Seeking Spiritual Direction

"Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within" is a difficult book in the sense that it calls the reader to a full accounting of his or her life. Fr. Thomas Dubay writes for those "who wish to scale the heights, to leave mediocrity far behind." It is a challenge to face one's own sinfulness, to be reminded of just how far one needs to go to be holy. Yet, Dubay is correct that Jesus did not call us to a mediocre spirituality. He is also correct that Jesus (and Vatican II reconfirmed this) did not differentiate between those out in the world and those living a clerical life. All are called to holiness.

The specific topic of this book is how to find a competent spiritual director and what to do if a competent one cannot be found. The list of qualities Dubay wants to see in a spiritual director is quite exhaustive and one doubts how many people could actually meet all these expectations. The goal of spiritual direction, however, is clear: to help "the directee to love God with the whole heart, soul, and mind, and the neighbor as oneself." While acknowledging that there may be times when one will be without a human spiritual director, Dubay encourages people to have one whenever possible. When a spiritual director is not available, Dubay recommends reading scripture, following the example of the saints and adhering to Church teaching. He also suggests questioning a priest or other respected person if there is a particular problem one is faced with.

Part two of "Seeking Spiritual Direction" is arranged in a question and answer format which covers many of the concerns one might have regarding spiritual direction. Part three deals with assessing one's spiritual progress, a difficult task to be sure. A spiritual director provides an objective viewpoint and he or she may see faults in us that we have become blind to.

As someone who has had a spiritual director for the past three years and benefited greatly from it, I fear that this book may discourage some from beginning the process. That would be an unfortunate consequence. Anyone who feels that he or she would benefit from spiritual direction should seek it. The director and directee can then move on from there.

"Seeking Spiritual Direction" will make you feel uncomfortable, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It is good to be reminded that the way to holiness is difficult and that we are all works in progress. I wish Fr. Dubay could have seen his way to offering more hope for those who are attempting to travel the road, however, especially lay people. While it is definitely true that we are called to holiness just as those committed to religious life are, the way we get there involves different tools and different challenges. This book is for those very serious about perfecting their spiritual lives.

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is editor of "Spiritual Woman" (www.spiritualwoman.net) and author of "Letters to Mary from a Young Mother" (iUniverse, 2004)