Listen with Love

About Listen with Love

Conversations about Spiritual Direction. Recorded at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Winnipeg and hosted by good friends Suhail Stephen and Mary Coswin, OSB—both seasoned spiritual directors and teachers of spiritual direction—Listen with Love explores the ministry of spiritual direction within the Christian tradition. With personal stories and meaningful (often humorous) dialogue, the podcast aims to deepen understanding about spiritual direction, encourage the vocation of spiritual directors, and reflect how spiritual direction feels — all with a view to seeing individuals, communities, and the Church flourish. listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Suhail Stephen & Mary Coswin, OSB

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Jan 2026

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Welcome to Season Two!

   Recorded at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Winnipeg and hosted by good friends Suhail Stephen and Mary Coswin, OSB—both seasoned spiritual directors and teachers of spiritual direction—Listen with Love explores the ministry of spiritual direction within the Christian tradition. Through personal stories and meaningful (often humorous) conversation, the podcast aims to deepen understanding of spiritual direction, encourage the vocation of spiritual directors, and reflect how spiritual direction feels in its listening, pacing, and attention to the experience of God—all with a view toward helping individuals, communities, and the Church flourish. Season Two includes ten episodes (including some guests!), and episodes are released every second Tuesday of the month. Music: “Luminous” by Tony Anderson (https://tonypterodactyl.bandcamp.com) If you find the Listen with Love meaningful, here are a few things we’d appreciate: * Comment: send us your comments and questions - we love hearing from you! * Share: let others know about the podcast * Follow us on Substack (https://listenwithlove.substack.com) * Rate or review (especially on Apple Podcasts) - this helps others find us * Support the podcast via Buy Me a Coffee (https://buymeacoffee.com/listenwithlove) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   23 Jun 2026

   How Do I Find a Spiritual Director? (E12)

   Season finale! In this episode, Mary and Suhail reflect on the podcast and find themselves smiling—grateful for the joy, light, and sense of purpose these episodes have brought. They also explore why spiritual direction is resonating with so many people today, and what this growing interest might reveal about the desire for a deeper, more personal engagement with God. Mary and Suhail also offer practical guidance for those interested in finding a spiritual director, including where to look, what questions to ask, and what qualities to consider. Along the way, they reflect on how spiritual direction has shaped their own lives and vocations, and share particularly memorable moments from season one that continue to remind them of the power of presence, listening, and God’s work in ordinary lives. The episode concludes with a moving and unexpected moment—one that left them in awe and silence, savouring the grace and love of God. SHOW NOTES Anonymity * At times, we share anecdotes about our directees. Anytime we do so, in keeping with typical ethical practice in spiritual direction, we keep their identity confidential and modify personal details. The directees to which we allude would likely not even realize the anecdotes are about them. References * Spiritual Directors of Manitoba (https://spiritualdirectors.ca) — a network of Manitoba-based spiritual directors that meets regularly, maintains an online directory, and raises public awareness about spiritual direction. * Spiritual Directors International (SDI) (https://www.sdicompanions.org) — one of the biggest learning communities “for spiritual directors, spiritual companions, and anyone curious about cultivating spiritual practice.” People * Father Joseph Tetlow, SJ (https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/author/tetlow/) Books * Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction — Margaret Guenther (1992) Traditions * Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius — a classic Christian prayer and discernment resource created by St. Ignatius of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuits) in the 16th century, intended to form “contemplatives in action.” * Ignatian Spirituality (https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/) * Office of Ignatian Spirituality (https://www.jesuitseastois.org/maketheexercises) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   9 Jun 2026

   What Happens in Spiritual Direction?

