IGNATIAN FoUNDATIONS
When the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life comes to a close, many desire to look back upon their retreat experience to reflect upon and understand it more deeply. The Ignatian Spirituality Center offers two follow up courses for persons who have made the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life and desire to learn more about Ignatian Spirituality and integrate it more fully into their lived experience.
COURSES
Dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises
Rules for the Discernment of Spirits
COURSE FORMAT
Presentations, reflection and prayer time, small group sharing and large group interactions.
Reading assignments will be given to prepare you to receive more readily the content presented as well as an ability to participate more fully in class discussion and exploration. You will need to purchase the required texts shown on this page.
WHO CAN REGISTER
These courses are for persons who have made the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life with the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City.
INSTRUCTORS
Lori Stevens (lead instructor), Rev. Don Compier, Nancy Seibolt, and Joe Snyder
CONTENT THIS YEAR
We rotate each year between two courses, the Dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises and St. Ignatius’ Rules for the Discernment of Spirits. Beginning in September 2023 we will be exploring the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits. The Rules for the Discernment of Spirits are a set of guidelines to help faithful persons to overcome roadblocks to progressing in their relationship with God. These guidelines are not original to St. Ignatius, you can find similar rules from the early Desert Fathers to St. Ignatius. St. Ignatius noted what helped him and others to progress in the spiritual life and over time improved on his organization and explanation of these guidelines. They are essential to all persons desiring to follow Christ and especially helpful for persons making the Spiritual Exercises to help them to continue to say Yes to Christ’s invitation throughout the retreat.
We will explore the world of interior movements of the soul, movements that lead to God vs. movements that keep us stuck or turn us away from God. Discernment begins with noticing these interior movements of the soul and determining the leading voices behind these movements (God or not God, the Holy Spirit vs. not the Holy Spirit), then choosing to follow the voice of God. Discernment is not easy, but these guidelines help to even out the playing field and free people up to follow God’s lead and to choose what is better for the greater glory of God.
WHEN DOES THE PROGRAM BEGIN?
The Dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises class begins on Saturday, September 14, 2023 at 8:30 AM. Classes are three hours in length.
Our dates this year are September 14, October 5, November 2, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 8, and April 5.
WHERE?
Classes will be held on a hybrid basis: in person at Rockhurst High School for those in the greater Kansas City metro area and on ZOOM for those outside the metropolitan area.
COST
The fee for Ignatian Foundations is $275. If you are registering please do so using the form below. Textbooks are not included, you will need to purchase these in addition to your class fee. See required texts to the right.
REQUIRED READING
Click to purchase this book at Loyola Press
Click to purchase this book at Jesuit Sources
Click to purchase this book at Jesuit Sources