A guide is a welcome addition on most any journey. So it is with the greatest of all journeys: the journey to God. One of the Church's most long-standing and fruitful traditions, spiritual direction is an instrument of God's glory in the world. The act of clearing the way for the Holy Spirit is a delicate yet challenging matter, and one that requires humility, patience, and charity, among other virtues. Through Wind and Waves is a guidebook for those undertaking this important work. It offers wisdom for both the supernatural and the practical elements of spiritual direction. It shows that being a spiritual guide is not simply a matter of prayer and meditation, but one of a firm interior life, genuine friendship, and the daily realities of living one's life for the Lord. That life will be marked by adventure, since every soul is unique and is led by the Spirit to blaze new paths to holiness. Filled with wisdom from the saints, as well as Jesus' words in the Gospels, Through Wind and Waves is a valuable resource for those called to lead others into the safe harbor of God's love. Rev. Francis Fernández-Carvajal holds graduate degrees in both History and Canon Law. Ordained in 1964, he is a priest of the Opus Dei Prelature and the author of many popular spiritual works. His seven-volume series In Conversation with God provides over 500 meditations to be used throughout the liturgical year. It has sold over 2 million copies and has been translated into many languages.
Jesus did not reveal his plans to Paul directly. Rather he chose one of the first Christians, Ananias, asking him to cure Paul’s blindness and make known to him the mission he was to carry out. Being God's instrument requires humility and docility. This supernatural conviction will protect against the vanity of thinking that we can accomplish anything by ourselves and the false humility of viewing the task as totally beyond our ability. God prepares those he chooses to carry out a mission in such a way that they are suited to carry it out. The abundant water needed by others will arrive opportunely from heaven, if the one guiding them is humble. Being an instrument in accompanying others spiritually means faithfully transmitting God's spirit and not our own; It means helping the light of the Holy Spirit to reach souls, without personal attachments. The great “works of art” accomplished by helping others advance on the spiritual path should always be attributed to the artist alone and never to the quote “brush”. God calls all souls to a Christian life, to a life of holiness to a chosen life, to eternal life. We are only instruments of the Holy Spirit. We need to ask for the gift of counsel in order to be docile to the Spirit's wishes, give the right advice, and decide quickly and surely. Experience gained by truly striving for sanctity oneself teaches the person guiding others what to say and how to say it. Personal sanctity will bring the special wisdom and maturity, imbued with understanding and strength, needed to help others. Just as you are, so also do others appear to you.- Saint Augustine Interior life and personal sanctity offset one's lack of experience. Caring for our own interior life is the best help we can give others. If we are enkindled with God's love, we will be able to enkindle others. In front of the Tabernacle much will come into focus that would otherwise remain hidden: new possibilities, broader horizons, obstacles to be overcome. If your heart is filled with charity, you will always have something to give. Weaknesses can be a source of greater humility and trust in God. Love others truly out of love for Christ. We grow and improve when we feel appreciated and understood. It is impossible to get to know others well and give them sound advice if we do not truly appreciate them. All who give spiritual direction must make John’s words their own: he must increase, but I must decrease. Foster in souls docility to the motions of the Holy Spirit. We will also need to foster, little by little, good habits, the virtues. How can I help this person to resemble the master more fully? What is God expecting of this soul? Where should they focus their struggle? What should their particular examination be? What spiritual book should they be reading? Each soul has to be handled according to the way God has made it and the way he is leading it. Those who spiritually guide souls need deep humility. The most effective help we can give them is our daily prayer and mortification. Love is the test of truth. We should always measure ourselves anew against this criterion, so that truth may become love and love may make us truthful. Jesus use mud made from the dust of the earth and saliva. Yet this is the salve that brings light to blind eyes. That is what you and I are. Fully aware of our weaknesses and our worthlessness, but with the grace of God and our goodwill, we can be salve to give light and provide strength to others. We should never be afraid to give forceful advice when necessary. Never pummel the person we are speaking with. On the contrary, it should be encouraging and hopeful, although at times it may cause someone to suffer. The soul learns that it should seek the God of all consolation rather than the consolation of God. You have a poor idea of your way if lack of enthusiasm makes you think you have lost it.