Recovering the mystical in spiritual direction : an appraisal of Louis Lallemant's "Spiritual doctrine"

Abstract

This study analyses the tenets of Louis Lallemant’s teaching that lead to perfection, a seventeenth-century term for holiness. Lallemant states that it is through perfection that we are united with God through the Holy Spirit. Lallemant’s teachings are balanced in that he unites both the ascetical and mystical aspects of the spiritual life. In his time, mysticism was frowned upon, both in France in general and in the Society of Jesus in particular. Yet, this did not deter Lallemant from sharing the rich tradition of the contemplative life. His Spiritual Doctrine is, in fact, a way to holiness, a way to learn to be docile to the guidance of the Holy Spirit that leads one to union with God. In addition, Lallemant teaches that purity of heart, as the action most within humanity’s reach, essentially makes one open to the Holy Spirit. The way to achieve this purity is to guard over one’s heart so that all impurities can be eradicated. In our contemporary society, mysticism is looked upon with indifference at best and with suspicion at worst. However, within each person there is the indwelling of the divine spirit, and spiritual direction is the safe place where a directee can share and nurture this desire for divine transcendence. Lallemant’s Spiritual Direction is a timeless application for spiritual direction as it reminds spiritual directors that their most important task is to help their directees be aware of God’s indwelling spirit within them and that both director and directee are to be guided by his Holy Spirit. This study will show that Lallemant’s Spiritual Doctrine is to be read as a journey towards the mystical. It aims to demonstrate that, in light of Lallemant’s doctrine, the most fundamental element of spiritual direction is receiving God’s grace, that is, the mystical dimension.