“We have a perfect Author writing our story. That means that every detail is carefully chosen to advance his plot. He does not fill pages just to fill pages, and He wastes nothing.” – Claire Dwyer
Fr. Boniface Hicks discusses catechesis, accompaniment, spiritual direction, and the relationship among them in the renewal of the Church today.
Fr. Jeremiah Shryock offers two invaluable tools for a deeper encounter with God.
“If we are struggling in our service to the family, our prayer life is the first place we should look for answers.” – Dr. MaryRuth Hackett
“Despite the enormous love and gratitude I have for my vocation to the priesthood, my ministry of spiritual direction remains, unexpectedly, the greatest joy of my life.” – Fr. Jeremiah Shryock
Dan Burke recommends that spiritual direction come outside of the context of a friendship.
“We hear variations of the lie that we are ‘not enough.’ And yet we have the precise gifts for our particular family, for our exact calling, for this specific cross, in this time, at this place, for this season. God promises only daily bread, and it is made to order. We do not have the grace for anyone else’s life—or even for tomorrow—but we have all we need to become more fully ourselves, which is more like Christ, today.” – Claire Dwyer
“The Program of Life, then, is like a spiritual workout program that ensures spiritual growth because it is customized to the individual’s needs and opportunities. When we meet with our spiritual director, it is good to start by going over the headlines, but, reviewing together the main points of the Program of Life is the real path to consistent, substantial progress.” – Fr. John Bartunek
“St. Paul’s message is clear. We belong to God. All the many roles and functions we might play in this world cannot add to or alter the identity God has imprinted within us.” – Fr. Jeremiah Shryock
Confession and spiritual direction are like partially overlapping circles: they share some common characteristics, but their centers, their essences, are distinct.
