Counsel is a Gift of the Holy Spirit which helps us to choose good over evil. This gift helps us to please God by following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. This gift is especially helpful to spiritual directors.
One of the main dilemma's a person seeking union with God may find is the lack of a good spiritual director. In our lay Carmelite community, this subject comes up often. While it may be difficult to find a spiritual director in the physical sense, we know that we have only to turn to St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila for direction. However, it is truly comforting to find a willing listener and encouraging voice!
Why is it so hard to find someone who understands the deep prayer life of a secular Carmelite or anyone on the road of contemplative prayer? Some priests and most lay people are not familiar with all of the writings of our holy father and mother. Simply mention St. John of the Cross and one gets the response of "Oh, the Dark Night!" And even that teaching is misunderstood by the general Catholic population. Most people have a notion that contemplative prayer is only for religious or especially pious people.
The universal call to holiness is for all the baptized to respond to. We are all called to a deep, intimate friendship with Jesus Christ.
Fr. Thomas Dubay, a Marist priest, is a scholar of Carmelite spirituality. He is regularly seen on EWTN and has written numerous books on contemplative prayer. His book Spiritual Direction is a much needed book written in light of the fact that it is difficult for serious people of prayer to find good spiritual direction. His book is a direct response from numerous inquiries to him about where to find a good spiritual director.
Many saints, our own St. Therese included, confessed that they too, at times had no one to lead them but the Lord, that he alone directed their souls. I believe this is true today, but only in rare cases. Most people, erroneously, try to direct themselves. That is why we need the Holy Spirit. We need to pray that we do not lead ourselves astray. We need to pray for a good confessor/spiritual director.
St. Teresa and St. John give plenty of advice on what to look for in a spiritual director.
St. John says that a director must be:
*Intelligent
*Discreet
*Experienced
*Knowledge of the ways of the Spirit
He says beginners should take great care into whose hands they entrust their souls.
St. Teresa's list of a good confessor:
*Must be intelligent
*Must be spiritual (practicing advanced prayer)
*Unworldly
*Obedient to their superiors
*Must know that souls seek perfection-even from venial sins
*Should not discuss matters in which he is ignorant
*Should not readily agree/disagree with everything penitent says
*Must be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit
*Must have sympathetic understanding
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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