The
Of The
1. Fundamental
Ideas of the Cursillo Movement
2. Leaders
manual pgs 64, 144, 193
3. 3-Day
Manual
4. Spiritual
Directors Manual – pgs 1-15
5. Bylaws
Each person who experiences conversion is in need of special
understanding and assistance. The
leaders, the Spiritual Advisor and the Christian community are called to help
with the ongoing process and orientation.
The matter is serious because in a certain sense, the Lord has put the
success of another's spiritual development into the hands of human beings.
There is no standard procedure to follow because there is no such thing as a
standardized human being, just as there is no standard way to rear a family or
run a society or a Christian community.
Each person is unique. Any
process of relating must be individual and personal as we search for effective
ways of helping each individual progress toward full Christian maturity.
Spiritual
Direction is a “part of being a Catholic”.
It is simply a helpful aid to growth in the Christian life…”. It provides encouragement for the individuals
personal spiritual journey. The priestly
and religious community within the movement, provides spiritual direction as a
means of perseverance and growth in Christian life.
The
Spiritual Advisor:
The Spiritual Advisor oversees the spiritual needs of the
Secretariat and the Movement. The Spiritual Advisor, who is appointed by the
bishop, maintains a link between the Movement and the Bishop's Office. To insure proper spiritual assistance to the
Movement, the Spiritual Advisor is responsible for acquiring other priests,
vowed religious and deacons to assist with the Doctrinal Talks, at the
The
Spiritual Director:
Spiritual Director is the title for the priest, deacon, or religious on
the Cursillo who is the chaplain to the group.
It is the term for one who acts as spiritual counselor to the individual
cursillista (either on the Cursillo or afterwards). The Spiritual Director is a person who helps
someone reflect on (and grow in) their lives as a Christian. Helping someone to 1) see how God wants them
to work, 2) where they should invest most of their time, and 3) where their
greatest concern should be.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Among the resources available to a
Christian to deepen the journey with Christ is Spiritual Direction. It can be
defined as a relationship of personal trust, in which God leads someone to
follow a course of spiritual growth and life directed by an-other pilgrim
further advanced in the journey.
It is different from pastoral counselling
in that solving of problems is not its main goal. It is the care of the
spiritually healthy person and it is a way of life for many Christians. It is
one of the normal ministries of the church, and is available to anyone.
Not everyone is led by God to use
Spiritual Direction. Still rarer are the gifts needed to be a Director.
Spiritual Direction is for those who are ready to work at their calling to
growth. Motivation is not the ministry of the Spiritual Director. The calling
to spiritual growth needs to be already there.
Each child of God is potentially growing
in spirit It has been often compared to the growth of a flower. At first there
is a little shoot, which has the potential to grow into a larger plant with
leaves, and finally a bud for the flower. This blossoming is the culmination of
a patient process in which many things are needed. The flower is the goal in a
sense, but in order for the growth to happen, the seedling, then the young
plant, then the bud need to be taken seriously as what they are. They need to
be nurtured, and watered.
Spiritual Direction is one way to help
people take seriously who they are now, in the midst of sins and needful of
development. Just as a plant doesn't need to design its flower but just to
trustingly blossom by a plan beyond itself, so God has planned the spiritual
beauty of each of us. Spiritual growth is our acceptance of who we are. It is opening
ourselves to God in the faith that God has planned us well.
Spiritual direction is a voluntary
relationship between a person who seeks to grow in the Christian life and a
director. The latter is not, a counselor or therapist. Rather, he or she is a
mature Christian who helps the directee both to discern what the Holy Spirit is
doing and saying and to act on that discernment, drawing nearer to God in
Christ.
The focus is on intimacy with God, not on the solving of
clinically identified psychological problems. The whole sinful orientation of
the self, not any particular dysfunction, is the "problem" to be
addressed. The director helps directees identify ways they have sought
satisfaction and fulfillment from sources other than God, in the process
pushing God aside. Directees are led to hear the Holy Spirit (the "real
spiritual director") calling them back onto the right path. The director's
role is one of coming alongside, rather than dictating a program.
Being a good spiritual director requires not a doctorate but
mature theological knowledge, a degree of holiness, and a knack for
discernment.
What
Happens?
Spiritual Direction is individual, and
God leads each director to unique methods of growth for each person in
direction. Usually it begins with the deepening of prayer, especially the
prayer of contemplation, or simple awareness of God. Anyone who has been surprised
at the time that goes by while reading a book, watching a sports event, or
talking to a good friend, already has experienced this kind of attention or
concentration. Applying this kind of concentration to God - simply being
wonderfully aware of God - often Spiritual Direction helps the person begin
with this.
As regular meetings with the Spiritual
Director progress, and spiritual development and awareness deepen, Spiritual
Direction moves naturally to understanding; and Biblical and other study is
entered into or recommended. Christian action is reviewed and is also to some
degree directed as it becomes part of where God is leading. Prayer, study, and
action need to develop together.
How did
spiritual direction develop in the church?
Spiritual direction has a long and
honored place in Christian history. In the New Testament this sort of
discerning, directing relationship can be seen with Jesus and his disciples,
for example, or Paul and Timothy. And spiritual mentoring continued in the
early church, through a spiritual lineage from apostles to bishops (tradition
has it that the second-century bishop of
The Goal
The goal of Spiritual Direction is
complete union with God - "that we may be one." Awareness and trust
are key components. Unlike flowers, the growth we may experience in spirit is
unlimited. We should never accept a limit for ourselves. The fruits of our
growth don't await full flower. Others are spiritually strengthened through us
at every level.
How to
Begin
Someone seeking Spiritual Direction
should first take the matter into prayer, to discover God's leading, and to ask
God to help find a Spiritual Director. Then they should seek information from
their permanent group members, priest, local theological college, diocesan
office, or Cursillo Secretariat, or any likely source of information about who
may be called to this ministry. Many excellent Spiritual Directors are not
ordained. Some parish priests are ideal.
Spiritual Direction is only one among
many re-sources of the Church, but it is highly recommended in the lifelong
growth of spirit that can lead each Christian to the heart of God.
Conclusion
s.
De-Colores