   Recorded on a sunny afternoon with light streaming into the monastery, Mary and Suhail begin talking about stained glass, wood-sculpted Stations of the Cross, and beauty as a pathway to God. The focus of the episode is the practical rhythms and dynamics of spiritual direction—from how often people meet and where sessions take place, how directors and directees prepare (or don’t prepare!) for their time together, to how sessions conclude. Along the way, Mary and Suhail share personal (somewhat embarrassing!) stories from their own practices, reflections on prayer, silence, online direction, and the many ways spiritual directors create space for people to notice God’s presence in their lives. SHOW NOTES Anonymity * At times, we share anecdotes about our directees. Anytime we do so, in keeping with typical ethical practice in spiritual direction, we keep their identity confidential and modify personal details. The directees to which we allude would likely not even realize the anecdotes are about them. References * St. Benedict’s Monastery (https://www.stbens.ca) — a Benedictine community of prayer and hospitality in Winnipeg, where this podcast was recorded. Before moving to its current location in St. Boniface in 2023, the monastery housed a girls’ academy, retreat centre, retirement community, and spiritual direction training program. * Stations of the Cross — a series of fourteen images or moments that trace Jesus' journey from his condemnation to his death and burial. For centuries, Christians have used them as a prayerful way of reflecting on Christ's suffering, walking spiritually alongside him through each step of the Passion. * Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (https://rndmcanada.org) — “part of an international community of Catholic Sisters who live and work in twenty countries around the world. In Canada, [they] principally reside and work in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.” Quotes * “Beauty will save the world.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Idiot (1868) Traditions * Jesuit (https://www.jesuits.org) — refers to members and the spirituality of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order founded in the 16th century by St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises grew out of this tradition. * Ignatian Spirituality (https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/) * Office of Ignatian Spirituality (https://www.jesuitseastois.org/maketheexercises) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   26 May 2026

   Spiritual Direction in a New Testament Story (E10)

   In a second installment on scriptural foundations for spiritual direction, Mary and Suhail sit with a post-resurrection story in Luke 24 as a lens for how people experience God in real life. They notice how Jesus comes alongside the disciples with patience and intention—joining their journey and conversation, listening, asking questions, and letting things unfold before offering clarity or instruction. And then there’s the strange, tender theme of recognition—how God can be present and still unrecognized, sometimes in ways that feel hidden or withheld. Even when people feel they’ve moved “away” or are considered to be in the “wrong” direction, they are still accompanied. “God does not know how to be absent,” meets and loves us wherever we are, and it often takes time to recognize the presence of the Risen Lord already there. The conversation ends with a brief discussion of lectio divina and how this practice shapes the kind of attentiveness that lies at the heart of spiritual direction. SHOW NOTES Traditions * Jesuit (https://www.jesuits.org) — Refers to members and the spirituality of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order founded in the 16th century by St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises grew out of this tradition. * Ignatian Spirituality (https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/) * Office of Ignatian Spirituality (https://www.jesuitseastois.org/maketheexercises) * Benedictine — Refers to the monastic tradition and spirituality shaped by St. Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century. The Order of St. Benedict (O.S.B.) and the Rule of St. Benedict grew out of this tradition, emphasizing stability, prayer, work, and attentiveness to God in the ordinary rhythms of life. * Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB) (https://www.benedictines-cib.org) * OSB DOG ORG (https://osb.org) People * St. Ignatius of Loyola — Founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits); developed a spirituality centred on discernment, attentiveness to inner movements, and learning to notice God’s presence in all things. * St. Augustine of Hippo— A 4th–5th century Christian theologian and bishop whose writings (like “Confessions” and “The City of God”) deeply shaped Western Christianity. Known for his reflections on grace, desire, and the restless human heart, he emphasized that God is the source of true rest and that human beings are drawn toward God even in their wandering. References * Spiritual Desolation — In Ignatian spirituality, an interior spiritual state characterized by darkness and disturbance of soul, disquiet, and ultimately a lack of faith, hope, and love in relationship to one’s experience of God. * Lectio Divina — A Benedictine practice of praying with scripture through slow, attentive reading, reflection, prayer, and contemplation, with openness to what God may be communicating personally here and now through the text. * “God meets us where we are.” — A summary expression rooted in Ignatian spirituality, especially the approach of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which emphasizes that God is encountered in the concrete realities of a person’s lived experience. It reflects the conviction that discernment begins not by escaping one’s present state, but by noticing how God is already present and active within it. Quotes * “God does not know how to be absent. The fact that most of us experience throughout most of our lives a sense of absence or distance from God is the great illusion that we are caught up in; it is the human condition. The sense of separation from God is real, but the meeting of stillness reveals that this perceived separation does not have the last word.” — Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation (2006) * “He was seen but wasn’t recognized. They were walking along dead with Christ alive.” — St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 235.2-3.5 * “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.” — David W. Augsburger, Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard (1982) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

5. 

