What you'll learn
- You will learn about the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a prominent Christian mystic and how his spirituality can apply to you.
Requirements
- Have an interest in Christian mystics
Description
In this course, you will learn not only about the life & mysticism of the famous 16th century, Spanish mystic, St. Ignatius of Loyola, but you will find connections between his journey to find God in all things with your personal journey to find God in all things. This course will review Ignatius's life from his childhood years until his death. He certainly did not set out to be a Catholic saint; far from it, war and gallantry, wine & women were his goals. In this class, we will explore the culture of 16th century Spain where Ignatius grew up, his personality, the twists and turns of his life, & his spiritual journey, which included many mystical visions. We will see how those visions shaped the course of his life for which there were many crossroads which moved him to companion with God, or shall I say, allow God to companion with him. You will also find lectures dedicated to Ignatius' popular & still relevant prayer forms: the Spiritual Exercises, the Examen of Consciousness & his particular prayer, the Sucipe'. There will be a reflection activity in each section for you to apply what you learn to enhance your spirituality.
Learning Objectives:
You will be able to retell the story of Ignatius of Loyola, recounting his growth from spiritual childhood to spiritual maturity.
You will be able to recount the important mystical moments that continued to redirect Ignatius' life.
You will learn about the culture of 16th century Spain and the role the Catholic Church which was the focus of Ignatius' spiritual vocation.
You will explore the important role of women in St. Ignatius' life, how they contributed to his mission of service to others.
Through the reflections in this course on the various points in Ignatius' life, you will be able to apply his spiritual acumen to your own life for spiritual enrichment.
Who this course is for:
- Those interested in Christian spirituality, mysticism, Catholicism, the saints, or Ignatian Spirituality
Instructor
- 4.6 Instructor Rating
- 105 Reviews
- 1,288 Students
- 5 Courses
Ramona Harris is the author of, Awakening the Mystic in You, Messages of Light from the Christian Mystics. She has also created an inspirational card deck entitled, The Wisdom of the Christian Mystics and penned an article for the Spiritual Director’s International Presence Journal called Ten Steps to Awaken Your Inner Mystic. Ramona presents topics on Christian mystics and the women Doctors of the Church. She has been a spiritual director since 2005 receiving her training at Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA. She was on the Institute for Catholic Spirituality and Spiritual Directors’ training team bringing a three-year spiritual director training program to the Central Valley of CA. She has a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Institute for Ministry, where she focused on Christian spirituality and cultivated an affinity for the Christian mystics. She also has a master’s degree in Education-Counseling from California State University, Stanislaus. Her bachelor’s degree is in Sociology. Ramona was a faculty member for the School of Ministry at the Catholic Diocese of Stockton. There she taught courses on Adult Faith Development, Mary, the Mother of God, Spirituality, the Profession of Faith and Theological Reflection. She is retired from the California community college system and served for many years as a college counselor. Prior to that, Ramona worked as a social worker and manager for the local county Community Services Agency. Ramona is passionate about the Christian mystics and will share their stories with anyone who will listen.