The process of spiritual discernment within the context of spiritual companionship

Abstract

The objective I set out to achieve in this dissertation was to identify how spiritual companions in the Maltese Islands are helping their directees discern the will of God in their choice of vocation, as well as in living a more authentic Christian life. This question focused on the particular method of discernment of the interior movements of the spirit devised by St. Ignatius of Loyola. In order to answer my research question I carried out a questionnaire-based survey amongst a sample of spiritual companions, as well as consecrated and lay directees. Random sampling was used to select the persons to include in the survey. The questionnaires which were returned as validly filled in amounted to 270. The literature on discernment helped me to understand better the subject matter and to draw conclusions from the data collected from the questionnaires. The analysis of the data has ascertained the principal qualities of spiritual companions, the techniques and prayer methods that are considered most useful for discernment. Moreover, the study has highlighted the primary reasons why people attend spiritual companionship, as well as the fact that the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises are being correctly applied in Malta. Spiritual companionship is considered to help directees arrive at decisions concerning their vocation or their Christian faith in daily life, which decisions result in consolation. Spiritual companions are less convinced of the acceptability of lay companions in the Maltese scenario, while consecrated directees are less sure of the positive impact of lay companions on the process of discernment. On the other hand, female directees, whether lay or consecrated, are more likely to accept lay female companions to guide them. However, the evidence is not so strong, due to the fact that this phenomenon is still new to Malta. My study has also highlighted the fact that higher education and attendance at a course focused on Ignatian spirituality helps the process of discernment and it further reduces any gender bias in the choice of spiritual companion.