- Saint Francis de sales They should always receive a warm and friendly smile from us, with true concern for their problems. Friendship and charity form a single reality: divine light that gives warmth, that comforts and attracts. To truly understand others, an interior climate of being in God's presence is required. God always rewards generous self forgetfulness. It is good to ask ourselves often: how would our Lord care for this person in these specific circumstances? What would he say? How would he encourage this person, gently but firmly, to be more generous, more holy? They should be able to say that, after every conversation, they found their love for God strengthened. A Good Shepherd should have: #1 love. Charity was the only virtue that our Lord demanded of Peter in order to entrust him with the care of the flock. #2 vigilance. Be attentive to the needs of the sheep, in order to be aware that a soul has begun to distance itself from God or when God is asking more of it. #3 doctrine. Giving opportune advice so that souls can avoid errors that are widespread today and suggesting sound spiritual reading. #4 holiness and integrity of life; seeking only the glory of God. Respecting people's freedom and making strong demands upon them are in no way contradictory, since souls come to spiritual direction precisely to receive this help. If they do not find that demands are made upon them, they will feel cheated. This is one of the basic principles in the task of guiding others: great respect for personal freedom while constantly spurring them upwards, towards God. The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. Being a spiritual guide has been compared to the magi's star, which pointed out the way to them but didn't spare them the arduous effort of following it. Grace enriches and elevates nature. Human virtues become instruments of grace to attract others to God. Interiorize an attitude of trust at the hour of struggle. Fight with complete abandonment to God's action. A person who truly loves seeks to make the beloved happy, even when it requires sacrifice. JP 2 asked “what is holiness?” And he answered, “it is precisely the joy of doing God's will.” To love is to want to please God in everything.- Saint Teresa The spiritual life of any saint is a story of Christ’s love. Abandonment into God's hands without setting any conditions brings an unbreakable peace. There is no deeper joy than that of a child of God who abandons itself into the hands of its father. This supernatural joy, so closely tied to the cross, is one of the Christians most intimate secrets. God wants us to behave in accord with our true condition- as needy children who turn to him for help. The life of spiritual childhood leads to simplicity and humble abandonment. A child before God recognizes with simplicity his own neediness. “Have you seen how that imposing building was built? 1 brick upon another period thousands. But, one by one period and bags of cement, one by one period and blocks of stone, each of them insignificant compared with the massive hole. And beams of steel. And men working, the same hours, day after day … Have you seen how that imposing building was built? By dint of little things.”- St. Josemaria Escriva It is precisely in the midst of these daily happenings that one must find our Lord and attain holiness. As a Christian grows in grace, his or her actions become more and more explicitly informed by charity. In the measure that we take care of God's concerns, in that same measure, God will take care for our own.- Saint Augustine. Often our defects will help us grow in humility and go more trustingly to our Lord. Our failings can help ground our interior life on more solid foundations. There is no sin or crime committed by another person that I am not capable of committing by reason of my weakness, and, if I have not yet committed it, it is because God, in his mercy, has not permitted it and has preserved me in the good.- Saint Augustine Practice a cheerful charity. Welcome everyone with a sincere and habitual smile. The road leading to holiness is a long one. It is our job, in spiritual direction, to be patient channels of grace, always to facilitate the action of the Holy Spirit, helping souls aspire to the high goal of sanctity. Souls have their proper time and hour, which we need to respect, as the farmer does the seasons and the soil. Patience is indispensable for spiritual guidance; it is a refined expression of charity. It is better to speak more to God about him than to speak to him about God.- Saint Augustine Often spiritual direction means encouraging people, calmly and affectionately, to take a small step forward. To find the right prescription in each case, we need to ask consistently for the gift of counsel. It is only the Holy Spirit who can sanctify someone. The advice given should seek to help souls become steadily less complicated and entangled inside. Sincerity makes it easy to get right to the point. “What does God want of me in these circumstances and at this moment?” This is the true north star for a Christian, the guide that directs the footsteps of the saints. Feelings should not be the main driver of our actions. Feelings can be a great help, but they are only a help. A person who daydreams has a little stomach for the fight.- a Spanish refrain. Sanctify the difficulties being confronted, seeing in these the will of God and a way of growing in love. “Little things” is where love for God is shown and also where the seeds of lukewarmness and infidelity abide. God prepares those he chooses to carry out a mission in such a way that they are suited to carry it out.