   12 May 2026

   Spiritual Direction in an Old Testament Story (E09)

   Scripture has always been at the heart of Christian spiritual direction. It offers a rich portrait and living witness of who God is, as well as what human experience of God is like. In this episode, Mary and Suhail listen to the story of young Samuel hearing God’s voice in the night and explore its implications for spiritual direction. Together, they reflect on a loving and initiating God who patiently calls us by name, draws near in the ordinary, and is often present even when we are unaware — one reason good spiritual directors are such a gift. Along the way, Mary and Suhail share personal stories from spiritual direction and everyday life, exploring the many ways God infuses all of human experience with grace and love. SHOW NOTES Anonymity * At times, we share anecdotes about our directees. Anytime we do so, in keeping with typical ethical practice in spiritual direction, we keep their identity confidential and modify personal details. The directees to which we allude would likely not even realize the anecdotes are about them. References * The Man at the Pool — John 5:1–15 * Samuel and Eli — 1 Samuel 3:1-10 * “Finding God in all things” — a core expression of Ignatian spirituality, developed in the tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Jesuit sources often describe it as a way of perceiving reality in which God is already relentlessly present and active in every aspect of life — not only in prayer or explicitly religious settings, but in ordinary experiences, relationships, work, and interior movements. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   28 Apr 2026

   Who Can Be a Directee? (E08)

   Further exploring what a “directee” is, Mary and Suhail begin with an incredible story from prison chaplaincy, leading to a reflection on tears as both a feature of spiritual direction and a thread within the Christian spiritual tradition. The heart of the episode considers what allows someone to enter into and sustain spiritual direction over the long haul. Mary and Suhail highlight dispositions such as commitment, trust, solitary prayer, self-awareness, humility, vulnerability, and patience—all grounded in a willingness to place one’s life consciously before God. Along the way, they share some of their own vulnerable experiences in spiritual direction. The conversation concludes with reflections on the wide diversity of those who come to direction, and how God often draws particular directees to particular directors. Mary and Suhail also share about their sense of a “vocation within a vocation”—directees with whom they experience a unique sense of joy, awe, and purpose. SHOW NOTES Anonymity * At times, we share anecdotes about our directees. Anytime we do so, in keeping with typical ethical practice in spiritual direction, we keep their identity confidential and modify personal details. The directees to which we allude would likely not even realize the anecdotes are about them. Quotes * “There are only two major paths by which the human soul comes to God: the path of great love, and the one of great suffering. Both finally come down to great suffering—because if we love anything greatly, we will eventually suffer for it.” — Richard Rohr, Daily Meditation: Life Coming to a Focus (Center for Action and Contemplation) * “If someone wants to make any progress in the service of God, he must exercise himself in obedience to his spiritual father and in the renunciation of his own will.” — St. Basil of Caesarea, Long Rules (4th century) * “Open your heart to your spiritual father with all sincerity and fidelity, manifesting to him faithfully the state of your soul.” — St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life (1609) References * Tears — In the 4th - 5th century desert tradition, figures like Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian portray “tears of compunction” as those that arise from a contrite heart—sorrow for sin that turns the person toward God. This notion develops into the “gift of tears” in the Eastern and medieval traditions (e.g., John Climacus and Symeon the New Theologian), where tears are received as grace: an overflow of love, longing, and repentance. In the 16th century, St. Ignatius of Loyola featured tears as a form of spiritual consolation in his Spiritual Exercises (Rules for Discernment, no. 316) when a person is moved by love from or for God. * Liturgy of the Hours and Lectio Divina — The liturgy of the hours (shaped in early monastic life, especially by St. Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century) is the Church’s daily rhythm of praying the Psalms at set times, sanctifying the hours of the day. Lectio divina developed similarly in the monastic tradition and is a slow, prayerful reading of scripture moving from reading to meditation, prayer, and contemplation. * Vulnerability — from the Latin vulnerare, meaning “to wound,” which is also the root of vulnus (“wound”). The original sense, carried into medieval Latin (vulnerabilis), referred to something “able to be wounded” or “open to injury.” The word enters English first through this sense of exposure to harm in a physical or military context, and later extends metaphorically to emotional and relational openness. Books * Praying Our Experiences: A Guide for Personal Prayer — Joseph Schmidt (1985) * The Way of Spiritual Direction — Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs (1985) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   14 Apr 2026

