As you begin to explore the possibility of becoming a Jesuit priest or brother, you may wish to begin spiritual direction. A spiritual director is a person with whom you can talk about your experience of God, both in prayer and in the rest of your daily life. It is never easy to talk about what is most personal to us -- who and how we love, where we have struggled or been hurt in our lives, our deepest hopes, fears and dreams, our relationship with God -- but the results of such conversations are tremendous. With the help of your spiritual director, you will become more conscious of how truly active God is in your life and how you might better cooperate with God's gift of grace.

Who can profit from spiritual direction? Anyone sincerely committed to praying regularly and willing to share that experience in confidence with another believer experienced in these matters. Spiritual direction can be especially helpful for those embarking on a life of serious prayer for the first time and for those considering fundamental vocation questions. If this sounds appealing to you, ask any Jesuit vocation director and he will arrange for you to meet with a spiritual director. The frequency of meetings varies, but usually a person meets with a director at least once a month.

The following pages contain some suggestions for prayer which could help you to grow in intimacy with God and to experience Jesuit spirituality. St. Ignatius believed that he received a gift from God that not only enriched his own Christian life but was meant to be shared with others. The gift was a "method" , a way to seek and find God in all things and to gain the freedom to let God's will be done on earth. This way of praying allowed Ignatius to discover the voice of God within his own heart and to experience a growth in familiarity with God's will. Jesuits call this prayer their daily examen of consciousness .