Carly Baldwin outside the Franciscan Sister's motherhouse, where the commissioning Mass for the spiritual direction program was held
Earlier this summer, Carly Baldwin, SBI’s campus minister, earned her certification in spiritual direction from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Carly completed this program over the course of three summers to improve her skills and provide even higher-quality spiritual direction to students at Hope College. Read what she has to say about her experience:
Carly with her husband and daughter at the commissioning Mass
The motto at the School of Spiritual Direction at Franciscan University is cor ad cor loquitur, a Latin phrase that means “heart speaks to heart.” Through the ministry of spiritual direction, I have seen hearts opening to God, perhaps for the first time in a long while. These hearts are opening to the love and mercy that the Lord longs to pour out on each of us, especially in prayer, our time spent with him. I have seen hearts open more deeply to others; family relationships begin to heal and friendships grow deeper and more real. My heart, too, has been opened. Having the privilege of hearing directees share their fears, struggles, and hurts has opened me more to see the loving presence of God, who knows us and is with us in our deepest and darkest places.
Carly receiving her certification from the Vice President of Franciscan University, Fr. Jonathan St. Andre, TOR
My heart has been opened more to receive the heart God has for his children. By listening to others share in spiritual direction, I have seen more and more how the Lord listens to me, how he sees me as his beloved child, and how he wants me to receive his forgiveness and grace. I hope this has allowed me to be more compassionate and merciful to those I sit with in spiritual direction.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend these two-week intensives at Franciscan University’s School of Spiritual Direction for the past three summers. Over the course of this time, I have attended classes, read various books, met with directees, gone through the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and taken a directee through the exercises. The method taught in the School of Spiritual Direction is called the contemplative evocative method. We are taught to listen well to the person sitting in front of us, to listen to the Holy Spirit, and to ask questions that evoke something deeper for our directees. This method, and all that I have learned, has been transformative in my own relationship with the Lord. I pray that it will be transformative for others as I am called forward in the ministry of spiritual direction.
Carly with her class after the commissioning Mass