   What Is a Directee? (E07)

   Having finished six episodes and being halfway through the season, Suhail and Mary begin by reflecting on how they’re feeling about the project, including some of the nervousness that comes with receiving encouraging early feedback. They then turn their attention to defining the word “directee,” exploring who embodies this reality in the Gospels, and sharing how directees exemplify humility by acknowledging their need for others in their experience of God. The episode concludes with a reflection on what directees are seeking in spiritual direction: the transcendent, their true self, a sense of wanting “more” in life, support in avoiding burnout or leadership failure, a space where questions are honoured, an experience of hospitality, and accompaniment in grief, among other things. SHOW NOTES Anonymity * At times, we share anecdotes about our directees. Anytime we do so, in keeping with typical ethical practice in spiritual direction, we keep their identity confidential and modify personal details. The directees to which we allude would likely not even realize the anecdotes are about them. Quotes * “The directee is the pilgrim who invites another to walk beside them on the way toward God.” — Margaret Guenther, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction (1992) * [The directee is] “a seeker who, moved by grace, presents their interior life to a trusted companion in order to learn to recognize God’s presence and respond more freely and deeply.”— William A. Barry and William J. Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction (1982) * “The directee is the person who seeks to share their spiritual experience with a trusted companion who helps them recognize and respond to the divine.” — Spiritual Directors International * “The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.” — Bruce Marshall, The World, the Flesh, and Father Smith (1945) * “I entered into unknowing, and there I remained, transcending all knowledge… I did not know where I had entered, but when I found myself there, without knowing where I was, I understood great things.” — St. John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel (prose rendering) (c. 1581–1585) Programs * School of Spiritual Direction (https://writingisprayer.com/ssd/) — Suhail teaches in this training program, typically offering cohorts in the fall. References * “Directee” comes from the verb to direct, from the Latin dirigere, meaning “to guide” or “to set straight,” combined with the English suffix -ee, which denotes the recipient of an action. In its literal sense, it means “one who is directed.” In spiritual direction, the term emerged in modern pastoral and Catholic usage to describe the person who receives spiritual direction. * The human person can be understood across four interwoven dimensions: the vital, which refers to our physical and embodied life; the functional, which concerns what we do and how we act in the world; the socio-historical, which includes our relationships, culture, and historical context; and the transcendent, which points to our openness to ultimate meaning and to God. — Adrian van Kaam, Transcendent Formation: Formative Spirituality (1995) * The Paralytic Lowered Through the Roof — Mark 2:1–12, Matthew 9:1–8, Luke 5:17–26 * The Man at the Pool — John 5:1–15 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   31 Mar 2026

   What Qualities Does a Spiritual Director Have? (E06)

