Spiritual Direction

The confessor as director of the devout and of contemplatives: what he must know, the principles and method of direction, consolations, desolations and the temptations of the devout, and the faults a director must avoid.

The works themselves ask 3 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.

See also Duties of the Confessor as Teacher and Guide — in The Office of the Confessor · The confessor as spiritual father — in The Office of the Confessor

Also asked about as…

direction of souls · guiding souls · spiritual director (ed.)

In the index as Contemplation · Christian perfection · Confessor · Confession (Confessio) · Pious penitents · Visions · COMMUNION of a newly baptized convert without Confession · Common life · Ecstasy · Locutions (grace of contemplation) · Prayer · Spiritual direction · Supernatural revelations · Venial sins · Consolations · Desolation · Dryness of spirit · Ejaculatory prayers are to be commended · Extraordinary signs of contrition · Leisure · Macerations · Meditation · Minister of the Sacrament of Penance · Mortifications

In the manuals

Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Jean-Pierre Gury, S.J.; notes by Antonio Ballerini, S.J. — 3 passages

Vol. II, Treatise On the Sacrament …, Pt. III, Ch. II, Art. I, § II, Point III. On Devout Penitents, n. 641 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Adolphe Tanquerey, S.S. — 9 passages

Vol. I, Matrimony, and Holy Orders, On Penance (Volume I), Moral Part — Chapter II: On the Confessor, nn. 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555 & 556 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

A Handbook of Moral Theology (Koch–Preuss)

Antony Koch; adapted and edited by Arthur Preuss — 8 passages

Vol. IV, Pt. I, Chapter IV: Kinds of Prayer, nn. ¶34, ¶35, ¶36, ¶37, ¶38, ¶39, ¶40 & ¶41 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels

Arthur Vermeersch, S.J.

Vol. III, Bk. II, Tr. V, Ch. II, § 2. With Regard to the Persons of Penitents, n. 551 — — Pious penitents must prudently but zealously be brought to following more perfect things, and to exercising the apostolic mission entrusted to every Christian already in these divine words: "That they may see your good… Read in context →

Pastoral Questions

Benedict H. Merkelbach, O.P. — 69 passages

Ch. III, Question I: Concerning the Pious and Devout, nn. ¶2571–¶2586 & ¶2646–¶2679 (50 passages)

Ch. III, Question II: Concerning the Perfect and Contemplatives, nn. ¶2684, ¶2685 & ¶2735–¶2751 (19 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Clement Marc, C.SS.R. — 11 passages

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Art. II, § 1. On The Obligation Of The Confessor Toward Penitents Diverse From The State Of Soul, nn. ¶7, ¶1840, ¶8, ¶1841, ¶1842, ¶9, ¶1843, ¶1844, ¶1845, ¶1846 & ¶1847 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Anthony Konings, C.SS.R.

Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE SACRAMENT …, PART THIRD: ON THE MINISTE…, Ch. II, Art. I, § II. On the Manner of Acting with Various Kinds of Penitents, n. ¶1486 — 1486. - Penitents who live free from mortal faults are to be led to perfection, but 1° In order and by degrees. - Hence let them be taught: a) "To beware of the smallest deliberate defect, or one admitted with eyes open,… Read in context →

The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology

Various; ed. S. Woywod, O.F.M., and J. A. McHugh, O.P. — 9 passages

Vol. V, Case LXXII: A Zealous Penitent Discouraged by Imperfections and Venial Sins, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8 & ¶9 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)