A Selective Bibliography on Spiritual Direction and Discernment

Principles and Practices of Spiritual Direction

Baird-Smith, Robin ed. Living Water: An Anthology of Letters of Direction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.

** Barry, William A. and William J. Connolly. The Practice of Spiritual Direction. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1982.

Benefiel, Margaret. “Spiritual Direction for Organizations: Towards Articulating a Model.” Presence (An International Journal of Spiritual Direction) 2, no. 3 (Sept 1996): 40-49.

** Culligan, Kevin G. ed. Spiritual Direction: Contemporary Readings.Locust Valley, NY: Living Flame Press, 1983.

Edwards, Tilden. Spiritual Friend: Reclaiming the Gift of Spiritual Direction. New York: Paulist Press, 1980.

Fischer, Kathleen. Women at the Well: Feminist Perspectives on Spiritual Direction. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1988.

** Gratton, Carolyn. The Art of Spiritual Guidance: A Contemporary Approach to Growing in the Spirit. New York: Crossroad, 1992.

** Guenther, Margaret. Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction. Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications, 1992.

Jones Alan W. Exploring Spiritual Direction: An Essay on Christian Friendship. New York: Seabury, 1982.

Kelsey, Morton T., Companions on the the Inner Way: The Art of Spiritual Guidance. New York: Crossroad, 1983.

Leplace, Jean. Preparing for Spiritual Direction. Translated by John C. Guinness. Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1975.

** Leech, Kenneth. Soul Friend: The Practice of Christian Spirituality. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1977.

Long, Anne. Approaches to Spiritual Direction. 2nd. ed. Bramcote, Notts, England: Grove Books, 1988.

** May, Gerald G. Care of Mind Care of Spirit: Psychiatric Dimensions of Spiritual Direction. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1982.

Nemeck, Francis Kelly and Marie Theresa Coombs. The Way of Spiritual Direction. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1985.

** Neufelder, Jerome M. and Mary C. Coelho, eds. Writings on Spiritual Direction by Great Christian Masters. New York: Seabury, 1982.

** Peterson, Eugene H. Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987 (esp. chapters 7-9).

Peterson, Eugene H. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992 (esp. chapter 5).

Thompson, Marjorie J. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995 (chapter 7).

Thornton, Martin. Spiritual Direction: A Practical Introduction. London: SPCK, 1984.

** Vanderwall, Francis. W. Spiritual Direction: An Invitation to Abundant Life. New York: Paulist, 1981.

Van Kaam, Adrian L. Dynamics of Spiritual Self-Direction. Denville, NJ: Dimension Books, 1976.

Styles or Approaches to Spiritual Direction

Aelred of Rievaulx. Aelred of Rievaulx’s Spiritual Friendship. Translated by Mark F. Williams. Scranton, PA: University of Scranton Press, 1994.

Allen, Joseph J. Inner Way: Towards a Rebirth of Eastern Christian Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.

Birmingham, Madeline and William J. Connolly. Witnessing to the Fire: Spiritual Direction and the Development of Directors, One Center’s Experience. Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1994.

** Byrne, Lavinia, ed. Traditions of Spiritual Guidance, Collected from the Way. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1990.

Clark, Connie, ed. Holy Meeting Ground: 20 Years of Shalem. Washington, D.C.: Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, 1994.

Devers, Dorothy C. Faithful Friendship. Cincinnati: Forward Movement Publications, 1979.

Dougherty, Rose Mary. Group Spiritual Direction: Community for Discernment. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1995.

Dreitcer, Andrew D., “The Contemporary Interest in Contemplative Spirituality.” Reformed Liturgy & Music 30, no. 2 (1996): 59-64.

Estella, Jeanne and Andre Heuer. “Spiritual Direction in Cyberspace” Presence 3, no. 2 (May 1997): 33-46.

Gatta, Julia. Three Spiritual Directors for Our Time, Julian of Norwich, The Cloud of Unknowing, Walter Hilton. Cambridge, MA: Cowley, 1986.

Graviss, Dennis R. Portrait of the Spiritual Director in the Writings of Saint John of the Cross. Rome: Institutum Carmelitanum, 1983.

Hausherr, Irenee. Spiritual Direction in the Early Christian East. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1990.

Houdek, Frank J. Guided By the Spirit: A Jesuit Perspective on Spiritual Direction. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1996.

** McNeill, John T. A History of the Cure of Souls. New York: Harper & Row, 1951.

Ochs, Carol and Kerry M. Olitzky. Jewish Spiritual Guidance: Finding Our Way to God. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1997.

Oden, Thomas C. Care of Souls in the Classical Tradition. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984.

Peterson, Eugene H. The Wisdom of Each Other: A Conversation Between Spiritual Friends. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.

Rice, Howard L. Reformed Spirituality. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1991 (chapter 5).

Rakoczy, Susan. ed. Common Journey, Different Paths: Spiritual Direction in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1992.

