How does and American Catholic Make Tough Moral Choices?

Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 2018

This paper argues that Ignatian principles for the discernment of spirits appear throughout Amos Yong's theology of world religions. In an effort to locate a greater Pentecostal relationship to tradition and contribute to ecumenical dialogue, the author points to three examples. First, for both Ignatius and Yong, good and evil spirits exist and interact with human persons. Second, both see divine activity in all people. This argument stems from theological considerations and stands distinct from the metaphysical considerations made in the first point. Finally, both rely on the affective as a genuine source of knowledge in discerning spirits. The argument regarding this latter point will center on a methodological consideration.

Psychological and Religious Dimensions of Personal Transformation: Psychodynamic approaches to the Ignatian Exercises by Martin J. Egan Ignatius of Loyola has been recognised by modern psychologists as the innovator of Christian developmental psychology. The depth of psychological penetration displayed by Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises is examined from a psychodynamic perspective. An overview of the series of meditations and practises of the first two weeks of the Ignatian four week retreat, including vignettes from individual experiences, is presented. I propose the Spiritual Exercises are a form of ‘transformative practise’ based on Christian theology. The religious and psychological transformations that can occur through engaging with the Spiritual Exercises are explored. The thesis draws on the psychological literature addressing the Spiritual Exercises, together with extensive unpublished lectures, given by Jung between June 1939 and March 1940 in Zurich. I argue that Ignatius’ guidelines for the ‘discernment of spirits’ are the key to the psychological dimension of the Exercises. Ignatius’ instructions for the retreat guide/director and the individual’s testing of their inner experience are also shown to be critical. A psychodynamic interpretation of the processes that often occur in individuals during the Ignatian retreat is presented using texts which primarily offer a post-Freudian perspective. Particular attention is given to Jung’s interest in the Exercises, which opens the possibilities of elucidating a Jungian perspective. I also suggest a Kleinian interpretation as an additional approach. The central role of the imagination in the Exercises is highlighted. I focus on the first and second weeks because I want to draw out how individuals’ experiences in this period of the exercises can be paralleled to stages of psychological development. After the first two weeks, psychological language proves inadequate to interpret the spiritual process Ignatius envisaged. These first two phases prove amenable to psychodynamic interpretations that help illuminate both the Exercises and our understanding of individual spiritual development.

This article looks at the place of religious experience within the whole web of life, at discernment between its authentic and inauthentic forms, and at the understanding of progress on the way towards God, as described by a Greek ascetic of the 11th century, St Symeon the New Theologian, and a 16th century Spanish mystic St Ignatius of Loyola. It shows where the Hesychast and the Ignatian traditions overlap, where they differ, and what one can give to and receive from the other.

2012

Originally published in Journal of Catholic Social Thought 6 (2009): 319-336.

The main focus of the paper is the claim that by founding the Society of Jesus and publishing the popular Spiritual Exercises, St Ignatius of Loyola brought renewal within the Roman Catholic Church and subsequently pioneered a systematic counter –response to the Reformation. Prof Ryan Reeves of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary is of the opinion that there were two groups that emerged during the Reformation within Christendom; Luther was leading from the “External” and eventually left to form the Protestant church. On the other hand Ignatius of Loyola led the movement from “Internal,” within the Catholic order. In the Medieval period when the Roman Catholic Church was challenged in Europe, many including the clergy and laity left the existing church and joined any of the newly formed group. The Catholic Church began to look inward “to set their house in order.” In the process the Catholic Reformation unfolded step by step. Among the many, one that stood out most prominent was St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) who was concerned with spiritual growth and apostolic zeal of the new order -“Society of Jesus,” also known as the Jesuits. Prof Ryan Reeves considers using the Deliberative Theology method in order to understand the shift from “Counter Reformation” to using the more amiable terminology of “Catholic Reformation.” The effects of the Reformation still exist in the 21st Century. The “Jesuits” continue to reach out to the most conflict ridden and undeveloped part of world today as a mission of the Catholic Reformation. Today in the 21st Century, the present Pope Francis is for the first time elected from the order of the “Society of Jesus”. During the end of 2017, the Holy Father visited Myanmar and Bangladesh to address the issue of the Rohingya people. Even today St Ignatius is lauded and remembered for his contribution in the Catholic Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, for bringing healing and restoring the spirit of the Catholic Church.

In this Master's thesis, Fr. Ian lays out a theology of Christian transformation whereby Christians are brought into relationship with God and discover his will. The work integrates insights from Catholic and Orthodox theology as well as both post and pre-Vatican II developments in Spiritual Theology.