Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction

by Margaret Guenther

Overview

Guenther uses the images of the spiritual director as host, teacher, and midwife to describe the ministry of spiritual direction today. She pays particular attention to spiritual direction for women, and addresses such questions as setting, time, and privacy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780232520088
Publisher:	Darton Longman and Todd
Publication date:	09/28/1992
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Margaret Guenther is an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and retreat leader. She recently retired as professor of ascetical theology at The General Theological Seminary in New York, where she was the director of its Center for Christian Spirituality. Her other books include The Practice of Prayer and Toward Holy Ground: Spiritual Directions for the Second Half of Life.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Preface by Alan Jones Chapter 2 Welcoming the Stranger Chapter 3 Good Teachers Chapter 4 Midwife to the Soul Chapter 5 Women and Spiritual Direction

Editorial Reviews

This is a solid introduction to the art of guiding others in Christian spiritual growth. Guenther, wife, mother, Episcopal priest, and seminary professor, uses feminine images, especially midwifery, to describe the director's role, but insists that both women and men can assist spiritual birth. Her treatment is thoroughly human, and at the same time she is considerate of gender issues. Guenther focuses on sins of self-hatred and self-contempt as well as pride and greed. An excellent addition to its field, this is for seminary and public libraries.

Library Journal

This excellent and wise book continues an important trend as the spiritual traditions of classical Christianity and other religions are translated into the idioms and situations of the modern world. This work is useful for those who are spiritual directors, directees, or those interested in issues related to spiritual growth. … I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is easy to read yet filled with insight. Perhaps the best recommendation I can give it is to say that it has helped me in my own spiritual pilgrimage.

Congregations - Rev. Dr. Gerald A. Butler

Even apart from its value as a book on the process of spiritual direction, Holy Listening is a delightful commentary on every Christian's spiritual journey.

Review For Religious

Because the author's sincerity and authenticity resound from every page, … this work is bound to prove insightful and revelatory to the inexperienced as well as the experienced. It is earthy and practical, sensitive and contemplative.

Sisters Today

Because the author's sincerity and authenticity resound from every page, ... this work is bound to prove insightful and revelatory to the inexperienced as well as the experienced. It is earthy and practical, sensitive and contemplative.

Even apart from its value as a book on the process of spiritual direction, Holy Listening is a delightful commentary on every Christian's spiritual journey.

This excellent and wise book continues an important trend as the spiritual traditions of classical Christianity and other religions are translated into the idioms and situations of the modern world. This work is useful for those who are spiritual directors, directees, or those interested in issues related to spiritual growth. ... I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is easy to read yet filled with insight. Perhaps the best recommendation I can give it is to say that it has helped me in my own spiritual pilgrimage.

From the Publisher

This excellent and wise book continues an important trend as the spiritual traditions of classical Christianity and other religions are translated into the idioms and situations of the modern world. This work is useful for those who are spiritual directors, directees, or those interested in issues related to spiritual growth. … I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is easy to read yet filled with insight. Perhaps the best recommendation I can give it is to say that it has helped me in my own spiritual pilgrimage.
— Rev. Dr. Gerald A. Butler

Congregations