   Suhail and Mary explore what it means to be a spiritual director and the qualities that shape who directors are. They discuss the importance of training—highlighting specific competencies relative to offering spiritual direction—along with intentional, ongoing formation, and the value of being people who are sought and live lives of discernment. They also share their personal definitions and images of spiritual directors, reflecting on how these ideas resonate as they’ve gained experience. The episode concludes with reflections on how “directive” spiritual directors are, including personal stories that illustrate how directors navigate this dynamic in practice. SHOW NOTES Anonymity * At times, we share anecdotes about our directees. Anytime we do so, in keeping with typical ethical practice in spiritual direction, we keep their identity confidential and modify personal details. The directees to which we allude would likely not even realize the anecdotes are about them. Books * The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith — Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich (1981) * Spiritual Direction: A Practical Introduction — Sue Pickering (2008) Quotes * “In discerning which director to choose, it is important to consider the necessary qualifications for this ministry: personal experience of God, competency in ascetical-mystical theology, ability to discern, etc.” — Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs, The Way of Spiritual Direction (1985) * “A spiritual person is considered an abba or amma inasmuch as God prompts a directee to seek him/her out for spiritual direction. One is a spiritual father or mother to the degree that one is freely chosen, under the inspiration of the Spirit, by another as his/her spiritual guide. One is abba or amma to the extent that the directee is willing to become a child: that is, willing to submit to God through another in openness, trust, and simplicity.” — Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs, The Way of Spiritual Direction (1985) * “[Directors] may be moved interiorly to make an unpleasant observation, to raise a thorny question, or even to use direct confrontation.” — Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs, The Way of Spiritual Direction (1985) * “A ‘spiritual director’ provides a non-anxious, unhurried, and confidential space for a “directee” to share about their experience of and relationship with God. A director doesn’t tell you what to do or try to “solve” things for you. Rather, the director’s main role is offering compassionate listening without agenda or judgment, and asking gentle yet precise questions that help a “directee” pay attention to and respond more fully to God. In other words, a spiritual director helps direct a person’s attention to God as opposed to giving them directions.” — Suhail’s initial definition, which, in part, he now finds anemic! * “Spiritual direction could be defined as taking place when one person (the director) prayerfully supports and encourages another person (the directee) to attend and respond to God. As a fellow pilgrim, the spiritual director accompanies the directee on this journey of faith. The real ‘director’ is God the Holy Spirit, who initiates and inspires the directee’s deepening relationship with the Trinity, with his or her own self, with other people, and with the realities of life in the global village of the twenty-first-century.” — Sue Pickering, Spiritual Direction: A Practical Introduction (2008) Programs * School of Spiritual Direction (https://writingisprayer.com/ssd/) — Suhail teaches in this training program, typically offering cohorts in the fall. Formation * Scrupulosity — a form of religious or moral anxiety marked by persistent doubt about one’s actions, intentions, or spiritual state. The term comes from the Catholic spiritual tradition and names an overactive or troubled conscience. It often involves treating ordinary or minor matters as serious sins, leading to cycles of fear, self-examination, and a persistent need for reassurance. References * The Sheep Know the Shepherd’s Voice — John 10:3–5, 10:27 * The Road to Emmaus — Luke 24:13–35 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

9. 

   17 Mar 2026

   What Is a Spiritual Director? (E05)

