Open AccessSpiritual Direction in the Roman Catholic Tradition
Author(s) -
Rev Gene Barrette
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of psychology and theology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.202
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 2328-1162
pISSN - 0091-6471
DOI - 10.1177/009164710203000404
Subject(s) - monasticism , spiritual practice , context (archaeology) , variety (cybernetics) , spirituality , sociology , psychology , religious studies , aesthetics , philosophy , history , theology , archaeology , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science
This article presents the practice of spiritual direction in the Roman Catholic tradition. Specific attention is given to: definition and description of spiritual direction, scriptural roots, Roman Catholic specificity, practice in the early Church and association with the beginning of Monasticism, and the impact of Vatican II. The development of different forms of spiritual direction is presented within the context of the variety of theological, philosophical, cultural, and historical biases evident throughout church history. The process of authentic spiritual transformation and the role of the spiritual director plays are described–-both as it was understood historically and in terms of the present practice. Contrasts between spiritual direction and traditional psychotherapy are proposed.