St. Ignatius of Loyola, Christian Mystic

In this course, you will learn not only about the life & mysticism of the famous 16th century, Catholic 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 as you watch his spiritual progression.

He 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 also 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'. Also, we will take a look at the role and importance of friendship on his journey. 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.