Questions: Who goes, Why, How often, How much, What to ask?

This is a series of Posts for the FAQ of those seeking Spiritual Direction. We will be adding to this series along with links to other sites that may help provide more answers.

Who Goes to Spiritual Direction?

People experiencing a faith transition or loss, changes in self-perception, challenges within the normal flow of life, life transitions, changes in careers, or a yearning for God to deepen their prayer life, to understand more of their interior life, to discover more profoundly their unique relationship with Christ, and or finding God’s will and desire for their life, to grow in holiness.

Who is Spiritual Direction for?

• For those who desire to grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ

• ​For those who desire a deeper prayer life

• For those who desire to grow in virtue and holiness 

• For those who desire to sense more of the Holy Spirit‘s presence

• For those who desire to learn how to listen more attentively to how God speaks to you

• For those who desire to discover God‘s will for their life

• For those who desire a road map for healing, wholeness, and interior freedom

  
  

“Since the God we seek is a busy God, we cannot let our interior life and prayer float above our daily life in our lifeworld. Our spiritual life is rooted in an experience of God freeing us from our sins so that we can present our bodies and everything we experience in a day, lifelong as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship…"

(Joseph Tetlow, SJ)

Why and What do we find?

Letting God Mold Us

“Few people understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon

themselves wholly into God’s hands and if they were to allow God’s grace to mold them.”  

(St. Ignatius)

In looking for God, we often find ourselves

Who we are

Whose we are 

Who we are called to be and do

(St. Ignatius' Principle and Foundation SE 23)

How often does one go to a Spiritual Director?

It varies. In general the recommendation is following up once a month. Initially it can be more concentrated if one is being instructed  in an one-on-one in the ways of prayer or walking through the discernment of spirits; or weekly in taking a retreat daily or weekly for a limited time, or as in Spiritual Exercises over a 9 month period. 

Are there Fees for Spiritual Direction?

Depending on the training of the director and where they work and live, fees may vary. Those in full-time ministry working in retreat centers are paid stipends that are collected by their organizations, while those directors who minister in parishes generally do not, since it is part of their services for their local church as employees.

Almost all other spiritual directors collect fees directly from the directees, with fees varying depending on the directee's financial hardship (sliding scale) and the basic costs* of  serving others in this ministry. Some directors do not charge because their ministry is self-supported or supported by others. 

*The costs associated with providing direction are based upon initial training costs, one's  ongoing formation with classes, materials,  memberships, their own requirements such as spiritual direction, supervision, annual retreat, along with the basics overhead, facility costs, and at times liability insurance.