Christian Spirit test 3 jesuits and carmelites

semi-eremitical monasticism

incorporate features of anchoritic and cenobitic monastic life

anchoritic: majority of time spent alone in individual cells praying; adopt rigorous asceticism of fasting, celibacy, poverty, silence

cenobitic: vow obedience to the Rule of Albert, an appointed superior (Prior), east and hear Mass in community, meet weekly for “chapter faults”

Disclaced Carmelites

The Carmelites wore sandals instead of shoes as a sign of their renewed commitment to poverty

vocal prayer

prayers that you recite out loud (would include Mass participation, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary)

mental prayer

prayer that you engage in without speaking out loud

recollection

gathering your thoughts, turning down the mental noise so you can focus on your prayer

praying with the imagination

often aided by visual images; imagining yourself in the events of the gospel and eliciting an emotional response to them

praying discursively with the intellect

trying with the mind to reflect upon and better understand a given truth of the faith; “meditation”; often involves reflecting in order upon a series of propositions

distraction

an inability to focus or stay focused in prayer; thoughts intrude; too much distraction can lead to “burn out” in prayer and dryness

favors/consolations

the positive feelings one gets in prayer (a feeling of peace or encouragement, closeness to God, charismatic phenomena, etc.)

dryness

negative feelings one gets in prayer; a frustrating inability to recollect oneself, a sense of boredom, restlessness, a sense one is “getting nothing out of” one’s prayer

Weeks

four series of meditations with accompanying prayers

retreat

a period of withdrawal from daily activities for prayer and reflection; ideally a 30-day silent retreat; adaptations passible for different exercitants

desolation

anything that moves you toward hopelessness, timely sense of restlessness

Original Foundation of Carmelites

1208

Ignatius beings Spiritual Exercises

1522

Society of Jesus established

1540

First Jesuit school/publication of Exercises

1548

Council of Trent

1545-1563

Est. of first Reformed Carmelite House

1565

Birthplace of Teresa of Avila and Ignatius Loyola

Spain

Teresa of Avila

The Book of Her Life, 1565

Ignatius Loyola

Autobiography, 1553

Ignatius Loyola

Spiritual Exercises, published, 1548

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

The Practice of the Presence of God, 1692

What were the original intentions for the Carmelite order when it was established in the 13th century? What had happened to the order, especially in the women’s houses, by the time Teresa of Avila entered in the mid-16th century? Why did Teresa feel she had to reform the order?

original focus: renewed practice of asceticism and rigorous devotion to prayer

Houses are endowed by wealthy patrons

Aristocratic members have servants, family members, pets residing in convent with them in luxurious apartments

Houses do not observe strict enclosure/cloister

Frequent visits of outsiders allowed, leading to “occasions” and “conversations”

Focus on prayer is lost

Teresa wanted to return the Carmelite Order to its origins and make the atmosphere of the houses more conducive with prayer

What three different types of pastoral activities/ ministries were the early members of the Society of Jesus involved in?

1. Giving the Spiritual Exercises - a series of notes on topics of prayer/meditation, prayer that the director will give to the exercitant

2. Schools and Universities - began running schools in 1548, still successful today

3. Ministries of the Word and Social Service - word: preaching, catechism, offering the sacraments, spiritual direction; social; prisons, hospitals, orphanages

What are the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola? For whom are they written? For what purpose does Ignatius Loyola imagine most people will undergo the Spiritual Exercises?

• Written for persons who will direct persons making the Exercises (the “excercitant”) - a kind of “how-to” manual
• A series of notes on topics of prayer/meditation, prayers that the director will give to the exercitant
• Insights provided to the director on how to evaluate the exercitant’s progress in making the Exercises

purpose:
• To rid the soul of disordered affections and to find God’s will in the ordering of one’s life for the salvation of one’s soul
• i.e., to help you figure out what God wants you to do in life

What is discernment? What is its purpose and why is it difficult?

Jesuit practices of examination of conscience, confession, as well as the Exercises encourage the capacity for self-reflection, and self-criticism.

Discernment: Figuring out what God wants me to do, and once I have decided, assessing how well or poorly I have done it.

Good and bad spirits compete for influence over our capacities for
self-reflection and self-criticism

One must evaluate consolations (positive feelings) and desolations (negative feelings) as one self-reflects because they can be helpful in determining God’s will for ourselves and how well we are obeying it

Discernment can be foiled by self-deception & our ability to do the
right thing for the wrong reason