The Way of Spiritual Direction

This handy manual presents everything you might want to know about spiritual direction. But its focus is technical rather than inspirational. This being understood, it would be hard to find a more comprehensive treatment of the subject. The qualities of the good spiritual director are clearly set forth. Above all, the authors note, there must be a willingness to love and to listen with patience and gentleness, yet with courage to speak the often unpalatable truth. On the directee's side, there must be openness to the unexpected and willingness to wait with patience and sometimes pain for signs of progress. There must be the realization that God is the ultimate spiritual director, guiding every soul according to his timetable of what is best suited to the uniqueness of the individual.

Fr. Francis Kelly Nemeck, O.M.I., (1936-2014) taught theology in the United States and Canada, besides having missionary and pastoral experience in Texas and Mexico. He earned a doctorate in spirituality from Les Facultés Catholiques de Lyon in France. He served for forty years at Lebh Shomea, authored and coauthored several books, and was a spiritual director. 

Marie Theresa Coombs lives as a canonically recognized hermit at Lebh Shomea, a contemplative-eremitical house of prayer in the desert of South Texas. She earned a master's degree in theological studies from Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio. Besides coauthoring several books on prayer and spirituality, she is a spiritual director.