“People cannot progress through life without a real spiritual and civic education. They need someone to teach them, to warn them, and to correct them. The aim of this Directory is precisely this: to help readers achieve the true happiness of life.”
     That opening sentence, taken from the Introduction, sets the tune to the purpose and content of the book under review. Seeking “the true happiness of life” is a hard life-long process, and a guide is absolutely required. For “true happiness”, in our context, means not only the joy of earthly living, which is important, but, more basically it is the true peace of heart from which springs real joy leading to that eternal Heaven which is our destination. This journey is never easy. Obstacles abound on the way that is far from being a wide thoroughfare: it’s a narrow road entered into by a narrow gate. But the resultant joy and happiness is worth all the attention and effort. 
     The book A Spiritual Directory took shape gradually. The “Directives” appeared in print, as sixteen-page pamphlets, between 1954 and 1960, two years before the death of Fr George Preca in July 1962. Then in 1988, the book, with all the 605 directives, was printed for use by the SDC Members and for the general public. 
     A small number of directives must today be explained a bit deeper and somewhat differently in order to reflect better the Church’s updated teaching, and there are also some repetitions. But, apart from this slight caution, all the directives are the fruit of a life of human experiences digested and matured through Biblical and other spiritual reflections from a vast selection of spiritual m book under review might bring to mind another Spiritual Directory written by St Francis de Sales and edited by St Jeanne de Chantal for the Sisters of the Visitation, founded by De Sales himself in 1610. It was also referred to differently in various editions: that of 1631 for example titles it as: Vive Jesus, Directoire des choses spirituelles pour les Soeurs de la Visitation. Much later it was also modified so as to be used by the laity of the Oblates of St Francis de Sales. But the style, content and nature of De Sales’ Directory and that of Fr Preca are totally different. However, the final aim is the same: the guided passage from the mortification of “our self-love in order to let live and reign in us the love of him who died for love of us” to the transformation “into the sweetness of a perfect peace, and you will be filled with true happiness” (from the Preface by De Sales).

A Manual for Spiritual Direction 
     One does not mention St Francis de Sales without immediately realising his centrality in the traditions of Spiritual Direction. Some in fact consider him as the founder of the “modern” tradition. His treatise Introduction to a Devote Life remains a classic and fruitful reading even for us today.
     In his Introduction for A Spiritual Directory, Fr Preca himself specifies that “This Directory should serve as a manual for the exercise of sponsorship or spiritual direction, because it teaches, enlightens, and edifies the heart with love towards those duties which all should fulfil in their life on earth.”
     The above paragraph must not be overlooked. It carries weight and importance. For the Founder attached a very definite purpose to the book, as he also did for instance with Gymnasium for the Spiritual Life: “This book is mainly written for those involved in the spiritual guidance of youths and the Members of the Society of Christian Doctrine” (see its Presentation).
     According to Fr Preca, “the core of spiritual direction” consists of “the examen of conscience and meditation on revealed truths”. “Deceits are not discovered without self-examen, while without meditation the soul becomes sluggish and eventually dies” (see Gymnasium, Instruction 7). The metaphors used by Fr Preca in Instruction 89 portrait the attitudes that should animate the directee: “The way a patient communicates with the doctor or a traveller with the guide should help you to understand how a directee should communicate with the spiritual director. If patients conceal their real complaint from their doctor they will be the ones to suffer. If travellers do not trust their guide they will be the ones to be disappointed.” This is why in the same Instruction the Founder exhorts the directee to “lay bare his conscience” before the spiritual director (see also Rule 2 in The Rules of the Saints, unfortunately not yet available in English.) We cannot down play the importance of Spiritual Direction. We have to admit that some Members just vegetate for lack of it (cf. The Soul of the Apostolate, Dom J-B Chautard).
     Hence, the importance of the Directives which Blessed George Preca gave us in A Spiritual Directory. They are a source of spiritual light for our journey and thus empower us to spot out deceits for “Human life is surrounded by deceits, which are utter darknessŠ Deceits do not contain anything but ruin for the life of the soul and of the body. The remedy is found in prayer and in good instruction” (from the Introduction).
     Directive nr. 499 states: “On this earth there are two guides, nature and grace. Human nature leads you along the wide road, for it tempts you to do whatever you like. But grace leads you along the very narrow path, for it inspires you to contradict your heart. Examine yourself and see which guide you are following.”
I suggest that this Directive contains in a nutshell our life programme of discernment in order to fulfil God’s will for us. The 605 Directives of A Spiritual Directory are gems enlightening us on the way.

Joseph Abdilla s.d.c Blata l-Bajda - Malta