scholarly journals Ancestry, Place[s], and Identity in Spiritual Direction Narratives

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Kathryn Ruffing
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Memorial Lecture ◽  
Spiritual Director ◽  
Narrative Process ◽  
Genealogical Information

In this 2017 John McKendy Memorial Lecture, Dr. Janet Ruffing, RSM, discussed spiritual direction as a narrative process, recognized or not, in which the directee tells his or her sacred tale in the interaction with a spiritual director who significantly affects the unfolding of this serial narrative of lived faith. At a time, when directees have unprecedented access to genealogical information and also live in or make retreats in a variety of places, how do these new experiences affect their identity spiritually and socially? Do they become integrated into the ongoing narrative of identity or not?

Mature Spirituality According to von Hügel: A Practitioner's Voice

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-346
Author(s):  
Robyn Wrigley-Carr
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Religious Philosophy ◽  
Spiritual Director ◽  
Late Nineteenth ◽  
Theology Of God

Baron Friedrich von Hügel (1852–1925) is best known as a religious philosopher from the late nineteenth and early twentiethth century. Less well known is von Hügel's work as a spiritual director, which some have suggested underlies his entire religious philosophy. This article seeks to examine aspects of von Hügel's understanding of the nature of mature spirituality as exemplified in his practice of spiritual direction: his theology of God and the necessary response of adoration; the three elements of religion, suffering well, humility, cultivating non-religious interests and leisurely spirituality.

Spiritual Direction in the Roman Catholic Tradition

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 290-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rev Gene Barrette
Keyword(s):  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Church History ◽  
Spiritual Transformation ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Spiritual Director ◽  
Catholic Tradition ◽  
The Impact

This article presents the practice of spiritual direction in the Roman Catholic tradition. Specific attention is given to: definition and description of spiritual direction, scriptural roots, Roman Catholic specificity, practice in the early Church and association with the beginning of Monasticism, and the impact of Vatican II. The development of different forms of spiritual direction is presented within the context of the variety of theological, philosophical, cultural, and historical biases evident throughout church history. The process of authentic spiritual transformation and the role of the spiritual director plays are described–-both as it was understood historically and in terms of the present practice. Contrasts between spiritual direction and traditional psychotherapy are proposed.

scholarly journals SPIRITUAL DIRECTION IN AN AFRICAN CONTEXT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 353
Author(s):  
Jean Luc Enyegue
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Spiritual Exercises ◽  
Spiritual Exercise ◽  
Concrete Experience ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
African Worldview ◽  
Spiritual Director ◽  
African Context ◽  
African Student

An upset spiritual director just ended a retreat with a group of African priests because they could not observe strict silence. Similar situations elsewhere on the continent led a young African student to raise the question of the suitability of sixteenth-century Spiritual Exercises to modern Africans. This essay acknowledges the challenges facing spiritual directors to “accurately” apply the method of the Spiritual Exercises in a diverse and ever-evolving, noisy and busy world. From the concrete experience of this group of priests, it argues for the suitability of the Exercises to the African context based on the adaptability and flexibility inherent in Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercise and subsequent directories. The particular crisis between this director and his retreatants, however, also presents a unique opportunity for retreat directors to find creative ways to accommodate retreatants with specific needs, and to communicate the message of the Exercises in a way that is both accessible to and respectful of the African worldview. KEYWORDS: Retreat Director. Diocesan African Context. Blended Retreat. Confession and Narrativity.

