THE BEST OF THE REVIEW 3: THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Editor's Foreword
I. Spiritual Direction: Needed — A Spiritual Context
Spirituality and Ordinary Human Experience by Angelo M. Caliguri
Toward a Method for the Study of Spirituality by Edward Kinerk SJ
Am I Growing Spiritually? Elements for a Theology of Growth by Matthias Neuman OSB
Three Questions for the Spiritual Journey by Joel Giallanza CSC
II. Spiritual Direction: Identity — A Christian MinistrySpiritual Direction in the Church by John R. Sheets SJ
Spiritual Direction and the Paschal Mystery by Gregory I. Carlson SJ
Spiritual Direction by Frank Wallace SJ
The Three Dimensions of Spiritual Direction by Alice McDowell
Models of Spiritual Direction by David L. Fleming SJ
Spiritual Direction as Pilgrim and Companion by James G.McCready SJIII. Spiritual Direction: Its Interaction with Psychology
The Distinction Between Psychology and Religious Counseling by Robert Rossi OSC
Depth Psychotherapy and Spiritual Direction by Eugene Geromel
Staging, Typing, and Spiritual Direction by John O'Regan OMI
Jungian Typology and Christian Spirituality by Robert A. Repicky CSB
Jungian Types and Forms of Prayer by Thomas E. Clarke SJ
The Spiritual Direction of "Thinking" Types by Carolyn Osiek RSCJIV. Spiritual Direction: Its Beginnings
Beginning Spiritual Direction by David L. Fleming SJ
On Entering Spiritual Direction by Shaun McCarty ST
Letter to a Beginning Spiritual Director by Matthias Neuman OSB
Letter to a Person Beginning Spiritual Direction by Gerald E. KeefeV. Spiritual Direction: A Process
A. God and Our Experience
Our Images of God by Michael T. Winstanley SDB
Asceticism in Christian Life by Steven J. Scherrer MM
Guilt and Healing by Tad Dunne SJ
In Sweat and Tears: Working It Through with God by Eugene GeromelB. Prayer and Examen
Teach Me How to Pray by George Brennan MS
The Psalms Can Teach Us to Pray by Gerard Mackrell SMM
Using the Scripture in Prayer by Hilary Ottensmeyer OSB
Centering Prayer: Refining the Rules by M. Basil Pennington OCSO
When You Can't Prayer: Removing the Obstacles to Prayer by Mary C. Coelho
The Daily Examen by Joan L. Roccasalvo CSJ
The Examen: A Tool for Holistic Growth by John Govan SJC. Will of God and Discernment
Seeking God's Will by Charles J. Healey SJ
Discerning the Spirits in Prayer by William Sampson SJ
Discernment of Spirits in Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila by William K. Delaney SJ
Discernment in the Spiritual Direction of St. Francis de Sales by Richard J. Sweeney
D. Dialogue
Conversion, Pastoral Counseling, and Spiritual Direction by Michael T. Winstanley SDB
Dreams in Spiritual Direction: Help or Distraction? by Ronald Barnes SJ
VI. Spiritual Direction: Special Concerns
The Practice of Supervision in Spiritual Direction by William A. Barry SJ and Mary C. Guy OSU
Pilgrim and Penitent: Direction and Sacramental Reconciliation by Shaun McCarty ST
Group Spiritual Direction by Winifred Corrigan RC
An Experience of Group Direction by Donna Lord GNSH
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When the first issues of Review for Religious were published in 1942, the topic initially chosen for reader involvement and discussion was spiritual direction. The founding editors --- Jesuit Fathers Adam Ellis, Gerald Kelly, and Augustine Ellard --- opened up the topic with a five-page editorial entitled "Spiritual Direction by the Ordinary Confessor." The editors suggested that a forum for exchange of ideas might be established through letters and positive suggestions. To aid the discussion, they subsequently published articles on "The Need of Direction," "Cooperation with Direction," "Manifestation of Conscience," and "The Prudent Use of Confession Privileges." Almost a year later, in Volume 2, Number 3 (1943), the editors put together a concluding survey from the various letters and reflections which had been submitted from the Review readers.
Almost half a century later, we find that the interest in the topic of spiritual direction has grown stronger and far more widespread that just in reference to religious and priestly life and direction's relationship to the confessional forum. The articles which have appeared in Review for Religious over the recent years provide a kind of gold mine for coming to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Christian ministry of spiritual direction.
For clarity and progression of thought, I have given a certain structure to this book in the way in which I have grouped the articles. I have written an original introductory article on direction from the prospective of what I see is neglected in most contemporary treatments --- the perspective of its being based in the gifting of the Spirit and so truly meriting being a Christian ministry. Then in the first section, I group those articles which give some aspects of a Christian spirituality foundation. The second section contains those articles which spell out some of the identifying factors of spiritual direction itself. I have selected a few articles in the third section which give an indication of the interaction between direction today and contemporary psychology, with some selections especially focusing on the currently predominant Jungian contribution to the understanding of our human and spiritual makeup.
In the fourth section, we start looking at the actual working of the ministry of direction by first touching on its beginning stages. The fifth section attempts to take in various aspects of the process itself, with its subdivisions of a) God and our experience, b) prayer and examen, c) will of God and discernment, and d) dialogue. In the sixth and final section, I have grouped some articles representative of issues related to direction, such as supervision, the sacrament of reconciliation, and a model of direction in a group form.
All the articles in this collection have value beyond the period of time in which they were written. But immediately is will become apparent that even a period of some ten years does make a difference in the style of writing and in the ways ideas are expressed or certain emphases are taken. For example, a number of articles will not be written in the inclusive language style which has become prevalent in the last few years. So, too, the power of imagination and the role of the unconscious are not as clearly reflected as they tend to be in some current thinking. Yet for all the weaknesses that any collection of articles written over a number of years and written by various authors has, I believe that the book provides a rich resource to stimulate personal refection, study, and discussion
The Christian ministry of spiritual direction is a many-splendored gift of the Spirit's outpouring upon the Church. I hope that the varied emphases and the wisdom of these articles will serve to deepen our understanding, appreciation, and use of this most precious gift for our own growth in Christ.
David L. Fleming SJ
