談過亞道夫.鄧奎利神父Fr. Adolphe Tanquerey有關達致全德的四個內在方法後，接著數星期，我們探索他說的四個外在方法：一、神修指導；二、生活規範；三、研讀聖書；四、聖化社交生活。今天我們先看神修指導。

我們需要別人的幫助

不論是在本性或在超性的層面，天主常藉他人來幫助我們。

教宗良十三 Leo XIII其中一篇牧函寫道：「天主上智安排下，人多數是藉著別人而得救；因此，祂要被召成大聖的人是由別人引導下成聖，『好讓』–––––– 恰如聖若望金口說的一樣 ––––––『天主藉著別人來教導我們』。」

聖方濟各.撒肋爵反問我們：「當我們未能管束自己的肉身，為何偏要自我引領自己的靈魂呢？患病的醫生還不是需要另一位醫生診斷嗎?! 」

一位神修作家寫著：「沒有科學或藝術會簡易到能無師自通，更何况學習達至全德的智識。」

神修指導的途徑

亞道夫.鄧奎利神父指出，告解聖事專注於告罪和赦罪，神修指導則尋根究底直達犯罪的成因，牽涉個性、傾何、習慣和誘因等，故此範圍甚廣。神修指導亦關乎尋找治罪良藥、修相反罪的德行、增進德行的方法、聖召、和神業。

神師隨時輔助一個人如何面對超性歷程上的困難。亞道夫.鄧奎利神父指出，在「煉路」上的神修初學者容易重蹈犯罪的覆轍、妄自尊大、過份克苦，及感到神枯。

在「明路」上的神修中級者，需要辨別應專修那些適合個人的德行，及達至德行的竅門。神師也能支持教友恆心修德、避免陷於冷淡。

在「合路」上修得接近全德的人，仍需要神師指引，如何辨別真正的天主默感。在神枯和神慰中，神師擔當了重要的舵手角色。

尋找神師

能有一位恰適的神師，是天主珍貴的恩物。聖方濟各.撒肋爵寫道：「因此，我的女兒，為了妳在這熱心的旅途中得到指引，妳要懇切祈求天主給妳一個合祂心意的導師，不要懷疑祂定會賜妳一位充滿智慧和忠誠的人 –––––– 甚至派遣天使到來，就像祂善待托彼雅一樣。」

「誠然，這份友誼應該是穩固、甘飴的，同時也是神聖、聖善和屬靈的。但、如聖女大德蘭說，要得此殊恩，看似千中無一，而我更說是萬中無一。相稱此位者比我們想像的還要小。神師要富愛心、智慧、審慎，缺一不可！」

「我在此再強調，要祈求天主，賜給妳一位這樣的神師。當妳找到神師後，妳要讚美祂的聖名；妳也要忠誡，不要再尋，但要懷着純念、謙遜、和信賴前行，因妳已能安穩地踏上豐碩之旅。」

In the past four weeks we have looked at the four interior means of perfection. These coming weeks we are going to look at the four exterior means of perfection: direction, a rule of life, spiritual readings and conferences, and sanctification of social relations. This week we are going to explore the topic of spiritual direction.

We need help from others

Both in the physical and spirit realms, God helps us through other people.

In one of his letters, Pope Leo XIII wrote, “God, in His infinite providence, has decreed that men for the most part should be saved by men; hence He appointed that those whom He calls to a loftier degree of holiness should be led thereto by men ‘in order that,’ as Chrysostom says, ‘we should be taught by God through men.'”

St. Francis de Sales said, “Why should we wish to constitute ourselves directors of our own souls when we do not undertake the management of our bodies. Have we not noticed that physicians, when ill, call other physicians to determine what remedies they require?”

A spiritual writer wrote, “If no science, no art, however simple, can be learned well without a master, much less can anyone learn this high wisdom of evangelical perfection, wherein such great mysteries are found.”

The scope of spiritual direction

Father Adolphe Tanquerey pointed out that the scope of direction is very wide. Sacramental confession is limited to accusing ourselves of sins, whereas direction reaches the causes of sin: deep-rooted inclinations, temperament, acquired habits, and temptations. Direction strives to discover the remedies for sins and to combat sins with the contrary virtues. Direction includes the means to foster these virtues. It also deals with vocation and spiritual exercises.

A spiritual director prepares and helps a person to face the different dangers on the spiritual journey. Father Tanquerey pointed out the chief dangers for beginners are relapses into sin, presumption, lack of discretion in mortifications, and spiritual aridity.

An important challenge for those who are more advanced in the spiritual life is to discern which virtues are especially suited for the person, and the means of practising them. A spiritual director can also help a more advanced person to persevere in the practice of virtues and not fall into lukewarmness.

A person who is closer to perfection needs the help of a director to discern the genuineness of divine inspirations. A director is an important pilot in the midst of spiritual trials and consolations.

Finding a spiritual director

A spiritual director is a precious gift from God. St. Francis de Sales wrote, “So, daughter, inasmuch as it concerns you so closely to set forth on this devout journey under good guidance, do you pray most earnestly to God to supply you with a guide after His own heart, and never doubt but that He will grant you one who is wise and faithful, even should He send you an angel from heaven, as He sent to Tobias.”

“In a word, such a friendship should be strong and sweet; altogether holy, sacred, divine, and spiritual. And with such an aim, choose one among a thousand, Avila says – and I say among ten thousand, for there are fewer than one would think capable of this office. He must needs be full of love, of wisdom, and of discretion; for if either of these three be wanting there is danger.

“But once more I say, ask such help of God, and when you have found it, bless His holy name; be steadfast, seek no more, but go on simply, humbly, and trustfully, for you are safe to make a prosperous journey.”