- Saint Thomas Aquinas. The greater the need the more abundant will be God's help. God is never neutral: he is always seeking our good. Don't be a pessimist. Don't you realize that all that happens or can happen is for the best? Your optimism will be a necessary consequence of your faith. St. Josemaria Escriva Be joyful because the greater one's joy when teaching, the more readily will the person listening accept his words. Our Lord still works miracles when we put as at his disposal the little that we possess. -- Correspondence to the motions and inspirations of the Holy Spirit is the soul's entire life. “Sincerely lament”- purifying our previous faults by means of prayer and penance Holiness consists in identifying our will with God's will. The passions in themselves are neither good nor bad; their moral value depends on the direction we give them. To love is to will the good of another.- Saint Thomas Aquinas. Disordered passions weaken the will in the struggle for virtue and often leave behind a trail of filth. Love can be fed by our feelings and by our reason. When you don't know how to go on, when it feels as if your fire were dying out and you can't throw fragrant logs on it, throw on the branches and twigs of short vocal prayers, of ejaculations, to keep feeding the blaze.- St. Josemaria Escriva When we try always to ensure that thy will be done, we can be sure that our love for God is true. The essence of love lies not in feelings but in our daily response, with or without feelings. He is always near to those who seek him and are faithful to him, even though we may not have any sensible experience of his presence. Practice affectionate manifestations of piety such as lovingly kissing a crucifix or looking at an image of Our Lady. When love is perfect we forget about pleasing ourselves in order to please the one we love even though the trials may be very great, they become sweet when we know we are pleasing God.- Saint Teresa of Avila In our relationship with God, we must be led by faith and not by feelings. Docility is accepting with simplicity and supernatural outlook the difficulties we face even when prolonged and hard to bear. “Grace calls out to grace.” Correspondence to a grace received draws down another grace and prepares us to better correspond to the following one. A person who strives to be faithful to the graces received draws closer to God each day and is disposed to receive new helps. Each grace brings a new one along with it. Mark 4: 25. Souls must be encouraged to “begin and begin again,” with humility. Nunc coepi!, now I begin! Depend on a humble and constant struggle, beginning over and over again, always relying on God's mercy. Sincerity, when practiced well, leads to calling things by their name and fosters brevity: normally just a few words are required to get to the gist of the matter. Practice and teach sincerity by being brief in one's words of advice, asking for light in order to raise questions at the right time and in the right way, and helping souls to know themselves, showing them how to avoid being long winded. If one is humble and sincere and ready to begin again, a person with this attitude always ends up winning out in the end, even when apparently suffering a defeat. A soul that is simple does not get entangled in useless complications, but rather makes steady progress toward God, taking advantage of all events, whether good or bad, that happen each day. Sincerity leads us to reveal ourselves as we are, without trying to present a false image or confusing what we are with what we would like to be. We should advise people in spiritual direction to say first what they find most difficult. When someone gets the “toad” out, an important step forward on the path to personal holiness has been taken. If one speaks beforehand with complete sincerity- explaining the whole truth, with humility and hostility, asking for help- one always wins out. In spiritual direction, it is good to habitually take up the thread of the last conversation: points of struggle, resolutions, concerns, etc; in this way continuity is maintained from one session to the next. Using a plan of life helps one practice piety as a channel for grace and provide the strength needed to make an entire day an offering pleasing to God. The path that leads to holiness is the path of prayer; and prayer ought to take root and grow in the soul little by little. Care must be taken so that these practices in the world of life don't become merely rules. The plan of life ought to be like a rubber glove which fits the hand perfectly. The goal we are striving for should always be kept clearly in mind: intimacy with God in the midst of our ordinary activities. Christian life consists in loving our Lord a little more each day. All the practices of piety in our plan of life are meant to lead us to grow in love for Christ. Offer up sufferings and annoyances, for they are a means for our sanctification. We don't attain sanctity in spite of painful events and circumstances but through them. “Lord, increase our faith,” is the refrain of all who are making progress. The virtue of faith can and should always increase. Purity is the entranceway to a deep interior life. The acts proper to marriage, carried out in accord with God's will, are also a path to holiness. Celibacy and virginity are a way of renouncing a human love in order to give themselves entirely to God and to the spread of his Kingdom. One's vocation is a shield, a protective armor. It should be the hinge that supports all of one's actions and gives them meaning, as well as the argument always at hand to confront any temptation against perseverance. “I have a