“Ask a Priest: What If My Husband Resists Spiritual Direction?”

Q: I’ve suggested that my husband look into spiritual direction, but he thinks he can live his spirituality without it. Am I wrong in thinking that everyone needs a spiritual director or at least guidance once in a while? And how do I help him to see the need for it if so? – G.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: In an ideal world, everyone would benefit from solid spiritual direction.

In the real world, though, there aren’t enough solid spiritual directors to attend to everybody.

In any case, a person seeking spiritual direction should have a spontaneous desire for it. He shouldn’t be pressured into it.

So, it’s better not to pressure your husband on this point. He might not be at the right place in his spiritual life to take advantage of it.

Instead, you might want to look for ways to pray together with your husband, and encourage him to accompany you when you go to confession.

If he could connect with a regular confessor, he might be able to get some direction within the sacrament of reconciliation. But this is up to him and to the confessor.

Again, don’t pressure him. Instead, intensify your prayers and sacrifices for him.

Keep learning more with Ask a Priest

Got a question? Need an answer?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type your question HERE and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…