Jesuit Center of Ignatian Spirituality, Malta



Newsletter N.29 January 2006 WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY © Paschal Baute, 1992, revised 1994 A PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY (= S.) does not see S. as the magic solution to all of life's problems or those one is unwilling to face ("God will do it for me"). has a sense of humour and is able to laugh and poke fun at oneself. ...does not employ rituals, like attending church on Sunday, to create a sense of superiority or security. does not use S. to avoid intimacy/autonomy/conflict/accountability, or standing on one's own feet; does not use S. to detach from the vulnerability of being human. does not look for an all-knowing parent or an authority ready with answers to all problems to escape self-responsibility. requires a foundation of personal integrity and honesty based on self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and a willingness to accept reality. is marked by wholeness, compassion, openness, humility & respect for others. is neither rigorously ascetic nor indulgent with sex, food, money, power, etc. is often passionate about life and some project dealing with peace and justice. tempers spiritual ambition with imperfect reality of ordinary life. does not abandon the need for critical thought and insight. holds honesty with oneself as a core value of life, and therefore is committed to regular self-examination. refuses all self-elevation and any devaluing of others' paths. regards everyone, regardless of differences or status in life as a potential teacher. enjoys healthy, warm, loving and game-free relationships. views all forms of "specialness" or giftedness as an obstacle to true humility. accepts imperfections and flaws of our humanity as instructive and redemptive. is seldom isolated from a community of fellow seekers. often results in compassionate prayer or action for peace and justice. accepts that is often through pain, failure, or crisis that we are brought to a deeper spirituality. knows the journey can seldom be taken safely alone without some guide or mentor, even if it is only sacred writing, or still better a person of some experience and wisdom; realizes the danger of religious enthusiasm without a guide. recognizes that the spiritual journey is beset with many pitfalls, traps, and illusions and is willing to test one's "leadings" with others. does not make an idol out of any religious symbol, object, project, or practice, nor out of one's own religious path. must be ready to give witness, but never pass judgment on those whose convictions conflict with our own; seeks the truth and stands for it with passion but never acts as if one has exclusive claim upon truth or morality; may never ever claim that its conviction, however deep, binds the conscience of another. knows, really knows, that no moral crisis can ever dispense people of conscience from full respect for the freedom and responsibility of every other conscience. Critique and suggestions welcomed. 6200 Winchester Rd. Lexington, KY 40509-9520 *Group or personal reflection:* Would you agree with all the above statements? From your own personal experience is there anything you would like to add? If Psychology can help Spirituality, can it be said that it is true the other way round? Is there a difference between Psychology and Spirituality? Specify and articulate your comments.
Ten Commandments for living true Let the core of your being - your true self - be the place where your life is grounded. Don't be content to live only in the outer layers of yourself, or allow any false self-images to become the ground of your being. Don't trivialize your true self, or allow anyone else to do so. Don't trivialize the true self of another person. Make space and time to discover and explore the core of your being. Listen to the wisdom of your personal roots, and of the wisdom figures in your life. Never do violence to your true self, or to the integrity of any other being. Don't compromise your integrity by undermining sacred relationships. Live true to your relationships with other people and with all creation. Don't steal energy by draining other people, but drink from your own well and share that well's water with others. Don't say or do anything to present a false picture of your own core self or that of any other being. Don't envy the gifts that belong to the core of another being, but nourish your own giftedness. *Margaret Silf from On Making Choices* pg. 96**
Book Review: *On Making Choices* Margaret Silf ISBN 0 7459 5133 3 A Lion Book Oxford Margaret Silf is a well known author of several books on spirituality. She is also well versed in spiritual direction and giving spiritual retreats. On Making Choices is a recent addition to her printed works. Life is built on the many choices that we take in our everyday living. Some choices are not that significant. There are times when we have to make choices that will inevitably bring vital changes in our and others' life circumstances for ourselves or others. Such choices require careful judgment. The art of making life choices is uniquely human. It is an activity that requires wisdom, prudence, ability to reason things out, to search and gather pertinent information and above all the courage to trust the processes that guide us to take the decisions we are seeking. The aim of this little volume is precisely to make this process "less stressful, more focused and more fruitful". As Margaret herself points out, the book "makes use of a few simple tools that combine the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions and the commonsense of the 21st century". On Making Choices looks at and explores five aspects that will help the process of making a choice: Clearing the decks; Starting where you are; Reading the signposts; Choosing for the best; Seeing it through. These are five themes that do not manufacture an automatic readymade answer. They give simple and helpful suggestions so that important elements in the process making life choices are not neglected. Fr Vincent Magri SJ
Trust in Providence Pray as if everything depended on you; act as though everything depends on God. Saying attributed to St Ignatius I am not eager, bold Or strong - all that is past. I am ready not to do, At last, at last! Attributed to Peter Canisius S.J. (1521-1597) From the CIS Programme January 2006 Weekend Seminar (in English) on Biblical Wisdom literature and selected themes from the Spritual Exercise of St. Ignatius. One of the hallmarks of Wisdom Literature in the Bible is the emphasis on experience and its continual evaluation. Ancient Israel did not have any theory of knowledge in our modern western sense; its epistemology was essentially praxis. Indeed, received wisdom itself had to be tested via experience. And yet, this emphasis on lived experience in no way diminished the importance of tradition. Moreover, Israel's wisdom literature shares many characteristics with the wisdom literature of its ancient Near Eastern neighbours. In fact, many a precept which we generally think is Christian in origin (such as the golden rule), has its origins in the wisdom tradition of the ancient Near East. In this seminar, the wisdom literature of Israel and its neighbours are examined and compared with similar traits in the writings of St Ignatius, mainly the Spiritual Exercises with its emphasis on experience and discernment Date: Friday 27th January at 6:30pm till Sunday 29th, 5:00pm Given by: Prof. Anthony J. Frendo (Professor in Scripture and Biblical Archaelogy) Place: Mt. St. Joseph Retreat House Mosta We would like to remind you that the Centre for Ignatian Spirituality offers personal spiritual direction to all those who would like to have any kind of spiritual experience like Ignatian retreats in every day life. Retreats can be tailored according to the needs and circumstances of the retreatant. CIS can call on experienced Jesuits, other religious and trained lay people to accompany retreatants through these experiences. Anyone interested can contact the Director on 21344349 or 99864561 or email vince@maltajesuitretreats.com.