Mysticism and St. Ignatius

This course explores the “Contemplatio” of the Spiritual Exercises in the context of mysticism. Karl Rahner believed that the mystic attempts to translate his experience for others so that others may share in his grace. St. Ignatius Loyola, himself a mystic wrote the Spiritual Exercises for others. This course aims at a deeper understanding of mysticism in relation to Christian spirituality as the academic discipline that articulates the lived experience of spiritual life. The syllabus includes an overview of the definition of mysticism, its methodology, and some perspectives reflecting from the history of spirituality. This class also presents an opportunity for participants to develop a more adequate understanding of the mysticism in relation to Ignatian Spirituality. Students will be exposed to the life of Ignatius of Loyola and his various texts. Each class session will be followed by small group discussion on the readings and writing assignment for the week. This course will culminate in a research paper.