Inside each human person, say pastoral ministers, is a deep desire to connect with what is most beautiful, joyful, peaceful and true about the world and about each person’s unique call from God to be of service. But the noise, busy-ness and pressures of contemporary life often leave many people too frazzled to experience God’s presence for more than a nano-second here and there.

The interest in spiritual direction has mushroomed worldwide in the last 20 years. What used to be a spiritual tool practiced by almost exclusively priests and nuns is now being enthusiastically embraced by laity.

"People need to talk about their experiences of God," said Mercy Sister Mary Ann Scofield, founder of Spiritual Directors International.

"There is a deep hunger in the world for spiritual friendship and companionship" said Christopher McCauley, executive director of Stillpoint: The Centre for Christian Spirituality in Pasadena.

"Catholics who are serious about their faith recognize they cannot do it alone," Fr Clarke. "Many lay leaders now consider spiritual direction a necessity."

Vatican II emphasized that the call to holiness is universal, creating a new understanding that the spiritual path is offered to men and women in all walks of life – lay, religious or ordained, married or celibate.

How do you respond to that call to holiness in the concrete context of your life?

"A spiritual director offers a helping relationship to a directee seeking answers to those questions and wanting to develop a spiritual practice that supports their call. The director does not offer advice about solving problems as a pastoral counselor might, but rather helps a person tap into God’s guidance and to sort out God’s voice from other pulls or tugs that come from the culture or elsewhere."
- Prof Wilkie Au (Loyola Marymount University)

"Spiritual direction is not counselling or therapy. A counsellor’s role is to help individuals deal with a particular issue where they feel stuck. A counsellor is using a microscope; a spiritual director uses a telescope. God has given us the key to understand our inner souls. A good director helps you find your key."
- Sr. Carol Quinlivan, CSJ

Spiritual direction will be limited if it only directs people inward. As Sr. Mary Ann Scofield explains:

"Spiritual direction helps people to become friends of God and eventually prophets. With time, many directees integrate their experience of contemplation with their social conscience. Ultimately spiritual direction has to have an effect on the world."

"The hunger for spiritual direction is spreading to people of other faiths, including Protestants, Jews and even some Muslims, who have sought our Catholic spiritual directors. It is a great ecumenical bridge"
- Fr. Clark

Quotations taken from the writings of Ellie Hidalgo.