   Recorded shortly after the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire in October 2025, Suhail and Mary begin by talking about how they would relate to people in Ukraine and Gaza as spiritual directors, and what “spiritual” really means. The focus of the episode is on defining what a spiritual director is. Drawing on the definitions and imagery of Sue Pickering, Margaret Guenther, and others—as well as their own experience—Suhail and Mary describe the common qualities and approach of spiritual directors. They conclude the conversation by discussing several particular ways spiritual directors are people of love. SHOW NOTES Letters * St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote 6,700–7,000 letters, frequently offering counsel on discernment, prayer, and the spiritual life. St. Teresa of Ávila left behind 458 surviving letters, many addressed to nuns, confessors, and friends seeking guidance. St. John of the Cross wrote far fewer—only about 20 letters survive, though many others were likely lost. Meanwhile, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection is known for 15 preserved letters, all centred on spiritual counsel and the practice of living in God’s presence. Together, these figures left roughly 7,500 letters that could be considered forms of spiritual direction. Ukraine and Gaza * Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war has remained ongoing. Hamas’ actions in Israel in October 2023 and the significance of the Gaza ceasefire of October 2025 notwithstanding, Israel’s full-scale actions in Gaza since October 2023 have brought unprecedented destruction and loss of life for Palestinians, with the humanitarian situation remaining extremely dire. As Christians seeking to embody the way of Jesus, we lament the suffering caused by war; affirm the dignity of every person; oppose occupation, violence, and war; and are committed to the way of peace, justice, and love. Books * Spiritual Direction and Meditation — Thomas Merton (1960) * Spiritual Direction: A Practical Introduction — Sue Pickering (2008) * Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction — Margaret Guenther (1992) * Spiritual Direction and Meditation — Thomas Merton (1957) Quotes * “But it is important for us to understand what this word “spiritual” means here. There is a temptation to think that spiritual direction is the guidance of one’s spiritual activities, considered as a small part or department of one’s life. You go to a spiritual director to have him take care of your spirit, the way you go to a dentist to have him take care of your teeth, or to a barber to get a haircut. This is completely false. The spiritual director is concerned with the whole person. For the spiritual life is not just the life of the mind, or of the affections, or of the “summit of the soul”—it is the life of the whole person.” — Thomas Merton, Spiritual Direction and Meditation (1960) * “Spiritual direction could be defined as taking place when one person (the director) prayerfully supports and encourages another person (the directee) to attend and respond to God. As a fellow pilgrim, the spiritual director accompanies the directee on this journey of faith. The real ‘director’ is God the Holy Spirit, who initiates and inspires the directee’s deepening relationship with the Trinity, with his or her own self, with other people, and with the realities of life in the global village of the twenty-first-century.” — Sue Pickering, Spiritual Direction: A Practical Introduction (2008) * “The spiritual director is a midwife of the soul, one who accompanies another as new life in God emerges and takes shape.” — Margaret Guenther, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction (1992) Associations * Spiritual Directors International (SDI) (https://www.sdicompanions.org) — A global, highly ecumenical learning community for spiritual directors, spiritual companions, and anyone curious about cultivating spiritual practice. The SDI image of the three chairs is a visual representation of the dynamic between the seeker (directee), the spiritual director, and God in the context of spiritual direction. People * Father John English, SJ * Father Joseph Tetlow, SJ (https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/author/tetlow/) Formation * Adoration — Eucharistic Adoration is a Catholic practice of spending intentional time in the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. During Adoration, people pray, reflect, or sit in silent awe before Jesus, offering love and attentiveness. References * Four Friends and the Paralytic — Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 5:17-26 * A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda — John 5:1-15 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

10. 

    3 Mar 2026

    What Is Spiritual Direction? (E04)

