DESCRIPTION:

The course is designed to explore the nature and direction of our Christian journey--a journey into the depths of one's life, the life of God, and the life of the world--within the context of the discipline of Christian spirituality. At the heart of this life-long journey we all embark upon is a profound, encompassing experience of God. Thus the main focus will be critical reflection on the shape, texture, and significance of spiritual experience which is vital to a maturing faith.

The course aims to help us develop greater sensitivity to and awareness of what is involved in living out our spirituality within the context of our own journeying reality, including ministry--where spiritual experience figures centrally in our lives, and in the life of the Church and the world.

A mixture of class lectures by the professor and invited guests, short video presentations, devotional/experiential exercises, student report/discussion, and small group interaction. The class is scheduled to meet for four hours twice a week for five consecutive weeks. The course will be capped by a half-day Personal Silent Retreat to be arranged individually by each student.

Athanasius. The Life of Antony and the Letter to Marcellinus. The Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press, 1980. (Selected Portions)

Augustine, Saint. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick. Oxford University Press, 1998.

Ignatius of Loyola. Spiritual Exercises and Selected Works. The Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press, 1991. (Selected Portions)

OR David L. Fleming. Draw Me Into Your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises (A Literal Translation & A Contemporary Reading). The Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1996. (Selected Portions)

Lewis, C. S. Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold. Any Edition.

Teresa of Avila. The Interior Castle. The Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press, 1979.

Course Reader.

• Regular attendance and active participation in all aspects of the course especially the class exercises.

• Thoughtful reading of the assigned textbooks and course materials.

• Five theological analysis/reflection papers: one 2-page paper due each week (total of 10 pages).

• Personal Journey Essay: initial draft to be shared in small groups during class time; essay is to be finalized during Personal Retreat and final copy (4 pages) to be turned in by Aug. 4.

• Interactive Book Analysis: Till We Have Faces (4 pages; due by Aug. 20).

• One-page Personal Retreat Reflection paper (due by Aug. 4).

None.

Meets M.A. in Theology requirement in Spirituality (SPIR).

None.