A reflection on Philippians 1:1-11

In the first reading today from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he writes, “And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ…”.  St. Paul was in prison somewhere, possibly facing death, yet his concern was for those in the Christian community of Philippi who may have very well been floundering in their faith or reverting to their pagan ways.  He yearned to be there to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus.

St. Paul considered himself the least of the Apostles, yet he was probably the most passionate and aggressive of his cohort when it came to spreading the gospel.  One can tell from his exhortations that he truly wanted people to understand the kerygma and to have a relationship with our Lord.  As I reflected on this passage today in my morning prayer, it occurred to me that St. Paul was the preeminent Spiritual Director of his time.

The Philippians were fortunate to have him as their mentor in faith, to help them “discern what is of value”, so that they could grow in holiness and be well prepared for heaven when their day of particular judgment came.  Fast forward two thousand years and we still need someone like St. Paul to walk with us, guide us, and assist us in learning to lead lives of virtue so that we, also, may become saints one day.  Each of us should seek a Spiritual Director or Spiritual Mentor. In the words of St. Augustine, “As a blind man cannot follow the good road without a leader, no one can walk without a guide.”

A Spiritual Director or Mentor will help you not only go deeper in learning your faith, but will help you “follow the good road”, that is, to live a life of virtue.  One of the most difficult things a person can do is to look inside and see the truths about themselves.  A spiritual guide helps us draw back the curtains that hide the faults we can’t see:  our pride, greed, anger, envy, sloth, gluttony, and lust – all vices that will keep us from attaining the level of holiness required for heaven – and help us take action to replace them with corresponding virtues.

I have had a Spiritual Director for nine years and I consider him and his guidance an absolutely necessary part of my life.  I, myself, am a certified Spiritual Mentor offering guidance to ten other men, and the graces I receive by helping others grow in their relationship with Jesus are immeasurable.

If you are interested in finding a Spiritual Director or Spiritual Mentor, a good place to begin is to talk to your parish pastor or deacon.  Often, they may have the time and have had training to assume this role.  Alternately, many diocese’s websites contain lists of local Spiritual Directors who may or may not charge a fee for their guidance.  Another good option is to visit the Holy Family School of Faith’s website, http://www.schooloffaith.com/spiritual-mentorship, and request a certified mentor.   Mentors trained through the School of Faith, of which I am one, do not charge a fee for their guidance.

Sadly, there are too few Spiritual Directors and Mentors to meet all the needs of the faithful. If you feel called to do something about that, you can also visit the School of Faith Website and learn how to become a Spiritual Mentor yourself. I sincerely recommend it if you want to learn your faith at a deeper level and if you feel called to help others do the same.

“Heavenly Father, years ago You put men in my life who walked with and led me closer to You. I give You thanks for placing on my heart the desire toreturn that favor by helping other men do the same. Thank You for the many graces You’ve bestowed on me, especially the gift of my Spiritual Director. I pray that, by Your grace, we may build an army of Spiritual Mentors. Amen.”

(St. Paul, the Preeminent Spiritual Director, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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