Sellner, Edward C. Mentoring: The Ministry of Spiritual Kinship. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1990.

** Sommerfeldt, John R. ed. Abba: Guides to Wholeness and Holiness East and West. Cistercian Studies no. 38. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1982.

Studzinski, Raymond. Spiritual Direction and Midlife Development. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1985.

Sullivan, John. ed. Carmeltie Studies Spiritual Direction. Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1980.

Thomas, Arthur D. “James M. Houston: Pioneering Spiritual Director to Evangelicals– Part One” Crux 29 (Sept 1993) and Part Two Crux 29 (Dec 1993).

Thomas, Arthur D. “Moses Hoge: Reformed Pietism and Spiritual Guidance” American Presbyterians 71 (Summer 1993): 95-109.

Wicks, Robert J. ed. “Prayer and Spiritual Guidance” Part I In Handbook of Spirituality for Ministers. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist, 1995.

Woodbridge, Barry A. A Guidebook for Spiritual Friends. Nashville: The Upper Room, 1985.

Wisdom from the Past, Letters of Spiritual Direction

Aelred of Rievaulx. A Letter to His Sister. Translated by Geoffrey Webb and Adrian Walker. London: A.R. Mowbray, 1957.

deCaussade, Jean-Pierre. Spiritual Letters of Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Translated by Kitty Muggeridge. Wilton, CT: Morehouse-Barlow, 1986.

Fenelon, Francis. Spiritual Letters to Women. Translated by H.L. Sidney Lear. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.

Guyon, Mademe.Spiritual Letters. Edited by Gene Edwards. Augusta, ME: Christian Books, 1982.

Luther, Martin. Letters of Spiritual Counsel. Translated by Theodore G. Tappert. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1955.

Marcarius, Starets of Optino. Russian Letters of Direction 1834-1860. Translated by Iulia De Beausobre. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1975.

Nicodemus, the Hagiorite. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain: A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel. Translated by Peter A. Chamberas. New York: Paulist, 1989.

Rutherford, Samuel. The Letters of Samuel Rutherford. Edited by Frank Gaebelein. Chicago: Moody Press, 1951, 1980, org. 1891.

von Hugel, Frederick. Spiritual Counsel and Letters. Edited by Douglas V. Steere. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.

von Hugel, Frederick. Letters from Baron Frederich von Hugel to a Niece. Edited by Gwendolen Greene. London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1928.

Wright, Wendy M. and Joseph F. Power, eds. Francis de Sales, Jane de Chantal: Letters of Spiritual Direction. Translated by Peronne Marie Thibert. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist.

Supervision of Spiritual Directors

Conroy, Maureen. Looking into the Well: Supervision of Spiritual Directors. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1995.

Creed, William. “Supervision Plus Reflection: A Way to Form Spiritual Directors” Presence 4, no. 1 (Jan 1998): 37-42.

Discerning the Movement of God’s Spirit

Conroy, Maureen. The Discerning Heart: Discovering a Personal God. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1993.

** Edwards, Jonathan. The Religious Affections (various editions).

** Farnham, Suzanne G., Stephanie A. Hull and R. Taylor McLean. Grounded in God: Listening Hearts Discernment for Group Deliberations. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1996.

Green, Thomas H., Weeds Among the Wheat: Where Prayer and Action Meet. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria, 1984.

** Huggett, Joyce. The Joy of Listening to God: Hearing the Many Ways God Speaks to Us. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986.

Job, Rueben. A Guide to Spiritual Discernment. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1996.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. Scripture and Discernment: Decision Making in the Church. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996.

Kelsey, Morton T. Discernment: A Study in Ecstasy and Evil. New York: Paulist, 1978.

Lonsdale, David. Listening to the Music of the Spirit: The Art of Discernment. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1992.

McDermott, Gerard R., Seeing God: Twelve Reliable Signs of True Spirituality. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995 (based on Edwards, The Religious Affections).

McKinney, Mary Benet. Sharing Wisdom: A Process for Group Decision Making. Allen, TX: Tabor Publishing, 1987.

Morris, Danny E. and Charles M. Olsen. Discerning God’s Will Together: A Spiritual Practice for the Church. Bethesda, MD: Alban Publications, 1997.

Mueller, Joan. Faithful Listening: Discernment in Everyday Life. Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1996.

** Olsen, Charles M. Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders. n.l.: Alban Institute, 1995.

** Palmer, Parker J., “The Clearness Committee: A Way of Discernment.” Weavings 3, no. 4 (July/Aug 1988): 37-40.

** Smith, Gordon T., Listening to God in Times of Choice. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.

Weavings (theme issue) “Discerning the Spirits” 10 no. 6 (Nov/Dec 1995).

Willard, Dallas. In Search Of Guidance: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1993.

** denotes the compiler’s opinion of the best sources in each category.

The largest organization and source for additional information regarding spiritual direction is Spiritual Directors International, 1329 Seventh Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122-2507, (415-566-1560), email: ).

The Reformed Church in America

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