Content

This unit aims to help participants deepen their understanding and practice of prayer, develop their capacity to identify the Spirit of God in their lives, and grow in the ability to discriminate between that Spirit and other ‘spirits’. Based on (i) the Rules for discernment of spirits, and (ii) the Election in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, this unit will provide a theoretical framework for personal discernment and decision-making.

Unit code: DS8011J

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Spirituality

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Jesuit College of Spirituality

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate a detailed theoretical understanding of the Rules for Discernment of Spirits in the Spiritual Exercises [313-336];

2.

Describe the patterns of spiritual consolation and desolation in their lives, and detail the strategies they have learned to agere contra desolatione (act against desolation);

3.

Summarise a detailed theoretical understanding of the Election in the Spiritual Exercises [Sp Ex 169-189];

4.

Demonstrate the application of the Election in the Spiritual Exercises [169-189] in the context of a specific decision in their lives.

Unit sequence

Prohibited combinations: old code: DS8110J

Pedagogy

There will be two weekend intensives Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) eight weeks apart. In-between these, each student will make an individually-guided retreat in daily life during which the student will pray each day, make the Examen and see a retreat director once a week. The pattern of each weekend will include (i) lecturer’s input, (ii) students’ prayer and personal reflection, and (iii) sharing in facilitated small groups. Additional resources requiring critical reflection and peer interaction will be given.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Barry, William. Letting God Come Close: An Approach to the Spiritual Exercises. Chicago, IL: Loyola University Press, 2001. (recommended for purchase)
  • Fleming, David. Draw Me into your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1996. (recommended for purchase)
  • Tylenda, Joseph. A Pilgrim’s Journey: The Autobiography of St. Ignatius Loyola. Revised edn, San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2001. (recommended for purchase) ###Reference Texts
  • Gallagher, Timothy. The Discernment of Spirits: The Ignatian Rule for Everyday Life. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2005.
  • Gallagher, Timothy. The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for our Lives Today. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2006.
  • Green, Thomas. Weeds Among the Wheat: Discernment: Where Prayer and Action Meet. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1990.
  • Ivens, Michael. Understanding the Spiritual Exercises. Surrey: Inigo Enterprises, 2000.
  • Lonsdale, David. Dance to the Music of the Spirit: The Art of Discernment. London: Darton, Longman, Todd, 1992.
  • Tetlow, Joseph. Choosing Christ in the World: Directing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 2000.
  • Toner, Jules. A Commentary on Saint Ignatius' Rules for the Discernment of Spirits. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1982. (There is a class set of this text)
  • Toner, Jules. Discerning God's Will. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1991. (There is a class set of this text)
  • Toner, Jules. Spirit of Light or Darkness? A Casebook for Studying the Discernment of Spirits. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1995.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

5000-word integrative essay

5000 80.0
Essay

1000-word paper on a matter for personal discernment and decision-making

1000 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2017

Unit record last updated: 2019-10-03 11:34:41 +1000