Unit rationale, description and aim

Persons who enter formal relationships of accompaniment with others need appropriate theoretical frameworks to support that guidance, and skills to reflect critically on ways their personal development impacts upon their professional roles. The first four units of this program have emphasised the development of self-knowledge and ethical behaviours, and introduced students to the spirituality of St Ignatius Loyola. In the second group of four units, of which this unit forms a part, students explore the theory, context, content and dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises and develop advanced accompaniment skills. In this unit, students use theological and philosophical frameworks to explore the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises and study the themes of God’s self-communication, Key Meditations, and Ignatius’ use of the Gospels. The aim of the two Theory units is to ground the student in a comprehensive understanding of the structure, form and dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises.

2026 10

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  • Term Mode
  • Semester 2Online Scheduled
  • Professional Term 6Online Scheduled

Prerequisites

THSP509 Ignatian Discernment and Decision-Making AND THSP520 Introduction to Spiritual Direction in the Ignatian Tradition AND THSP521 Psychological Foundations for Supervision and Spiritual Direction AND THSP522 Ethics and Professional Practice in Supervision and Spiritual Direction

Incompatible

THSP505 Spiritual Exercises Theory B

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Describe the theory and content of the Spiritual E...

Learning Outcome 01

Describe the theory and content of the Spiritual Exercises in light of their historic and contemporary contexts.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1

Analyse the Spiritual Exercises in light of founda...

Learning Outcome 02

Analyse the Spiritual Exercises in light of foundational Ignatian themes.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC7

Articulate a fluent understanding of the dynamics ...

Learning Outcome 03

Articulate a fluent understanding of the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2

Content

Topics will include:

  • Key Meditations in the Second Week;
  • The grace of conversion;
  • Employing each of the Four Gospels in the Exercises;
  • Adaptations of the Spiritual Exercises;
  • Plato and Augustine on the Soul; echoes in the Spiritual Exercises;
  • Aristotle and Aquinas on the soul and virtue; echoes in the Exercises;
  • Postmodernism and Religious Faith;
  • Postmodern Faith and the Exercises.

Assessment strategy and rationale

To pass this unit, all assessment tasks must be attempted and the student must receive an overall grade of PASS. AI may not be used in this unit.

The assessment strategy of the unit has been designed to deepen students’ understanding and self-appropriation of the Spiritual Exercises. The Hurdle Task is an opportunity for students to reflect on their personal growth in relation to the Exercises: as such, it cannot be allocated a mark but is critical to the ongoing appropriation of the Exercises. Assessment Task 1 is designed to assist the student in reflection on the contemporary relevance of the Exercises in light of their original development and applications. This task is designed help students review their learning in the context of lectures, reading and peer discussion. Assessment Task 2 is designed to test students’ capacities to frame the Spiritual Exercises in both theological and philosophical terms, both orally and in writing. The dual assessment method will assist in authenticating student work. Assessment Task 3 is designed to test the integration of student knowledge and the capacity of students to draw on Ignatius’ work naturally and fluently as part of the supervisory process in the real world.

Overview of assessments

Hurdle task: Students will submit fortnightly refl...

Hurdle task:

Students will submit fortnightly reflections on their regular practice of Ignatian contemplation.

Weighting

Hurdle

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3

Task 1: Presentation Students will present on how ...

Task 1: Presentation

Students will present on how a particular theme in the Exercises challenges, affirms, or otherwise deepens parallel views in contemporary popular culture and/or held by the student. This task is designed help students review their learning in the context of lectures, reading and peer discussion.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3

Task 2: Interpretative essay with Oral Exam This t...

Task 2: Interpretative essay with Oral Exam

This task is designed to provide students the opportunity to examine philosophical and theological frameworks implied in the giving and receiving of the Exercises. After assessing their essay, the instructor will give the student a ten-minute oral exam to assist with confirmation of the mark awarded.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2

Task 3: Oral Examination This task is designed t...

Task 3: Oral Examination

This task is designed to help students consolidate their learning and to demonstrate a theologically and scripturally-informed knowledge of the Exercises. Drawing on their hurdle task, and in conversation with the instructor, students will explore Ignatius’ understanding of the self, sin, grace, salvation and/or other concepts integral to the giving and receiving of Spiritual Exercises.

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning, which reflects the standard volume of learning for a unit in a university qualification of this Australian Qualifications Framework type.

The unit is normally offered in online scheduled mode, using a flipped classroom model. This means that students undertake preparatory learning activities independently and are well prepared to engage, question and collaborate with other students and teaching staff in the online classroom. After each session, students reflect critically on their personal experience and observations in light of feedback and materials in the unit. As the cycle is repeated, students bring new understandings to bear on further issues and ideas, so that each cycle of learning deepens the one before. Students co-construct a supportive and encouraging learning community through their active participation in classes.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Aschenbrenner, George A. Stretched for Greater Glory: What to Expect from the Spiritual Exercises. Chicago, IL: Loyola University Press, 2004.

De Mello, Anthony, Gerald O'Collins, Daniel Kendall, and Jeffrey LaBelle. Seek God Everywhere: Reflections on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. New York: Image/Doubleday, 2010.

Dyckman, Katherine et al. The Spiritual Exercises Reclaimed: Uncovering Liberating Possibilities for Women. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2001.

Egan, Harvey D. and Karl Rahner. The Spiritual Exercises and the Ignatian Mystical Horizon. Series IV. Study Aids on Jesuit Topics; Number 5. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2020.

Fleming, David L. Draw Me into Your Friendship: A Literal Translation and Contemporary Reading of the Spiritual Exercises. St. Louis, MO: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1996.

Ivens, Michael. Understanding the Spiritual Exercises. Surrey, UK: Inigo Enterprises, 1998.

Moloney, Francis and Sherri Brown. Interpreting the New Testament: An Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2019.

Munitiz, Joseph A. and Philip Endean, Eds.. Saint Ignatius of Loyola: Personal Writings: Reminiscences, Spiritual Diary, Select Letters Including the Text of The Spiritual Exercises. London, UK: Penguin, 1996.

O'Reilly, Terence. The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola : Contexts, Sources, Reception. Jesuit Studies, Volume 31. Leiden; Brill, 2020.

Williams, Monty. The Gift of Spiritual Intimacy: Following the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. Toronto: Novalis, 2009.

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