Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Some persons with same-sex attraction SSA will seek spiritual direction for various reasons, whether to help them to understand their same-sex feelings or to seek guidance in other aspects of life. The focus of this type of spiritual direction is on experience [β¦] Moreover, this experience is viewed, not as an isolated event, but as an expression of the ongoing personal relationship God has established with each one of us.
Barry and Connolly , 8β9. Persons who experience SSAs may approach for a one-off spiritual dialog or conversation about his or her situation, or may request regular spiritual accompaniment. An initial meeting can be organized at which the person can express his or her needs. At times one meeting alone may suffice to answer a doubt or clarify a situation. Having listened to the person, the director may suggest that the person continue the sessions. It is prudent to allow two or three meetings to transpire before agreeing on regular spiritual direction sessions; this should be explained to the directee in the first encounter.
This gives both the director and the directee freedom to say no for various reasons. The director must always respect the freedom of the person being directed the directee. The director can never force or coerce a person to take a course of action β he may only advise or suggest. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. It is generally a good sign that a person requests spiritual direction as it usually indicates a certain seriousness in the desire for spiritual growth and openness to be guided.
The first and foremost task of the director is to listen. The director is to listen to the person and listen for the action of God in the directee's life. Sometimes what is shared can be painful: hard for the directee to admit, and hard for the director to hear.
In a person who experiences SSAs, it is quite likely that details of his or her sexuality will be brought up: feelings, thoughts, struggles, including sexual experiences, and the like. The director should be mature and have a sound formation in human sexuality and solid grounding in the Catholic Church's teaching on SSA. An important question regards the frequency and duration of spiritual direction. A rule of thumb can be 1 hour once a month.
