Set me Free: Spiritual Direction and Discernment of Spirits offers a remarkably clear and rigorous account of the practice of spiritual direction.  Thorough, well researched and well written, it will be welcomed by spiritual directors, pastoral ministers and all people interested in the life of the Spirit. 

Brian Gallagher bases his study of discernment on a sound theology of the Holy Spirit, a psychology of human freedom, and practical examples from his and others’ experience of the spirits.  Built on a life-time of ministry as a spiritual director, supervisor and teacher in spirituality, he believes that discernment of spirits is integral to the ministry of spiritual direction and all forms of pastoral ministry; and that people become more discerning only through growth in inner freedom.  

Spiritual directors discover rules for discernment in their own experience of the ways of the spirits in their lives. This has definite parallels for other pastoral ministers and clear implications for the formation programs that prepare them for ministry.  

‘Brian Gallagher offers a remarkably clear and rigorous account of the practice of spiritual direction… He describes the pastoral practice that is at the heart of spiritual direction: a spiritual director discerning their inner movements while contemplatively listening to a directee.  The sacred ministry of spiritual direction  will come to nothing without a discerning heart.  Importantly, he distils the core insights of others and integrates them with his own wisdom born of fifty years’ experience as a spiritual director.  Gallagher's book is filled with psychological, theological and spiritual insight.  If you are a beginning spiritual director or an experienced practitioner, or one who provides formation and ongoing supervision in the art of spiritual direction, your ministry will be enhanced by reading and re-reading this book.’ (Michael Smith sj)

About the Author

Brian Gallagher is a Catholic priest in the community of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heat, with degrees in science, theology and spiritual direction, including a doctoral thesis that researched discernment of spirits.  His ministry for fifty years has been in spirituality and spiritual direction, predominately at the Heart of Life Centre in Melbourne; and now in retreat ministry in Shoreham.  Brian is the author of two earlier books Pray As You Are and Taking God to Heart as well as the first edition of Communal Wisdom, co-authored by Sue Richardson pbvm, Set Me Free and The Eyes of God