Published: 2024-07-10

Ignatian spirituality in education

Zbigniew Marek
Pedagogical Forum
Section: Topic
https://doi.org/10.21697/fp.2024.1.3%20%20

Abstract

There are various definitions of the term "spirituality" in the literature on this subject. It is assumed that through it a person expresses his thoughts, speech, assessments, aspirations, creativity, also the desire to cross the barriers of his own limitations, ass well. In view of the significant differences in explaining what spirituality is, it is assumed that this term is a simple and undefinable term with an anthropological angle. Through it, different  social groups make an attempt to explicate the existence of a man striving for life, happiness and love, what gives his life a specific style. Among many forms of life reflecting human spirituality, Ignatian (Jesuit) spirituality is mentioned. Its initiator is the founder of the Order of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is characterized by the vision of a man connected with the Triune God by the bonds of love. The conviction that God for man is "the Creator and Lord, the Supreme Goodness, the only absolute Reality" dominates in it. However, "man is in God and for God, and God is man's Good and Happiness", but under no circumstances He is not at the service of man. Significant for its understanding is also that God in the person of Jesus Christ not only appears to man as the Lord and King of the universe, but also as the One who constantly helps him to free himself from the threats of evil. What's more, Jesus Christ invites every person to cooperate with Him in bringing salvation to the world - life with God. A sign of readiness for cooperation is a person engagement in the life of the Church community, whose Head is Jesus Christ. Hence, for Ignatius, to love Jesus is to love His Church, and to listen to Jesus is to listen to the Church. The third essential feature of the Ignatian vision of man is the emphasis on the need for man to respond to God's love. Ignatius wanted man to search, with his own will, ways of showing love by fulfilling His will in his everyday life, which harmoniously combines love to God with love to another person. Such outlined a vision of man, he brought into the practice of everyday life using the method of spiritual exercises. The Jesuits, seeing the effectiveness of this practice in the ascetic life, attempted to transfer it into the educational level. As a result of these efforts, a model of education characteristic of the Jesuits was developed, in which the terms "magis" and "cura personalis" taken from Ignatian spirituality play an important role. Moreover, on the basis of Ignatian spirituality, the theory of pedagogy of accompaniment was constructed.

Keywords:

Ignatian spirituality, vision of man, education, pedagogy of accompaniment

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Citation rules

Marek, Z. (2024). Ignatian spirituality in education. Pedagogical Forum, 14(1), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.21697/fp.2024.1.3

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