The Prologue to the Rule of St. Benedict begins with
the words, “Listen, carefully and attend with the ear of the heart.” For me
this slightly amended version of the Prologue describes beautifully and
perfectly the role of the spiritual director.
For
27 years I have sat with women and men always trying to keep in mind that there
were three persons present in the room: the directee, myself and the Holy
Spirit. In this ministry I listened more than I spoke because I learned that
for the most part people have their own answers. Often it is only a matter of
having someone listen in order for us to hear what we are thinking or what is
going on inside.
It
was Julian of Norwich who said, “I tell them what they told me and they say, ‘My,
how wise you are.’”
I
am profoundly grateful for my years of ministry as a spiritual director. I have been
richly blessed by the presence in my life of the women and men with whom I have listened to the Holy Spirit.
Sr.
Justina Franxman, OSB
