"Spiritual directors are companion people that allow our directees to be seen and heard and known in the deepest ways possible with the love of God."

The Ignatian Spiritual Direction Initiative's Nancy Small speaks with Marcy Dolan Haley, the Associate Director for the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Fairfield University about her hopes for spiritual direction in these trying times.

What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? #1

Welcome to “Transformational Love,” a Lenten reflection series to help us all prepare for Easter. 

We follow Christ through the darkest parts of his story: the agony in the garden, his betrayal and abandonment by his friends, the humiliating march up to Golgotha, and finally his lonely, degrading death. We’re invited to look up at the cross, to see love and hope and goodness hanging limp and lifeless. And we’re asked: even now, can we say that God is good?

Proclaiming God’s Goodness in Dark Times (Lent Week 1)

"One of my favorite stories of St. Ignatius of Loyola is the Cardoner River vision, in which he received a sort of enlightenment from God, illuminating his spiritual senses as though all things were new. When I place myself alongside Peter, John, and James in witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus, this is what I imagine."

Welcome to the 2nd Week of “Transformational Love,” a Lenten reflection series to help us all prepare for Easter. 

Illuminating Our Vision: How Christ Transforms Us (Lent Week 2)

"I’ve encountered many people who have had challenges within the church, and I sometimes notice that this boxes in their understanding of how God works and shows up in their everyday lives and in the world. And as we know the spirit of God cannot be boxed in."

This month’s reflection is offered by MaryAnne Davey, a spiritual director, retreat facilitator and founder of Body & Soul Ministries, a spiritual accompaniment ministry in Southeastern Massachusetts. MaryAnne holds a certificate in spiritual direction from the Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative and has over eleven years of experience as a spiritual director. She serves as a guest spiritual director at various retreat centers in Massachusetts and is a guest facilitator and educator with the Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative Program.

What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? #2

The Gospel for the Third Sunday of Lent seems to offer only stark options: repent or perish. At  the end, however, a patient and merciful gardener offers some hope to the threatened fig tree. I wondered, "How did the fig tree feel?"

Welcome to the 3rd Week of “Transformational Love,” a Lenten reflection series to help us all prepare for Easter.

Time to Grow Together (Lent Week 3)

We must take to heart the father’s words to his elder son, and hear in them God speaking directly to us: “My [child], you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.”

We're halfway there! This week begins with Laetare Sunday, the halfway point of our Lenten journey. Welcome to the 4th Week of “Transformational Love,” a Lenten reflection series to help us all prepare for Easter.

Lost and Found and Loved (Lent Week 4)

As we enter into prayer today, think about any tension, distractions, or desires that may pull you from being fully present right now. Put those things aside as we ponder one person's experience of “Seeing and Walking with Christ on an Ignatian Pilgrimage.”

Welcome to the 5th Week of “Transformational Love,” a Lenten reflection series to help us all prepare for Easter.

Seeing and Walking with Christ on an Ignatian Pilgrimage (Lent Week 5)

This month’s reflection is offered by Rev. George Bur, SJ, a spiritual director who serves as University Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. His long life of ministry has included serving as a pastor, school president, retreat director and superior of the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth at Wernersville. Within all of these ministries, his service as a spiritual director has enriched his life.

What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? #3

We have arrived at Holy Week. As we conclude and make our final preparations for Easter, recall your journey over these past 40 days. Where did you begin? How have things shifted? What might your feelings be telling you? Take a moment to open yourself once more to God’s Transformational Love...

Servants, Repenters, Extenders of Transformational Love (Lent Week 6)

Each month, an Ignatian spiritual director offers their hope in the spirit of this Jubilee Year of Hope, our way of offering inspiration to pilgrims of hope engaged in the ministry of spiritual direction. This month features Luz Marina Díaz, the Director of the Spritual Direction Practicum at Fordham University.

What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? #4

The Office of Ignatian Spirituality (OIS), a ministry of the Jesuits on the East Coast, works to promote the ministry of the Spiritual Exercises and to create opportunities for people to experience its graces. Listen here for audio reflections that incorporate Ignatian themes into daily spirituality as well as resources for spiritual directors.

What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? #1

Office of Ignatian Spirituality

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