What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is a ministry which fosters an individual's personal, intimate relationship with God. It is assistance given to one person (the directed) by another person (spiritual companion) which enables the directee:

  1. • To pay attention to God's presence and activity in her or his life;

  2. • To become more aware of God's loving desires;

  3. • To respond with greater freedom to the mystery of this unconditional love.


Why is Spiritual Direction helpful?

Spiritual direction is helpful because it enables the directee to focus on and to articulate her or his experience of God in the myriad and mysterious ways in which God is present:

  1. • In prayer and in the sacred writings of various faith traditions;

  2. • In people and in human relationships;

  3. • In the natural beauty of creation;

  4. • In the wonders inherent in the ordinary events of daily lie.

In exploring these experiences and the feelings connected with them, the directee can again encounter the mystery of God and God's loving call at even deeper levels.


When is Spiritual Direction Appropriate?

Spiritual direction is appropriate for anyone with a personal commitment to prayer, but especially:

  1. • When one desires to deepen an already existing relationship with God;

  2. • When one is experiencing a significant transition or loss;

  3. • When one's prayer life seems stagnant or "stuck";

  4. • When one is discerning critical life choices;

  5. • When one's vague restlessness leads to a search for something more


OUR LADY OF CALVARY RETREAT CENTER

31 Colton Street • Farmington, CT 06032

(860) 677-8519    •    olcretreat@sbcglobal.net