vocation, in spite of my mistakes, God will give me the grace to go forward.” Being generous in reparation and penance prepares us to receive new graces and to attain a greater intimacy with God. Christian mortification is an expression of supernatural dominion over the body. St Alphonsus Liguori said that, just as the flame is strengthened on contact with air, so the soul is perfected by contact with tribulations. Passive mortifications are accepting with peace and joy, without complaining, whatever our Lord permits that goes against our own likes, plans, or interests- sickness and suffering, in particular. At times a smile can be the best sign of our spirit of penance. A person who has a true spirit of penance overcomes himself every day, without fuss, offering God thousands of small things. “To know God and to know ourselves as we are known by him." That is how Saint Augustine summed up the core of Christian wisdom. St John of the Cross said, “Knowledge of oneself: this is the first step a soul has to take to reach knowledge of God.” Self knowledge is a prerequisite for humility, for fighting effectively against our own defects, and for having God bless that struggle. Knowing ourselves means seeing ourselves as God sees us. We are in the hands of God, who knows us so well and is always ready to lift us up when we turn to him with humility. A sign that one truly knows oneself is letting others see, in all simplicity, both one's weaknesses and the good that God's grace has produced. To a great extent, this is what being sincere means. Self knowledge leads us to distrust ourselves and to place our trust in God. Your particular examination should be directed toward the acquisition of a definite virtue or the rooting out of your predominant defect. If we examine ourselves thoroughly on some important virtue, we not only acquire that virtue, but all the others related to it. To acquire the virtue of humility means that we are perfecting ourselves in the practice of obedience, of the love of God, of charity, since pride is the chief obstacle to the exercise of these virtues. Charity is a sure sign of progress in the spiritual life. The soul's growth and love for God is also shown by greater understanding for everyone. If someone's prayer life doesn't lead to a stronger charity and apostolic zeal shown in deeds, it's a sign that their prayer is not authentic. Love always leads to actions.- Saint Augustine Our Lord doesn't bless omissions, but he does bless apparent “failures.” Saint Josemaria Escriva Saint Therese of Liseaux took a short walk when she was very ill, and a sister, seeing her fatigue, recommended that she rest. But the saint responded: “you know what gives me strength? I offer each step for some missionary. I think that possibly, over there, far away, one of them is weary and tired in his apostolic laborers, and to lessen his fatigue I offer mine to the good God.” No prayer, no suffering offered with love, is ever lost. Marriage can be a divine way, a path for complete dedication to our God. In a mysterious but real way, by our personal holiness, we contribute to the supernatural life of all the church's members. The saints were men and women who wanted to fill themselves with God's life. We need to ask those who come for spiritual guidance, do you truly want to be a saint? Do you want to have a growing friendship with our Lord? Do you want to get closer to him through your professional, family, and social duties? The desire for holiness is shown in the eagerness to fulfill God's will. Sanctity is the work of the Holy Spirit. The desire for sanctity is the unifying theme of all spiritual direction. Frequent failures to respond to grace and culpable neglect weaken the will and, if one does not react, the intellect can no longer discern Christ clearly. The struggle in little things is what strengthens the soul and prepares it to hear the continuous inspirations of the Holy Spirit. God is always “worth the effort.” Humility is a prerequisite for every true virtue, every perfection. The soul is never more ready for grace than when it is humble. This is one of the pillars on which all spiritual direction rest. All human achievement, if not seen as a reflection of God's goodness, is a lie. The devil has little fear of devotions not based on humility, for he knows perfectly well that he can demolish them whenever he pleases. How many personal problems, angry conflicts and useless worries are caused by pride and selfishness! If praise comes, direct it immediately to God. Humility is shown in forgetting oneself. The more we correspond to th
Over the last 30ish years I have been reading Francis Fernandez’s In Conversation With God, I have read it many years. Finding his books in English has not always been easy. And in fact he has far more available in Spanish. One of the hard parts of tracking down his books is they are published under a few different names, especially English translations. I have seen volumes under these names:
Francis Carvajal Francis Fernandez Francis Fernandez-Carvajal Francis Fernandez Carvajal Francisco Fernández-Carvajal
And there might be others out there. This volume is only available from Scepter as both a physical book and as an eBook, there is also still a Kindle edition available. A bio of the author on a different volume states:
“Francis Fernandez is the same author of the best selling 7-volume series IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD which has been printed in ten languages with a combined print-run of more than two million copies.”
