RC 416/ CAS 416: Jesuit Spirituality: St. Ignatius Loyola and Pope Francis

Course Description:

This course will explore how the Spiritual Exercises, developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, are intended to help one engage in an active experience with God and develop a set of values and principles that can promote social justice in our world today. The life and teachings of Pope Francis will be studied as an example of Jesuit Spirituality.

Prerequisites:

None

Course Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:

  1. Describe the historical context and key events in the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
  2. Analyze the role of imagination and emotion in discovering God's active presence in their life.
  3. Examine the role of consolation, desolation, and the Rules for Discernment as they apply in the spiritual life.
  4. Explain the purpose and structure of The Spiritual Exercises.
  5. Assess the historical and contemporary value of The Spiritual Exercises.
  6. Identify some important characteristics of Ignatian prayer, discernment, and spirituality (for example, consolation, desolation, discernment of spirits, discernment of God's will, spiritual direction, Principle and Foundation.
  7. Discuss how Ignatius' life experiences influenced the structure and meditations of The Spiritual Exercises.
  8. Consider "contemplatives in action" and discuss the role of spirituality in the promotion of justice.

Course Materials:

Required Texts:

Traub, G. W. (2008). An Ignatian spirituality reader. Chicago, IL: Loyola Press. ISBN-13: 978-0-8294-2723-3.

Fleming, D. (2008). What is Ignatian spirituality? Chicago, IL: Loyola Press. This book is available online at 21st-century-ignatian-voices

Callahan, J. (2001). Foundations. Denver: Regis University. This book is available on Electronic Reserves

Required Resources:

Electronic Reserves:

Students are required to access the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) for information about composition strategies, grammar, and punctuation rules along with APA formatting and citation styles. While the OWL is free to access as a reference resource, please note the Fair Use Policy regarding restrictions for using the OWL.

Technology Tools:

Minimum Technology Requirements:

Course Assignments and Activities

Week and Topic Readings Graded Assignments or Assessments and Associated Points
One:
Story of Ignatius of Loyola		 Traub, 2008:
  1. "St. Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Jesuits," p. 21
  2. "Do You Speak Ignatian: A Glossary of Terms Used," p. 250
Ereserve:
  1. Callahan, 2001: Section "St. Ignatius of Loyola" pp. 4-9
  2. Lowney, 2013: Chapter 2

Video:Ignatian Inquiry led by Father Stephen Yavorsky, S.J. E
  1. Introductions (Not graded)
  2. Discussion/Participation (12%)
Two:
Discovering a Personal God		 Traub, 2008:
  • "Contemplation: A Long Loving Look at the Real" p. 89
  • "Prayer as a Conscious Relationship" p. 99
  • "Discernment: Introduction" p 152
  • "Discernment of Spirits as an Act of Faith" p. 159
  • "Discernment of Spirits" p. 171
"How Do I know I am Experiencing God?" by William Barry, SJ:

How Do We Pray With Our Imagination? Creighton University Online Ministries:

Video: Fr. James Martin, SJ, on Gospel Contemplation:

“Introduction to Discernment of Spirits

Pray with Your Imagination Why Do We Pray? by William Barry, S.J.

Ignatian Contemplative Prayers (choose one of the prayers for the reflection activity)

Selected passages from The Autobiography of St. Ignatius (Benziger Brothers, 1900) RC_Topic_3_Reading.pdf
  1. Discussion/Participation (16%)
  2. Written Assignment: Personal Experience (10%)
Three:
Overview of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius		 Ereserve: Callahan, 2001, pp. 27-40.

Traub, 2008:

  • The Spiritual Exercises: Introduction, p. 116
  • What Are Spiritual Exercises?, p. 121
  • An Experience of the Contemporary Personally Guided Spiritual Exercises, p. 136
  • Forward to Antonio de Nicolás': Powers of Imagining: Ignatius de Loyola, p. 139
  • Contemplation: A Long Loving Look at the Real p. 89 (repeated from Week 2)
  • Living Conversation: "Higher Education in a Catholic Context" p. 225

Dynamics of The Spiritual Exercises webcast at Georgetown University

Barry, William A., S.J., Spiritual Direction in Daily Life

Use Your Imagination: A Prayer Tip from St. Ignatius by James Martin, S.J.

Prayer Windows artwork by Bob Gilroy, S.J.

Standaert, Nicolas S.J. (2007). The composition of place: Creating space for an encounter. The Way (46)/1.
  1. Discussion/Participation (16%)
  2. Written Assignment: Bringing the Stories to Life (10%)
Four:
Finding God in All Things		 Traub, 2008: "Rummaging for God: Praying Backwards through Your Day" p. 104 Reflection and Our Active Lives by David L. Fleming, S.J.

Video: God in All Things (For a transcript of this video, click here.)

Video: Lunchtime Examen 2 (For a transcript of this video, click here.)

Learning to Live Reverently by Gerald M. Fagin, S.J.

Ereserve: Lowney, 2013:Chapters 7 and 8
  1. Discussion/Participation (8%)
  2. Written Assignment: Reflection and Leadership (10%)
Five:
Contemplatives in Action for Justice and Peace		 Traub, 2008:
  • "Do You Speak Ignatian?"
  • "Arrupe, Pedro" pp. 250-251
  • "Kolvenbach, Peter-Hans" pp. 259-260
    • "Men and Women for Others" pp. 260-263
    • "The Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice" p. 265
    • "Finding God in All Things: A Spirituality for Today" p. 50
    • "Ignatian Spirituality" p. 59
Fleming, 2008:
  • "God Calls, We Respond," pp. 37-41
  • "Sharing the Mission of Christ," pp. 67-70
  • "Working with Others," pp. 95-99
  • "Being Helpful," pp. 101-10
Using the Spiritual Exercises
  1. Discussion/Participation (8%)
  2. Written Assignment: Final Project (10%)
    Total = 100%

    NOTE TO LEARNERS: On occasion, the course faculty may, at his or her discretion, alter the Learning Activities shown in this Syllabus. The alteration of Learning Activities may not, in any way, change the Learner Outcomes or the grading scale for this course as contained in this syllabus. Examples of circumstances that could justify alterations in Learning Activities could include number of learners in the course; compelling current events; special faculty experience or expertise; or unanticipated disruptions to class session schedule.

    College of Contemporary Liberal Studies Grading Scale:

     

    CCLS Policies

    Review the CCLS Policies on the Regis University website.