Dominican Spiritual Direction

Dominican spiritual direction flows from the 800-year tradition of the Order of Preachers, founded by St. Dominic de Guzmán in 1216. The Dominican motto — "Veritas" (Truth) — captures the heart of this tradition: the conviction that the pursuit of truth is itself a form of prayer, and that contemplation naturally overflows into sharing what one has contemplated with others.

A Dominican director brings an intellectual companionship to the spiritual life. This does not mean the relationship is cold or academic — rather, it means your director values clarity of thought, theological depth, and the integration of faith and reason. Thomas Aquinas, the tradition's greatest theologian, taught that grace builds on nature — meaning God works through your intellect, your questions, and your genuine search for understanding, not apart from them.

Dominican direction is especially well-suited for people who come to God through questions, study, and the life of the mind. If you have ever felt that your intellectual curiosity was at odds with your spiritual life, a Dominican director can help you see that the two are not only compatible but deeply interconnected. As Aquinas wrote, "The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among unbelievers if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false."