“Supernatural” Forgiveness

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-468
Author(s):  
Robyn Wrigley-Carr
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Sex Abuse ◽  
University Of Oxford ◽  
Spiritual Theology ◽  
Spiritual Director ◽  
Child Sex Abuse ◽  
Women Writing ◽  
The University ◽  
Theological Concept

Forgiveness is a complex theological concept and a complicated and nuanced reality. In this article we hear the voices of two women writing from the standpoint of Christian theology. First, Evelyn Underhill, a British, mystical theologian and spiritual director (1875–1941) who was the first woman to lecture in theology at the University of Oxford. In her retreat talks, “Abba,” Underhill teaches that forgiveness is “supernatural,” a reality enabled by the Spirit. Second, Underhill’s insights are “earthed” and critically reflected upon by being placed in dialogue with Monique Lisbon, a contemporary, Australian songwriter and survivor of child sex abuse. Excerpts from Underhill’s spiritual direction further ground and flesh out her spiritual theology concerning forgiveness. The article closes with hope, affirming Underhill’s theology that forgiveness is “supernatural,” yet questions remain concerning the complexity of the forgiveness journey for victims of the most heinous of crimes.

Evelyn Underhill and the Virgin Mary

2015 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-89
Author(s):  
Carol H. Poston
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Church Of England ◽  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Virgin Mary ◽  
Spiritual Nurture ◽  
Spiritual Director ◽  
The Church

Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941) was a guiding light in Anglican spirituality in the twentieth century, and her best-known works, Mysticism (1911) and Worship (1936) are still read and studied today. A prolific writer—theologian, poet, novelist—she is frequently anthologized. Her early life and writings—those undertaken before she became an actively-committed member of the Church of England in the 1920s—are, with the exception of Mysticism, less well-known. This article examines the early works that treat the Virgin Mary, and explain how that subject may have influenced the pacifism she later embraced. A feminist reading of those early works also suggests biographical links to her “care for souls,” or spiritual direction, and to her own family. The dutiful child of somewhat remote and distant parents, herself in a childless marriage, Underhill's spiritual nurture by way of Mary helps explain both her spiritual growth and her role as a spiritual director to others.

Spiritual Direction in the Orthodox Christian Tradition

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Gregory Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Spiritual Maturity ◽  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Spiritual Transformation ◽  
Christian Tradition ◽  
Orthodox Christian ◽  
Knowledge Of God ◽  
Spiritual Director ◽  
Historical Sketch

This essay examines the practice of spiritual direction in the Orthodox Christian tradition. Spiritual direction is first defined as leading the believer to the knowledge of God. A historical sketch of the practice of direction is followed by an outline of the process of spiritual transformation as seen in the Orthodox tradition. The role of the Orthodox spiritual director is analyzed along with the duties of the disciple. An analysis of the indicators of spiritual maturity notes the importance of the attainment of dispassion and the development of virtue. Conventional psychotherapeutic methods are compared with Orthodox spiritual direction, noting circumstances under which the Orthodox spiritual director would make a referral to a mental health professional.

scholarly journals Al-Hakim al Tirmidhi and Teresa of Avila: The Seven Stage Journey of the Soul and Spiritual Direction

MELINTAS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Gerardette Philips
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Direction ◽  
Spiritual Life ◽  
Stage Theory ◽  
Spiritual Journey ◽  
Human Soul ◽  
Teresa Of Avila ◽  
Experience Of God ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Feature ◽  
Spiritual Director

The core feature of the spiritual life is human and divine desiring. Understanding and facing our desires as well as comprehending the desires of the Divine, remain a struggle for the human soul. Spiritual directors are likely to spend a considerable amount of time on this struggle and need to develop great skill in recognizing and responding to their directees’ desire for God and in helping them discern and unveil the illusory desires. This article explores the theories and insights of the spiritual stage theory from Islam through Sufism using the psychology of Al-Hakim al Tirmidhi and Christianity through Teresa of Avila, and the spiritual direction best suited for spiritual directees at the different stages. The exchange of both of these approaches presented here can perhaps enrich the spiritual directors’ style to travellers along the spiritual journey who come to them for direction. This mystical spirituality, articulated in Sufism from the Stations (maqamat) of Hakim Al-Tirmidhi and the mansions of Teresa of Avila, though experienced within different spiritual frameworks, brings a commonality in the exchange between them. Their experience of God both as directees and as Shaykh or Spiritual Director has much to offer to present day spiritual directors.

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