Bishop Helmsing Institute

Spiritual Life I: Prayer & Spiritual Growth

 COURSE DESCRIPTION

Prayer is the loving communication between God and each of us.  It is the raising of one’s heart and mind to God and, at the same time, divine guidance and bestowal of grace.  Without speaking with God we cannot know Him nor love Him.  This course will explore the Catholic understanding of prayer and the interior life.  The course will also model various approaches to Catholic prayer as well as exploring different spiritualities in the Church.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES

(1)  To awaken in the student an appreciation for prayer and the interior life and a desire to grow closer to Christ through prayer.

(2)  To introduce the student to the elements of prayer and the stages of spiritual growth.

(3)  To deepen the student’s knowledge of prayer and interior life.

(4) To model various approaches to Catholic prayer.

TEXTS:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Holy Bible

Course Pack

 OFFICE LOCATION:

Bishop Helmsing Institute

Chancery

300 East 36^th Street

Kansas City, MO 64111

Phone: (816) 756-1850 ex 246

Email:  staff@diocesekcsj.org

 COURSE SCHEDULE

SPIRITUAL LIFE I: PRAYER & SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Session         Dates (see locations below)        Topic                                                            

1       18, 19, 21, & 23 -Sep   Introduction to the Spiritual Life

                                                            The Soul and Prayer

Required readings for next class:

Dubay, Chp 1; Soul of the Apostolate, p. 160-183, and 192-199 (p.160-211 if possible)

2       25, 26, 28, & 30 -Sep   The Experience of God in Prayer

                                                            The Stages of Spiritual Growth

Required readings for next class:

Dubay Chp 3 &4

3       2, 3, 5, & 7 -Oct              Difficulties in Prayer

                                                            The Spirituality of the Saints

Required readings for next class:

Introduction to the Devout Life p. 39-79

4       9, 10, 12, 14 -Oct         The Virtues

                                                            Making Resolutions

Course Pack Content:

Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, OCSO The Soul of the Apostolate

 Trans. by a monk of our lady of Gethsemani (Tan Books)  p. 160 – 211

 St. Frances De Sales Introduction to the Devout Life Trans. by John K. Ryan (Image Books Doubleday) p. 39 – 79

Thomas Dubay, SM Fire Within (Ignatius Press)  p. 1 - 12, 49 - 71 (chapters 1, 3, & 4)

 Dates at all locations:

 BACK TO Bishop Helmsing Institute Website