Manresa Day: Conversation and Conversion

‘The two major activities of spiritual conversation are deep listening and storytelling’ (Luz Marina Diaz). Lewis Carroll’s Alice famously asked, ‘What is the use of a book without pictures or conversations?’ Many people are familiar with the ‘pictures’ found in imaginative contemplation, but conversation — with one another as Christian pilgrims and with the God who is found in all things — is at the very heart of Ignatian spirituality.

Drawing on ancient spiritual tradition Ignatius offers us a path for deep listening and storytelling in our prayer and pastoral encounters so that, like him, we can become ‘contemplatives in action’.

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We will be taking four steps along this path today:

1. ‘By turning and turning we come round right’: what is a conversation and where can it lead us?

2. ‘Like a circle in a spiral’: Ignatius’s story and God’s story; reflection and action.

3. ‘I will reflect on myself’: Ignatian tools for attending to our own story — to be shared with those we accompany.

4. ‘There are many other things that Jesus did’: stepping into the story of another.

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This day will be of particular interest to Ignatian spiritual directors but is also open to those who offer spiritual accompaniment across a range of spiritual traditions. Manresa study days aim to resource those giving spiritual accompaniment and to provide an opportunity to meet others involved in a similar ministry. They comprise of 4 themes which are introduced by the speaker with opportunity for small group sharing and plenary discussion.