The Friend Of The Bridegroom

by Thomas H Green

Overview

Focusing on the directee's spiritual needs, this book inspires as well as informs. The Friend of the Bridegroom is for anyone seeking a deeper relationship with God-the beginner on the spiritual journey and the seasoned spiritual director alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780877939382
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	09/01/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	132
Sales rank:	282,925
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.31(d)

Table of Contents

	Introduction	9
1.	The Contemporary Context of Spiritual Direction	11
	"Novitiate" vs. "Noviceship"	13
	Noviceship as Challenging, Even Threatening	15
	The Kind of Person Required for Noviceship	16
	The Kind of Person Produced by Noviceship	18
	The Means to Achieve a Noviceship Formation	21
	Conclusion	27
	Question for Reflection and Sharing	29
2.	The Role of the Spiritual Director	31
	Defining Spiritual Direction	33
	What Spiritual Direction Is Not	35
	Similar but Distinct: Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling	37
	What Spiritual Direction Is	40
	Two Essential Qualities of Spiritual Direction	44
	Conclusion: St. John the Baptist Before and After	48
	Question for Reflection and Sharing	49
3.	Choosing a Spiritual Director	51
	A First Criterion: Compatibility	55
	A Second Criterion: Shared Vision	56
	A Balancing Third Criterion: Objectivity	59
	A Fourth Criterion: A Good Listener	60
	A Crucial Fifth Criterion: Confidentiality	63
	A Sixth Criterion, Ideal but Not Essential: Ahead of Me on the Journey	65
	Conclusion: How to Begin	68
	Question for Reflection and Sharing	70
4.	St. John of the Cross and the Danger of the "Blind Guide"	71
	The Value and the Danger of Spiritual Direction	74
	Two Moments When Spiritual Direction Is Most Valuable	77
	The Three Blind Guides of the Pray-er	80
	The Worst Blind Guide: The Spiritual Director	83
	The Portrait of the Good Guide	87
	Conclusion	89
	Question for Reflection and Sharing	90
5.	The True Friend of the Bridegroom	91
	John the Baptist: Messiah or Elijah?	93
	John's Understanding of His Own Identity and Mission	95
	John of the Cross and John the Baptist as Kindred Spirits	98
	John the Baptist's Dark Night	101
	The Bridegroom's Friend After the Wedding	105
	Conclusion: Journeying on "Alone"	107
	Question for Reflection and Sharing	111
	Epilogue: Receiving More Than I Give	113
	What We Have Seen	113
	The Risk and the Reward	115
	Receiving More Than I Give	118
	Conclusion	120
	Notes	122

Editorial Reviews

Author and seminary professor Fr. Thomas Green, S.J., reveals the wisdom he has gained through thirty-fives years as a spiritual director to provide the reader a personal and insightful examination of the spiritual direction in the life of the practicing Christian in The Friend Of The Bridegroom: Spiritual Direction And The Encounter With Christ. From defining a spiritual direction itself, to explaining how best to choose a director, to showing the importance of listening and confidentiality in spiritual direction, The Friend Of The Bridegroom penetrates to the heart of the soul's desire for communion with god. Here is enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone seeking a deeper relationship with God, individually, or with a mentor, as a novice beginner, or a seasoned spiritual director.