The Spiritual Director
Practising the Charism of Presence and Attention
The Spiritual Director
Practising the Charism of Presence and Attention
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Publisher: Canterbury Press Norwich
ISBN: 9781786225771
Number of Pages: 304
Published: 24/09/2025
Width: 15.6 cm
Height: 23.4 cm
Spiritual direction is a vocation rooted in presence, attention, and contemplative encounter. In The Spiritual Director, Julia Mourant invites practitioners into a deeper understanding of this sacred ministry, embracing its charism as a way of being rather than a set of skills. She explores the distinctive nature of spiritual direction as both vocation and spiritual gift, grounded in experiential formation, theological reflection, and the capacity for personal growth and transformation.
Rather than offering a manual on how to ‘do’ spiritual direction, this book opens a contemplative space for readers to reflect on their own journey. It addresses common themes that arise in training and practice, and considers the skills, interventions, and ethical foundations that support good practice. Throughout, the spiritual director is encouraged to seek accountability, support, and ongoing discernment.
A guide not just for the mind, but also for the heart, The Spiritual Director offers an essential companion for those who walk alongside others in the sacred work of spiritual accompaniment.
"Julia Mourant’s deep wisdom and rich experience in the field of spiritual accompaniment shine through in this attentive and thoroughly practical guide. A vital resource for those new to this ministry and a refreshing reminder for seasoned Spiritual Directors, it offers lasting insight for all who feel called to accompany others exploring the spiritual life." -- Catherine Williams, Spiritual Director and trustee Spiritual Direction Forum UK
"Julia continues to share a wealth of knowledge and experience in spiritual direction, but at the same time gently invites us to deepen and raise our attention to the mystery of presence, and the dynamic of grace. Julia holds method and mystery together in a very tender tension. Her writing, and her teaching, is a celebration of spiritual direction as a life-giving charism where being and doing co-exist in loving wisdom." -- Ray Andrews
"In this comprehensive exploration of the formation of the Spiritual Director, Julia reflects on every aspect of the charism, distilling wisdom from a broad knowledge and understanding of the subject and many years of lived experience. It is an essential and informative guide both for those beginning to explore this ‘sacred vocation’ and also for the ongoing formation of any spiritual director seeking to uphold this gift of authenticity, attentiveness and ‘soul presence’." -- Alison MacTier