    Following their preceding discussion on suspicions and distinctives, Suhail and Mary turn their attention to defining what spiritual direction actually is. They reference several classic and influential definitions from Margaret Guenther, Thomas Merton, William A. Barry, William J. Connolly, Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs. They also share their own definitions, explore a Jesuit-inspired framework for what happens in spiritual direction, and conclude with the idea that everyone has a God-given spiritual direction. SHOW NOTES Books * Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction — Margaret Guenther (1992) * The Seven Storey Mountain — Thomas Merton (1948) * Spiritual Direction and Meditation — Thomas Merton (1957) * The Practice of Spiritual Direction — William A. Barry, SJ and William J. Connolly, SJ (1982) * The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living — Timothy M. Gallagher (2005) * The Way of Spiritual Direction — Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs (1985) References * Moses and the Burning Bush — Exodus 3 * The Transfiguration — Mark 9:2–13 * “Being filled with the fullness of God” — Ephesians 3:19; describes the journey and goal of union, theosis, divinization, etc., in the Christian tradition * Awareness, Understanding, Response — a framework for the discernment of spirits featured in Gallagher’s The Discernment of Spirits * Everyone was shining — This moment is narrated in Merton’s Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (1965) Quotes * “Spiritual direction is not problem-solving, nor is it therapy; its intention is not to cure but to accompany.” — Margaret Guenther, Holy Listening (1992) * “And then everything inside me began to sing […]” — Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain (1948) * “The whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of a man’s life and to bring out his inmost truth, which is what we call the likeness of Christ in his soul.” — Thomas Merton, Spiritual Direction and Meditation (1960) * “Spiritual direction is help given by one Christian to another which enables the person to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of that relationship.” — William A. Barry, SJ and William J. Connolly, SJ, The Practice of Spiritual Direction (1982) * “It strikes me that it is not wise to treat lightly what most generations of Christians have agreed is essential.” — Eugene H. Peterson, “On Finding a Spiritual Director” (article, first published 1983) * “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” — Gerard Manley Hopkins, “God’s Grandeur” (poem, first published 1877) * “Spiritual direction is the gift, the charism, the ministry of guiding a person in and through his/her [spiritual direction] in the Lord. [It is] A unique participation in another’s spiritual regeneration, deification, transformation. Spiritual direction is a God-willed contribution of one person to another’s process of spiritualization […], sanctification […]. Spiritual direction deals with the interior life of directees: their life in God, and in him their life with all creation. Direction [seeks] to awaken directees to a consciousness of the path along which God is leading them [so that] they can in turn more voluntarily cooperate with God as he draws them through the passages of life.” — Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs, The Way of Spiritual Direction (1985) Programs * Apprenticeship in Spiritual Direction (https://www.orderofthecommonlife.org/asd) — A spiritual direction formation program from the Order of the Common Life featuring spiritual theology, praxis, mentorship, and intended for the local church. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

11. 

    17 Feb 2026

    Suspicions About Spiritual Direction (E03)

    Recorded on the feast day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (October 1), Suhail and Mary begin by reflecting on their experience of the podcast so far and on “the Little Flower,” especially her autobiography, Story of a Soul. In anticipation of clarifying terms, they then explore common suspicions people may have about spiritual direction: questions about power dynamics, concerns about trendiness, what “spiritual” really means, and whether human intermediaries are necessary. They also consider what distinguishes spiritual direction from other helping modalities such as coaching, counselling, and psychotherapy. SHOW NOTES Recording * We use two Rode PodMics that go into an Apogee Duet connected to a MacBook Air and record the audio using Logic Pro. The audio is then edited with Auphonic, reimported into Logic, and arranged with music. The intro and middle music are parts of the song “World Without End (https://suhailstephen.bandcamp.com/track/world-without-end),” written by Suhail. The outro music is a free sample he found somewhere. People * St. Thérèse of Lisieux — also known as “the Little Flower,” was a French Carmelite nun whose spiritual teaching emphasizes the “little way”: a path of trust, humility, and love in ordinary life. She lived from 1873 to 1897. Books * Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux — St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1898) References * The allusions to two scripture passages from the book of James on joy and confession are James 1:2-4 and James 5:16, respectively. Jesus, characterized as “Wonderful Counsellor,” is from Isaiah 9:6. Traditions * Carmelite — Refers to members of the Carmelite religious tradition, which emphasizes contemplative prayer, interior life, and attentiveness to God’s presence. Carmelite spirituality is shaped by figures such as St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. * “Confessor” — In Christianity, a confessor is a person (often a priest) who receives another’s disclosure of sins or struggles, offers prayer and counsel, and speaks words of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

12. 

    3 Feb 2026

    Who Is Suhail and How Did We Become Spiritual Directors and Teachers? (E02)

