I have read several others books on spiritual direction, this was the best introduction to the practice of giving spiritual direction I have read so far.

Each time I pick up The Practice of Spiritual Direction, I am fed with another awareness of who God is with any of us. There is always a note I missed before. This "missed it the first time" parallels my experience of listening to others. Often a listening experience opens a message that's been communicated previously; what seems "new" was really said before in other words and only now is grasped. Barry and Connolly write with a wealth of experience making it unlikely anyone will catch all their wisdom in one reading.

A very practical book which lays an excellent foundation for the practice of a form of spiritual direction that is entirely focused on helping people develop a growing, intimate relationship with a loving God. It helps spiritual directors facilitate, not dominate, the process. This book is very lucidly written and full of wisdom born of long, prayerful and practical experience. This book is must reading for anyone who is considering, or who is fulfilling, a vocation in this form of ministry. It's the kind of book I would want to read over again periodically to let it sink in.

I bought this book because I want to become a spiritual director. It is the perfect book for me because it fits with my ideas of spirituality and how to assist others who wish to grow in the spiritual life. It does present the different models of spiritual direction. I have experienced some of them. This is not pastoral direction or counseling. This is a faith journey with another person toward God and a deeper relationship with God.I have not completed this book and will check back and edit as necessary when I do.

Great mix of history, theory and practice of spiritual direction. Appreciated the fictionalized dialogues as a means to contrast different approaches.

"The Practice of Spiritual Direction" reveals a long experience in the ministry of spiritual direction. It is solidly rooted in the Christian and Catholic tradition of spiritual direction as well as drawing on insights from psychology and psycho analysis. It is balanced and stays true to its fundamental definition of spiritual direction as the spiritual director helping the directee to grow in his/her relationship with God. I would recommend this for anyone who wishes to serve in the ministry of spiritual direction.