Spiritual direction
What is spiritual direction?
“Spiritual direction has been practiced from the earliest history of the Church down to our times. It is sometimes referred to as spiritual counseling or spiritual accompaniment. It is an ancient and tested practice which has produced fruits of holiness and evangelical readiness.” (sussidio_per_confessori, 64) In practice, spiritual direction is a three-part encounter in a safe and trusted environment – the director, the directee, and the Holy Spirit. The true spiritual director in these encounters is the Holy Spirit. People come to spiritual direction for many reasons, but the ultimate purpose is to allow the directee to see the divine in the ordinary activities of life.
Three Chairs
You are a spiritual director, I sit in my chair and you sit in yours.
I have come to see you with a longing that mystifies me.
You draw my attention to the third chair in the room.
You invite me to see with the eye of my heart to the Source of my longing.
The eternal, invisible, loving, guiding, challenging, insistent Mystery in the third chair.
Jennifer Jinks Hoffmann
Who needs spiritual direction?
Everyone who desires to deepen their faith or grow in their relationship with the Lord could benefit from spiritual direction. Pope Benedict XVI affirmed this need: “The Church continues to recommend the practice of spiritual direction not only to all those who wish to follow the Lord up close but to every Christian who wishes new life in Christ.” People seeking spiritual direction come from all walks of life: clergy and lay persons; married and single; young and old; Catholic and non-Catholic; people connected to a faith community and those searching for a spiritual home.
[Spiritual Directors] make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze.
Pope Francis, Evangelii Guadium, 169
What are the benefits of spiritual direction?
Some seek spiritual direction to deepen their faith, discern a decision, or receive counsel from a trained spiritual guide. Others are yearning to grow spiritually, perhaps after hitting a plateau in their life of faith and wanting to get spiritually ‘unstuck’. Some want to have a greater awareness of God in the hustle and bustle of their daily demands. Others might want guidance on how to transform their faith into action or transform their action into a deeper appreciation of their faith. Benefits include a richer prayer life, a deeper sense of peace, and a better balance in life.
We urgently need the mediation of another’s eyes to love ourselves and accept ourselves. The eyes may be those of a parent, a friend, a spiritual director; but above all they are those of God our Father.
Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom
What happens in a spiritual direction session?
A session is usually an hour. Most prefer meeting every four to eight weeks, virtually or in person. Wherever the session occurs, privacy, trust, and confidentiality are essential. During the session, the directee usually does most of the talking, sets the agenda, and the pace of the discussion, disclosing only that which he/she feels comfortable sharing. The director listens intently to what the directee is expressing and how the Holy Spirit may be speaking to the directee – affirming, deepening, and expanding what the directee shares.
The pace of accompaniment must be steady and reassuring,
reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals,
liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.
Pope Francis, Evangelii Guadium, 169
What do I need to begin spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction is best approached with an openness to how the Lord may be present in your life and a willingness to take that next step, whatever that may be. Consider what type of spiritual director you might work with the best – man/woman, clergy/lay, Catholic/non-Catholic – and how the director can help you best. Whoever and wherever a person is, spiritual direction is meant “to lead others ever closer to God, in whom we attain true freedom.” (Pope Francis)
Finding a Spiritual Director
The Font of Mercy is connected with several spiritual directors who donate a portion of their stipend to support the ministry of the Font of Mercy.
Are you a spiritual director looking for a supervisor?
If you are a spiritual director looking for a supervisor, Deacon Scott would be happy to discuss your needs. Please use the same inquiry form. He completed his supervisory training at the Lanteri Institute for Jesuit Spirituality.
About the Director
Deacon Scott D. Gilfillan was ordained a Catholic deacon in 2001 and has spent more than two decades serving in pastoral care, prison ministry, outreach to the homeless, retreat ministry, and spiritual formation. He previously served for many years as Director of Deacon Formation for the Diocese of Charlotte, accompanying deacon candidates and their spouses through discernment and formation.
From 2018 to 2024, he served as Executive Director of a large retreat center in Western North Carolina, where he deepened his focus on retreats, small-group workshops, and spiritual direction. He completed the certification requirements for spiritual direction through Divine Mercy University, where formation integrates the human sciences with a contemplative-evocative approach rooted in deep listening and attentiveness to the movement of the Holy Spirit. He also received supervisory training through Lanteri Institute of Jesuit Spirituality and now serves on the faculty of the School of Spiritual Direction at Divine Mercy University.
Deacon Scott is the founder and Executive Director of Font of Mercy. He and his wife have been married for more than 40 years and are the parents of three children. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, writing, and spending time with his wife at their cabin on the lake.