Differences in role of Spiritual Director

I was blessed reading about the practice of spiritual direction in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. What rich and varied expressions of the Christian faith! The most striking contrast I noticed was the different role of the spiritual director between traditions.

Spiritual direction in the Roman Catholic tradition was described as a "… relational process in which the director and directee develop attentiveness to the actions of the Holy Spirit in this particular directee" (56). The Orthodox description appeared to describe something more along the lines of a mentoring or discipleship relationship: "The spiritual guide is to teach and advise, to answer specific questions and give specific direction for how we are to live our life" (43).

In the Roman Catholic tradition, spiritual direction is intended "… to be a free relationship, not a master-disciple relationship" (67), whereas the St. Simeon of the Orthodox tradition described a much different dynamic: "[a director] whom you ought to obey as though he were God himself, whose instruction you must carry out without hesitation, even if what he enjoins on you appears to be repugnant and harmful" (43).

Spiritual direction in the Roman Catholic tradition is a clearly delineated role and process. The Orthodox tradition appeared to overlap the roles of director, mentor, and discipler. Interesting reading!

WORK CITED

Moon, Gary W. and David G. Benner. Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2004.