By Susan Sullivan

Special To the Bulletin

ATLANTA—Spiritual direction and the sacrament of penance are two different ways to “hear the voice of the Beloved” calling us to deeper surrender and openness to God.

Like most ministries with long traditions and great spiritual richness, there are a variety of experiences to be had with each. The reflections of a number of people, which follow, will help explore the perspectives and experiences that link these two aspects of spiritual life.

While they are complementary ways of encountering God, neither is a substitute for the other and they are often received separately, according to some of those who provide, or receive, spiritual direction in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Each ministry can provide a mirror for us to examine our life in Christ as we continue our journey to wholeness and holiness.

“They are two distinct ministries,” said Sister Susan Arcaro, rc, who, with Sister Barbara Young, rc, directs about 75 people at the sisters’ residence and in seven parishes throughout the archdiocese.

“With a priest, the sacrament of reconciliation may include spiritual direction. I see them separately. One is a sacrament of forgiveness. One is an ongoing experience of reflection. I see them as complementary as well.”

Sister Arcaro said that spiritual direction encourages growth in awareness of God’s lavish love and intimate involvement in our lives. Such awareness also reveals where our attitudes, opinions and sinfulness limit our response to God’s generosity.

“I look at my response to this God,” she said, “and I am led to true contrition and resolution. Reconciliation is an opportunity for forgiveness, but also for renewal of spirit. The image of reconciliation that I love, and which includes spiritual direction, is the story of The Prodigal Son. The father sees him from a distance. He doesn’t wait for a confession. He runs, kisses him, leads him home. That’s what I think reconciliation is and spiritual direction is—coming home to God as the men and women who God created us to be.”

Father Anthony Delisi, OCSO, a monk at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, acts as a spiritual director to many people. He said spiritual direction requires time, so it is not suitable during the sacrament of penance when others are waiting in line. Separate, regular appointments are the usual format.

“Spiritual direction takes time,” he said. “The challenge is to find someone with sufficient time to give you. A spiritual director doesn’t need to be a priest. The director needs to be a qualified, mature person with experience in spiritual life and prayer. Women can be a great benefit (in providing spiritual direction).”

While many people find spiritual support in speaking with close friends, sometimes a formal direction relationship is indicated, Father Delisi said. It is common for people to seek spiritual direction during a spiritual crisis or when extraordinary phenomena are being experienced in one’s prayer life. He makes a distinction between types of help that may be needed. Spiritual direction is not counseling, psychological or medical assistance, which are sometimes necessary depending upon the crisis and the person.

Because the monastery is not a parish, some people come there for reconciliation who have been away from the sacrament, or the church, for a long time.

“If you’ve been away from the sacrament for a long time, you need to make a special appointment and take time for extending reconciliation to spiritual direction,” he emphasized.

“Normally, the spiritual director listens and doesn’t give a lot of advice, keeping in mind that the Holy Spirit is the primary director.”

Deacon Jack Jansen of St. Pius X Parish in Conyers has received spiritual direction nearly all his life. His current director is Father Tom Francis, OCSO.

“The spiritual director periodically calls you to look at different aspects of life you may have gotten too comfortable with,” Jansen said. “Greatness and leadership and being number one have to be seen in Jesus’ way, the way of service, not the world’s way or my way.”

“Spiritual direction is a kind of examination of conscience,” said Frank McCarty of Suwanee. McCarty is RCIA coordinator at Prince of Peace Church in Buford. He receives spiritual direction regularly from Sister Arcaro, while his confessor is Father Jim Babb, SJ, whom he sees during spring and fall retreats.

“It helps you see where you’re succeeding and where you’re failing with the Lord,” McCarty said. “Spiritual direction helps with the sacrament (of penance) and life in general. It opens up your mind to allow the Spirit to do its work in you. Spiritual direction is almost a luxury. It’s sometimes difficult for me to get out there (to the Cenacle sister’s residence) for it. I miss it when I don’t do it. It keeps me closer to the Lord and in touch with my true self. In my position as RCIA coordinator, it keeps me in the (right) perspective in my role of welcoming people into God’s church.”

Peggy Brooks, director of initiation and adult formation at St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Snellville, said her director helps her to work through life’s struggles. “Sister Susan has the skills to bring my true feelings out. Her suggestions help me to open and realize that this is something I need to be reconciled with.”

“Other times I feel negative about a certain situation and sense a need for reconciliation, but a lot of times I’m beating on myself,” Brooks said. “She helps me see the human side of the situation and helps me reconcile with myself when I’m struggling with life, not sin.”

Spiritual direction can be “formal,” with a regular director, or “vicarious,” such as during the Order of Initiation, Renew 2000 or Cursillo, according to Carol Hamill, pastoral minister at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Sandy Springs. Because of other ministry commitments, she limits her formal director role to three people. Whatever form direction takes, it involves raising questions and dealing with individual issues; it complements the sacrament of penance.

“The goal is to discern where God is in the life issues that people bring to spiritual direction,” Hamill said. “For a person who is faithful to spiritual direction, reconciliation is an ongoing thing. They’re more likely to be called to celebrate the sacrament. It’s God calling me ... not an ‘I have to go’ mentality.”

“It’s like Henri Nouwen used to say, we hear ‘the voice of the Beloved’ calling,” she said. “As a directee, spiritual direction allows me to be naked before God. It allows me to trust somebody with my deepest thoughts, fears, hopes. Spiritual direction was key after I lost my son.”

Quoting from Henri Nouwen’s “Forgiveness: The Name of Love in a Wounded World,” Hamill read, “‘Spiritual direction helps dispel the darkness and fill us with joy’” ... as does reconciliation.

Just ask a father. “... Now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” (Luke 15: 32).