The description of this book is:
“A guide is a welcome addition on most any journey. So it is with the greatest of all journeys: the journey to God. One of the Church’s most long-standing and fruitful traditions, spiritual direction is an instrument of God’s glory in the world. The act of clearing the way for the Holy Spirit is a delicate yet challenging matter, and one that requires humility, patience, and charity, among other virtues.
Through Wind and Waves: On Being a Spiritual Guide is a guidebook for those undertaking this important work. It offers wisdom for both the supernatural and the practical elements of spiritual direction. It shows that being a spiritual guide is not simply a matter of prayer and meditation, but one of a firm interior life, genuine friendship, and the daily realities of living one’s life for the Lord. That life will be marked by adventure, since every soul is unique and is led by the Spirit to blaze new paths to holiness.
Filled with wisdom from the saints, as well as Jesus’ words in the Gospels, Through Wind and Waves is a valuable resource for those called to lead others into the safe harbor of God’s love.
Rev. Francis Fernández-Carvajal holds graduate degrees in both History and Canon Law. Ordained in 1964, he is a priest of the Opus Dei Prelature and the author of many popular spiritual works. His seven-volume series In Conversation with God provides over 500 meditations to be used throughout the liturgical year. It has sold over 2 million copies and has been translated into many languages.”
I am not really the target audience for this volume, I am not now a Spiritual Director, and when I was while involved in Campus Ministry many years ago, I probably should not have been. However, that being said, I found this an excellent read, as someone who receives spiritual direction. I read this book over a few weeks, often stopping after a section, either in the book, or the extensive appendix. The Appendix is about a third of the volume and each section in it could be read as Spiritual Reading. The chapters, sections and subsections in the volume are:
INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: QUALITIES OF A GOOD GUIDE An Instrument Of The Holy Spirit The Humility of Being “Only” an Instrument Rejecting Praise Humility and High Goals Asking for the Gift of Counsel
Personal Sanctity: Care For One’s Own Interior Life Saints in Order to Sanctify Bringing Souls Frequently to One’s Prayer
Love And Detachment Love with Deeds Fortitude Detachment
Respect For Souls God Never Repeats Himself Personal Interest for Each One
Chapter 2: RULES OF A GOOD GUIDE A Father An Adult Faith
A Teacher “The Gift of Tongues” Spiritual Reading
A Doctor Arriving in Time When the Illness Is Serious With a Mother’s Affection Knowing the Symptoms
A Friend
The Good Shepherd The Mercenary Vigilance of the Good Shepherd In Search of the Lost Sheep
Chapter 3: A FEW GUIDELINES Formed In Freedom Free and Responsible
Showing Prudence
The Human And The Divine A Christian Personality Developing Human Virtues
What Should Always Be Present Struggling for Love: Confidence in God’s Help As God’s Children Filiation and Fraternity Behaving as God’s Children Toward All God’s Sons and Daughters Spiritual Childhood
Great Ideals And The Little Things Of Each Day Sanctity in Ordinary Work Apostolate: The Overflow of Supernatural Life Unity of Life
Chapter 4: THE CONVERSATION Place, Frequency, Duration Order and Duration
The First Conversations
Knowing How To Listen “Iuvenes Videntur”
Being Understanding Showing Sympathy Truth with Charity
Being Patient Channels of Grace Beginning Again
Knowing People Well
Fostering Simplicity
Teaching Souls To Struggle Self-Denial Getting Down to Specifics A Positive Outlook In This Vineyard Optimism
Chapter 5: CORRESPONDENCE TO GRACE The Place Of The Heart In The Interior Life The Passions and Their Influence on the Interior Life Guiding the Emotions Feelings in Piety Lack of Feelings The Hour for the Heart Guarding the Heart Affectivity A Big Heart
Causes And Remedies Self-Knowledge Docility Correspondence in Little Things: “Grace Calls Out to Grace”
“Retarded” Souls
The Importance Of Sincerity A Right Intention Facets of Sincerity Helping People to Be Sincere Insincerity
APPENDIX: POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION Prayer
Life Of Faith
Purity, The Entrance Way Conjugal Chastity Celibacy and Virginity
Vocation
Mortification: An Encounter With The Cross Voluntary and Passive Mortification Interior Mortification
Self-Knowledge And Examinations Of Conscience Examination of Conscience The General Examination The Particular Examination
Charity And Apostolate
The Family
Joys And Sorrows
Love For The Church And The Communion Of Saints Love for the Pope and the Hierarchy The Communion of Saints
Lukewarmness And Comfort-Seeking The Big Enemy: Lukewarmness It’s Worthwhile
Humility And Forgetfulness Of Self Humility: The Cornerstone
Poverty And Detachment Real Poverty
Work Finding Our Lord
Health, Sickness, Rest An Apostolic Means as Well Teaching People to Rest and Sanctify Rest
By Way Of A Conclusion
Prior to the actual text of this volume is a quote from Pope Benedict XVI’s Spe Salvi, No 49:
“Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives. They are lights of hope. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history. But to reach him we also need lights close by—people who shine with his light and so guide us along our way.”