    Suhail reflects on his first encounters with spiritual direction—how it seemed to “want” him, resonating deeply with who he was and awakening an unfamiliar joy and desire. Together, Suhail and Mary explore how spiritual direction showed up within their respective Protestant and Catholic upbringings, how they discerned their vocation as spiritual directors, and were invited into the work of training others in this ministry. SHOW NOTES Places * North End — A historic and diverse Winnipeg neighbourhood marked by both economic inequality and deep community resilience, shaped by immigration, Indigenous presence, and strong networks of mutual care. Traditions * Jesuit (https://www.jesuits.org) — Refers to members and the spirituality of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order founded in the 16th century by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Formation * Order of the Common Life (https://www.orderofthecommonlife.org) — A modern, ecumenical religious order offering monastic formation, spiritual direction training, and church formation. * Supervision / Supervisor — The reflective, regular practice of an experienced spiritual director (a “supervisor”) supporting another director in their ongoing formation and skill in offering spiritual direction. * Suhail’s practice (https://writingisprayer.com) — Offering spiritual direction, spiritual direction training, etc. Programs * School of Mercy and Justice (https://writingisprayer.com/smj/) — A formation program (founded and directed by Suhail when he worked in the North End) that offers spiritual formation for those actively engaged in mercy and justice work. * School of Spiritual Direction / Sustainable Faith (https://sustainablefaith.com/schools/spiritual-direction) — A two-year spiritual direction training offered through Sustainable Faith, which also offers various other trainings. Books * The Listener — Taylor Caldwell (1987) People * Sandra Stewart (https://rndmcanada.org/author/sandra-stewart/) * David Walsh (https://www.inscapescanada.com/who-we-are-each) * Sister Maureen Conroy (https://www.loyolapress.com/authors/maureen-conroy-r-s-m/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

13. 

    20 Jan 2026

    What Is This Podcast About and Who Is Mary? (E01)

    Beginning with a land acknowledgement, Mary and Suhail introduce Listen with Love, recorded at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. They reflect on how the monastery shaped their friendship and led to the creation of the podcast, including the origin of its name. Mary shares how spiritual direction found her and her journey into becoming a spiritual director, and how experiences of beauty and a formative dream she had at age fourteen led her to her vocation as a Benedictine nun. SHOW NOTES Places * Land Acknowledgement — Winnipeg is on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the national homeland of the Red River Métis. Its water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. * St. Benedict’s Monastery (https://www.stbens.ca) — A Benedictine community of prayer and hospitality in Winnipeg, where this podcast was recorded. Prior to moving to its current location in St. Boniface in 2023, the monastery housed a girls’ academy, retreat centre, retirement community, and spiritual direction training program. Traditions * Rule and Order of St. Benedict (https://osb.org) — The foundational guide of Benedictine monastic life, created by St. Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century. The Order of St. Benedict (O.S.B.) grew out of this tradition. * 19th Annotation / Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (https://www.jesuitseastois.org/spiritualexercises) — A classic Christian prayer and discernment resource created by St. Ignatius of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuits) in the 16th century intended form “contemplatives in action.” Formation * Enneagram (Type Four) — A personality framework with nine different types and various movements within. Mary alludes to being a type “Four,” which, incidentally, Suhail is as well. Quotes * “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.” — David W. Augsburger, Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard (1982) * “To ‘listen’ another’s soul into a condition of disclosure and discovery may be almost the greatest service that any human being ever performs for another.” — Douglas V. Steere, On Listening to Another (1955) * “Hearing to speech” — Concept articulated by Nelle Morton in her essay “Beloved Image,” later included in The Journey Is Home (1985) * In relation to the title of the podcast, Suhail talks about the centrality of love for the earliest Christians in allusion to To Love as God Loves: Conversations with the Early Church — Roberta C. Bondi (1987) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

14. 

    13 Jan 2026

    Welcome to Listen with Love

    Recorded at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Winnipeg and hosted by good friends Suhail Stephen and Mary Coswin, OSB—both seasoned spiritual directors and teachers of spiritual direction—Listen with Love explores the ministry of spiritual direction within the Christian tradition. With personal stories and meaningful (often humorous) dialogue, the podcast aims to deepen understanding about spiritual direction, encourage the vocation of spiritual directors, and reflect how spiritual direction feels — all with a view to seeing individuals, communities, and the Church flourish. Season One has 12 episodes, with each episode releasing every two weeks. Reflections and conversations live on our Substack (https://listenwithlove.substack.com). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit listenwithlove.substack.com (https://listenwithlove.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings