CourseS
"Initiation INto Spiritual life"
General Introduction to the Course (Video)
Drawing from the Living Catholic Mystical Tradition, the School of Mary presents a complete project of education in spiritual life, aimed at adult Christians. Its goal is to empower them so they can reply fully to the call to holiness.
proposes
Three Basic Courses of Initiation into spiritual life: first, second and third level (each is 40 hours). See below for the First Level Basic Course.
Complementary Courses of study and deepening of spiritual life.
Training in the teaching and pedagogy of spiritual life.
Material and means: Books, Articles, DVDs, Website, Forum, Videos.
it offers a Way
The three levels of teaching of the School of Mary correspond to the three main stages of spiritual life that lead us to Union with God and to the fullness of Love:
1- Introduction to the personal relationship with Jesus: this stage starts when we decide to put our hand in Jesus' one.
2– Deep purification, transformation in Christ and new maturity.
3- Union with Jesus and apostolic transformation: Fecundity and service of the Kingdom.
a practise accessible to everybody
The School offers a complete, practical and innovative method. The education in spiritual life is translated into a daily practice accessible to all. It teaches concretely how to enter into direct contact with God, in order to receive the torrents of grace that He came to give us.
The School honours union with God as a fundamental value of our Baptism and considers the fullness of love an achievable goal for any human being. It uses the means offered for us in the Scriptures and in the Living Tradition of the Church in order to reach this magnificent goal.
its pillars are
1- Lectio Divina : a space that we offer to Jesus, in the beginning of our day, a space where we listen and put into practice His Word, in order to receive “our daily Bread”, the meal that, day after day, the Lord offers us in the liturgy of the word in the Mass.
2– The Prayer of the heart : a daily time that we dedicate for immersion in the love of Jesus, in complete entrustment of ourselves to Him. This time is the extension of our last Communion and nourishes the deep roots of our being.
3– For the Advanced: St. John’s Rosary : taking St. John’s Gospel as a guide towards union with God and the apostolic witnessing. In order to do so, we obey Our Lady who invites us to “do all that He says”.
The First Level Basic Course
"Initiation INto Spiritual life"
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Introduction to the First Level Course (Video)
Description: The 21 Lectures of the "Initiation to Spiritual life" are the "First Level” course of the 3 levels education system of the School of Mary. A person who follows the First level is not at all obligated to continue. The Course is one unit in itself. Attending the Course doesn't require any former theological training.
This first level Course is an Explanation of the necessary basis for spiritual life. It gives the basic practical knowledge on Spiritual life and it explains mainly 2 kinds of prayer techniques:
1- how to listen to God through the Holy Scriptures, and how to put into practice his word, daily; that is the "Lectio divina".
2- how to pray and connect with God with our heart (how to immerse ourselves in Him in order to be nourished by him); that is the "Prayer of the heart".
These are the two Tables of the Mass.
The Course is very substantial and practical. Attending the course will help to have the necessary food for spiritual life! Knowing first what is spiritual life, what is the Gift of God, will help us to digest it and put it into practice!
A minimum of spiritual knowledge and culture is necessary for adult Christians in order to live their life in fullness and this is the task of the Course. The teaching is very practical, and clear! Concentration is required because we will learn many things.
The Patroness of the whole Course Is Our Lady, the mother of Jesus. Her presence is essential. An Icon of her, lit by a Candle will be present during the whole course. A climate of Prayer: Silence and recollection are absolutely a must for people who attend. A climate of Prayer is necessary to understand the topics. Questions are allowed obviously, but many answers will be given during the Course.
At the end of the Course, a Certificate is delivered mentioning that one had followed this Course with the condition that the person had attended the whole Course.
The Course has received the approval and blessing of His Excellency Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark.
Syllabus of the first level Course : initiation to spiritual life
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Part I: 7 lectures
1- Introduction and description of Spiritual life, its goal and its stages.
2- Our Lady and her place in our Spiritual life.
3- The Roots of our prayer.
4- The prayer of the heart: summary (see Part III).
5- How to listen to God daily through the Bible: the Lectio divina.
Part II: 7 lectures
6- General Laws of Spiritual life
a- the spirit/heart. Theological virtues (Faith, Hope, Love).
b- The Transfiguration of the Lord and its place in our spiritual life.
c- The “Ups and downs”. Mechanism of Temptation. The Synergy of our action.
d- Christ in our spiritual life.
e- The Holy Spirit in our spiritual life.
f- The saints - the Doctors - the gift of ourselves - martyrdom.
Part III: 7 lectures
7- Practising the prayer of the heart
a- Introduction: history
b- The prayer of the heart I: the recollection movement.
c- The prayer of the heart II: The action of God.
8- Practical aspects and Conclusion