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Introductory session: Tuesday 10 January 2023 11.00-11.30am online /7-7.30pm online (London time)
Online Course Details
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82733560128?pwd=Tkx1ZXk1WEdvQ1BMYUlGSGREc24xQT09 | Meeting ID: 827 3356 0128 | Passcode: 358687
When speaking about mysticism, we either feeldetached from the highly privileged experience of some individuals who are highabove our own ordinary ways of living or we feel confused or lack the self-confidenceto adopt a worldview that nourishes our spiritual journey. We may stumble to findinner freedom, to learn more and better ways of loving, to respond to God’scalling. This Ignatian mysticism course seeks to map out some traces of theIgnatian tradition that show Ignatius as mystic and open the mystical experienceto us. If you feel like going beyond the ordinary but lack either the know howor the courage to proceed, join this course to learn about other people who becamemystics in their daily lives and study the ways that may help you too by practicingthe Ignatian tradition.
Week 1
How did Ignatian Mysticism come about? Part I
This week we look at how Ignatius’ experience turned out be mystical. Our primary source will be his Autobiography and Spiritual Diary. We shall look at our own biography and seek to value journaling to capture our own personal spiritual journey.
Week 2
How did Ignatian Mysticism come about? Part II
This week we continue to look at Ignatius’ foundational experience that changed him into mystic. Our interest will lie in looking at his experience at Manresa and his vision at La Storta. We shall reflect on our own experience and what we envisage for our lives on our own personal spiritual journey.
Week 3
Ignatian Mysticism in the world, Christ orientated service
This week we explore key Ignatian orientations to reflect God in Trinity who is labouring for us in all things. We look at being grounded and rooted in a Christological orientation to give due reverence, to serve humanity and cherish familiarity with Christ.
Week 4
Ignatian Mysticism as practiced by Jesuit missionaries
Much of the universality of the Ignatian spirituality comes from its capacity to meet people where they are. Jesuit missionaries always understood this very well. We shall look at how joining East and West is mutually fruitful and how William Johnston SJ gives us an example in all of Christian mysticism, just as Matteo Ricci SJ did in his own time.
Week 5
Ignatian Mysticism in dialogue with one’s imaginations and affections
The universality of Ignatian mysticism feeds into its flexibility based on the discernment of various movements and reading reality. This week we shall look at ways to cultivate our awareness of these mociónes and what to do with them when we come closer to them.
This course runs over five weeks.
Each week there is a series of resources which you can study at any time that suits you. This input is intended to introduce the topic for the week and provide some orientation for the weekly assigned reading and questions for reflection.
Each week concludes with a live seminar online or in person led by the course tutor. You need to log on to Zoom using the link provided just before 7.00pm (London time). Seminars will last about an hour. To benefit fully from the seminars you need to have studied the presentation, done the assigned reading, and spent some time working on the questions for reflection. The seminar discussion will be based around the questions for reflection.
This is a password protected webpage for participants who have enrolled on this course. Please do not share the link or password with anyone else. Thank you.
Reading materials are made available to you under the copyright licensing agreement of the Heythrop Library (an affiliated library of the University of London). You must not further duplicate this material or share it with others who are not registered on this course.
If you have access to central London and wish to use the Heythrop Library reading room while you are doing this course, you are welcome to do so. Membership for the duration of your course is free.
Ad libitum
Alois M. Haas, Reading Mystical Texts. In The Way Supplement 102, Issue 3 (2001), pg. 144-152.
Edward Howells, Mysticism and the Mystical: The Current Debate. In The Way Supplement 102,(2001), pg. 15-27.
Edward Howells, Personal Experience and Critical Distance in the Interpretation of Spiritual Texts. In The Way Vol 53 Issue 4, (October 2014), pg. 15-27.
Moshe Sluhovsky, Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises and the Modern Self. In Robert Aleksander Maryks, ed. A Compantion to Ignatius of Loyola, Brill, Leiden, 2014, pg.216-231.
Course article
*
Harvey D. Egan SJ, Christian Mysticism. The Future of a Tradition. Pueblo Publishing Company, New York, pg. 30-79.
Course theme questions
What do I know of the mysticism tradition in the world?
What do I imagine Christian mysticism is?
How would I define Ignatian mysticism?
Autobiography
*
William J. Young SJ, St. Ignatius’ Own Story, Loyola University Press, Chicago, 1980, pg. 17-27.
Spiritual Diary
*
Joseph a. Munitiz SJ ed., Inigo: Discernment Log-Book The Spiritual Diary of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Inigo Enterprises, London, 1987, pg. 3-18 (10-18).
Peter Hans Kolvenbach SJ, The Road from La Storta, The Institute of Jesuit Sources, St. Louis, 2000, pg.21-32.
Journaling
Andy Alexander SJ, Maureen McCann Waldron and Larry Gillick SJ, Retreat in the Real World, Loyola Press, Chicago, 2009, pg. 1-15.
* minimum compulsory reading
Week 1 questions
What would I find mystical about Ignatius’ time in Manresa?