This book is intended as a guidebook for the guides. It is written for spiritual directors, it provides an excellent outline of spiritual direction and topics that can be covered in that practice. The Writing is as engaging as his In Conversation With God series. It is easy to read an engage with, and yet has a great depth or thought. The final section in the book, By Way Of A Conclusion states:
“I asked a priest who is a good friend of mine, with experience in giving spiritual guidance, to write down what he said to me in a conversation about this book. I think his words can serve as a conclusion to the book, since they provide a sound framework for personal spiritual direction.
Those called to provide spiritual assistance face a great challenge. Theirs is a particularly delicate service, since the only two protagonists in this “business” are God and the person seeking guidance. The spiritual guide has to shun any hint of self-affirmation; in some way, he has to learn to contemplate the interior world of the other person with the reserve, skill, and humility of the professional whose success consists in helping another person to improve while his own role is scarcely noticed.
…
Finally, since it is a confidential consultation, the expert knows that his knowledge of the chest doesn’t give him any right of ownership, or even the right to reveal that he knows its value or has been entrusted with that task. The only person he can discuss this work with is the owner. If anyone has to decide what should be made known and to whom, it is the owner, not the one consulted, since his role his simply to give advice.
In short, if a faithful friend should be seen as a treasure, how much more so is this true of a guide, someone who can advise us what means to use, someone we can talk with about our ideas and plans, and someone who can assure us that the route we are taking is suited to the goal we seek and that we are truly making progress in the right direction.”
Being a spiritual director is not an easy task. With great responsibility. I have had a spiritual director recommend I not read any books by a specific author, and a few years later on retreat a different director recommend that author. As someone receiving spiritual direction we also have a role to play, in openness, honesty and transparency. And as I have grown older, humble obedience. This volume will serve anyone who is a spiritual director well. It can also be of benefit to those of us who are directed. It is a great volume, and I am thankful I took the time to read and work through it. And it is likely one I will return to again.
This was very helpful in learning how to be a Spiritual Director, but it's still a good idea to read more books and books like "Introduction to the Devout Life" or other similar books to really know what to do as a SD. It's a lot harder than you'd think and takes a lot of prayer and a lot of listening
This is a book rich with wisdom and spiritual depth. Although aimed at a guide for spiritual directors, reading its pages is like receiving spiritual direction directly. He persuades that the greatest goal of a spiritual director is to be close to Christ and so impart Himself. Based on the writings of Opus Dei founder St Josemaria Escriva
This is an excellent guide to being a spiritual guide or by proxy to receiving spiritual guidance. The Appendix alone (which is a length list of possible topics for spiritual direction) is worth getting this book. An indispensable resource for anyone who gives or receives spiritual counsel.
3.5 ⭐️ This is a practical guide for Spiritual Directors filled with a lot of gems. You just have to get through some things you might not agree with, some theology that might not be yours, and some clunky writing at times.
The writing is not always as clear as it should be, and certainly not elegant. There are a lot of little things I found myself disagreeing with (e.g., the idea that the attitude a director conveys should always be that of peace and joy, that a confessional with a grate is the only appropriate place for a male director to meet one-on-one with a female director, etc.). But overall it is a valuable guide, practical, and it even at times served as a good examination of conscience as I read it.
- Outstanding wisdom for everyday life that's both optimistic and realistic; - Encouraging advice for oneself and to be shared with others; - Best read in small doses, perhaps several times, and applied to life as you go.
Profound. Helpful. Practical. For those interested in spiritual direction or going into spiritual direction. For everyone else, not sure. I imagine most other people won’t stick with it and that’s ok, it’s pretty niche.