Ignatian Retreats Direction (DS9311J)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit aims to help students become competent directors of retreats in the Ignatian tradition, particularly, but not exclusively, according to the 18th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises. The unit will involve guiding retreatants through either an: • 3, 6, or 8-day individually guided silent retreat under individual and group supervision, or • through a 3, 6, or 8 week individually guided retreat in daily life under individual and group supervision.

Unit code: DS9311J

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Spirituality

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Jesuit College of Spirituality

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Learning outcomes

1.

Discuss the role and stance of an Ignatian retreat director, particularly as set out by Saint Ignatius in the Annotations to the Spiritual Exercises
2.

Evaluate their capacity to adapt the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises to particular Exercitants
3.

Apply the Rules for Discernment of Spirits and identity the ways in which ‘spirits’ work in an Exercitant
4.

Articulate and evaluate the decision-making process outlined in the Exercises
5.

Show a discerned awareness of his or her gifts and abilities and an acceptance of his or her limits as an Ignatian retreat director, as evidenced in self-acceptance and non-defensiveness in supervision

Unit sequence

Prerequisites • The experience of having made the full Spiritual Exercises, either over 30 days or 30 weeks; • DD8981F Spiritual Exercises: Practice A and B (or its equivalent).

Prohibited combinations old codes: DD9127F DS9127F

old name: Ignatian Retreat Direction

Pedagogy

Supervised praxis, personal reflection, critical reflection on supervised praxis. Since retreat direction — as an art rather than a science — is learned by doing, a significant proportion of this unit will be devoted to the actual practice of giving an individually guided retreat in the Ignatian tradition. While on retreat, the student will meet with retretants daily. The student will also meet with his or her supervisor once a day or once a week for individual supervision. This supervision could be face-to-face or online via Skype or FaceTime, etc.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Barry, W.A. Letting God Come Close: An Approach to the Spiritual Exercises. Chicago, IL: Loyola University Press, 2001.
  • Conroy, M. Looking into the Well: Supervision of Spiritual Directors. Chicago: Loyola Press, 1995.
  • Dyckman, Katherine et al. The Spiritual Exercises Reclaimed: Uncovering Liberating Possibilities for Women. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2001.
  • Fleming, David L. Draw Me into your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1996.
  • Gallagher, T. An Introduction to Prayer: Scriptural Reflection According to the Spiritual Exercises New York, NY: Crossroad Publishing, 2008.
  • O’Brien, K. The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. Chicago, IL: Loyola Press, 2011.
  • Schemel, George & Judith Roemer. Beyond Individuation to Discipleship. Private printing.
  • Tetlow, Joseph. Choosing Christ in the World: Directing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 2000.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Integrative essay (6000 words)

6000 100.0
Approvals

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

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-04 11:53:11 +1100