In Ignatius’ Spiritual Diary what is similar and different to his experience in Manresa?
What is my experience of journaling during the reflection time after my prayer?
Ad libitum
Helen Orchard, The creature and the sovereign self: The anthropology of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius within the context of contemporary spiritual narcissism. In The Way Vol 59 Issue 1, (January 2020), pg. 11-21.
Mysticism
*
Brian O’Leary SJ, God Ever Greater. Exploring Ignatian Spirituality, Messenger Publications, Dublin,2018, pg. 60-76.
*
La Storta
Parmananda R. Divarkar SJ, The Path of Interior Knowledge. Reflections on the Spiritual Exercises of St.Ignatius of Loyola, Centrum Ignatianum Spiritualitatis, Rome, 1983, pg. 133-153.
Peter Hans Kolvenbach SJ, Language and Anthropology. The Spiritual Diary of St Ignatius, The Institute of Jesuit Sources, St. Louis, 2000, pg. 125-135.
Journaling
Franz Meures, The Spiritual Exercises as Biography. In The Way Vol47, Issue 1-2 (2008), pg. 185-199.
* minimum compulsory reading
Week 2 questions
What is different between Ignatius’ mystical experience in Manresa and La Storta?
How Ignatian mysticism connected with being contemplative in action?
What are my opportunities and limitations in outlining my life experience through the Spiritual Exercises?
Ad libitum
O’Leary, Brian, Living with Tension. In The Way Supplement 61, (1988), pg. 35-47.
Mysticism
*
Endean, Philip, The Concept of Ignatian Mysticism: Beyond Rahner and de Guibert. In The Way Supplement 103, (2002), pg. 77-86.
*
Robert, Sylvie, Union with God in the Ignatian Election. In The Way Supplement 103, (2002), pg. 100-112.
Peter Hans Kolvenbach SJ, A Linguistic Interpretation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, The Institute of Jesuit Sources, St. Louis, 2000, pg. 109-124.
Practical Example
Shano, Philip, Mysticism and Ecology: Ignatian Contemplation and Participation. In The Way Supplement 102, (2001), pg. 107-123.
* minimum compulsory reading
Week 3 questions
How specifically does Ignatian mysticism contribute to the Christian mysticism tradition?
How does my integrity speak to my union with God in my life?
What is the journey that I need to embrace to become the next Ignatian mystic?
Ad libitum
Johnston, William, The Inner Eye of Love. Collins Fount Paperbacks, London, 1981, pg. 13-39 (Pt. I), 179-195 (Pt. II).
Johnston, William, The Still Point. Fordham University Press, New York, 1982, pg.129-150.
Matteo Ricci’ mysticism in practice
*
Hughes, Gerard, J., Matteo Ricci in Post-Christian Europe. In The Way Vol44, Issue 2 (2005), pg. 71-82
William Johnston’s observations about mysticism
*
Johnston, William, Christian Asceticism in Asia. In The Way Vol 34, Issue 2 (1994), pg.147-158.
Johnston, William, Being in Love. Collins, London, 1988, pg. 9-43.
Ball, John, Christian Spirituality and Other Traditions. In The Way Vol 25, Issue 3 (1985), pg.215-223.
Kennedy, Robert, Zen Christian Experience. In The Way Supplement 95, (1999), pg. 75-81.
* minimum compulsory reading
Week 4 questions
How does William Johnston understand mysticism?
What is appealing to me in Johnston’s approach to mysticism?
How I sustain my own prayer life?
Ad libitum
Johnston, William, Being in Love. Collins, London, 1988, pg. 129-166.
Johnston, William, Mystical Theology. The Science of Love. HarperCollins Publishers, London, 1995, pg. 326-365.
Conn, Joan Wolski, Conn, Walter, Christian Spiritual Growth and Developmental Psychology. In The Way Supplement 69, (1990), pg. 3-14.
*
Frielingsdorf, Karl, Following Christ in Word and Gesture. In The Way Vol 42 Issue 2, (April 2003), pg. 78-89.
*
Haughey, John C., Freedom and Commitment. In The Way Vol 15 Issue 2, (April 1975), pg.111-118.
*
McDonnell, James, Christian Discernment in a Mass-Media Culture. In The Way Supplement 57,(1986), pg. 36-45.
*
O’Leary, Brian, Ignatian Mysticism and Contemporary Culture. In The Way Vol 52 Issue 4(October 2013), pg. 54-66.
* minimum compulsory reading
Week 5 questions
What is Brian ’Leary’s take on mysticism?
How would you connect Karl Frielingsdorf’s ideas with mysticism in practice?
What role does discernment play in mysticism?
Introduction and Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Fr. Ladislav Šulik SJ STL MA studied philosophy and theology in Slovakia and at the Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained in 2010 and is Chaplain at the London Jesuit Centre. His particular academic interest is in the central Christian belief of the Trinity. His pastoral ministry has led him to work in spirituality, retreat giving, spiritual accompaniment at various Jesuit retreat houses and Spirituality centres.
