God’s Plan: A Treatise on Spiritual Direction for the Lay Catholic
Author: James Couture

A Catholic Treatise is a thorough, systematic exploration of some aspect of the faith, morals, or teachings of the Catholic Church. It is a practical and usable reference for the reader to learn and live the faith more fully.

God’s Plan is a treatise on Spiritual Direction. It invites the reader into an exploration of spiritual direction as related to the lay Catholic. It is written as a teaching document with clarity and practicality that will be appreciated by the majority of lay Catholics, as well as by pastors, teachers of the faith, and those who provide catechetical resources.

This treatise provides the theological and practical realities of spiritual direction in a way that effectively invites the lay Catholic into a successful journey of spiritual direction. It does not water down any of the theology; at the same time, it presents both the simple and the challenging teachings of the Catholic faith in a way that is accessible to the lay Catholic who lives in the busyness and practicalities of life in our world today.

The treatise contains a large number of more advanced theological topics that are of interest both to the ‘regular’ Church-goer as well as to teachers, academics, and clergy; these are necessary in order to provide a thorough exploration of spiritual direction as suited to lay Catholics, and it makes this treatise an important read both for clergy as well as for lay Catholics.

God’s Plan grew out of the author’s faith journey over many years of journeying under various sources and methods of spiritual direction. The “Prologue” provides a more detailed explanation of his journey.

The treatise is divided into 3 parts in 27 chapters, with the support of 10 Appendices. The 3 main sections cover: (click on each section to see a sample of the text of God’ Plan)

Questions and Answers on Spiritual Direction (sample pp 22-23)

Foundations of a Successful Faith Journey (sample pp 114-115)

Sources of Catholic Spiritual Direction (sample pp 250-251)