Ignatian Immersion Course in spanish (14 th year)
Ignatian Charism for Today's World
Objective
Based on a deep conviction of the great value of the Ignatian charism for Christian life in today's world, the objective of this course-experience is to enter deeply into the human and spiritual legacy of Ignatius of Loyola. We believe that his experience can inspire us with a renewed Christian life at the service of our Church and society in the 21st century. Likewise, due to its methodological characteristics, the course-experience is an intense training in the spiritual accompaniment of people and communities.
Process
Starting from the study of the personal experience of Ignatius, from his Autobiography and his Spiritual Diary, to illuminate the itinerary or process of growth of all Christian life and, after the practice of the spiritual exercises, an approach to these will be made as pedagogy and as mystagogy. The course advances with sessions dedicated to self-knowledge and personal healing, with sessions on theology and spirituality that emanate from the life and teachings of Ignatius, and with an analysis of the various projects of incarnation in the world that have emerged from of Ignatian spirituality, such as Ignatian female congregations, lay communities or concrete applications to everyday life such as community discernment.
Method
The methodology combines master classes with personal study and inclusive dialogue of the different experiences lived by the participants. A central part of the method is immersion in the Ignatian place where the course is taught (Manresa), the cradle of the personal transformation of Saint Ignatius. The experience increases in intensity when an Ignatian pilgrimage is included in the course following the Ignatian Way, behind the footsteps of the young Íñigo de Loyola in 1522. Other visits that help internalize the experience of the founder of the Society (the hermitages of Montserrat, the Barcelona Ignatian, the Ignatian Manresa) in such a way that the theoretical study is alive and contextualized. This quality of spiritual experience accompanies us throughout the course-experience, with appropriate times for interiorization, prayer, study, group dialogue and Eucharistic celebrations. The method also includes, of course, films and educational resources that help to live the experience.
To take advantage of the experience, there are some free days throughout the 6 weeks, in which each participant can decide on their own rhythm and activity.
Program
0. Reception and End of course-Experience
- Reception Saturday, 17 October from 4 to 8 pm
- Begining of the Course-Experience, Sunday 18 October at 9'15 am
- Introduction to the Course-Experience and preparation of personal presentations (15'). 11 am Exchange of personal presentations. 1'30 pm Lunch. 2'45 pm Pilgrimage to Sanctuary of Saint Mary of Viladordis. 3'45 pm Eucharistic in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Health. 6 pm Exchange of personal presentations. 8 pm Dinner. 9 pm Personal presentations.
- End of the Course-Experience, Tuesday, 4 December Departure at 10 am
FIRST BLOCK. Introduction, Autobiography and Spiritual Diary
- From 20 to 22 October
A sapiential study of the Autobiography as the source of a spiritual process, confronting the experience of Ignatius with our own spiritual experience and autobiography. The study of the Spiritual Diary not only introduces us to the highest spiritual elevation of Ignatius, but also enables us to understand better the nature of Ignatian mysticism.
Teacher: Javier Melloni SJ
- 23 October. Visit to the mountain and monastery of Montserrat.
SECOND BLOCK. Ignatian pilgrimage behind the footsteps of Iñigo de Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier SJ and Saint Peter Claver SJ
- From 26 to 30 October. Ignatian pilgrimage visiting emblematic places in the Autobiography of Saint Ignatius, such as Loyola, Azpeitia, Arantzazu and Navarrete, as well as the Sanctuary of Saint Francis Xavier, the Sanctuary of Saint Peter Claver in Verdú and the Sanctuary of Our Lady Pilar in Zaragoza. It is not a walking tour, although it is proposed to the pilgrims to walk short distances of two hours, to experience the strength of the pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage guided by José Luís Iriberri SJ
THIRD BLOCK: The Spiritual Exercises as Mystagogy, analyzing the Spiritual Exercises.
- From 31 October to 3 November. In the light of the experience of doing and giving the spiritual exercises, we will study the text, and we will see it as mystagogy, that is, as a path of spiritual transformation (each week is a step) in which the whole person enters into a new understanding of herself, of God and of the world, in an interconnected system of relationships that makes it possible to find God in all things.
Teacher: David Guindulain SJ
- 3 November. Visit Ignatian places in Barcelona
FOURTH BLOCK: Personal work: self-knowledge and healing through the Saint Ignatius Exercises
- From 4 to 8 November. Study on personality through the instrument known as the Enneagram, from the Ignatian point of view. Structure of the person, the origins, our deviations, the behavior linked to what Saint Ignatius calls "disorders" and the essential behavior in us, the gifts and strengths of each person, the processes of personal growth and the paths of advancement in each one/o Self-discovery as a preparatory stage for the experience of the Spiritual Exercises.
- 9 November. Day off
- From 10 to 17 November. Experience of Spiritual Exercises preached in a group and accompanied personally if required. Two days of rest and gathering at the end of the experience are included
- 28 November . Eucharistic final Thankgsgiving ( at the Cave of Saint Ignatiusi). Pilgrimage around the Cave (optional) or rest in the Center of Spirituality Cova de Sant Ignasi.
Teachers: Enneagram team, José Luis Iriberri SJ, Anna Pitarch, Pilar París and jesuit community team of Manresa.
FIFTH BLOCK: Theology that embraces Ignatian Spirituality
- From 18 to 23 November. The course analyzes the text of the Spiritual Exercises and the underlying experience in Ignatius of Loyola, from the theology and spirituality they contain, which are a great contribution to living in our times in the wisdom of the spirit.
Teacher: Josep Giménez SJ
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23 December. Day off
SIX BLOCK. Ignatian spirituality incarnated in the world: The Society of Jesus, Ignatian women's institutions, community discernment applied to institutions-companies
- From 24 to 30 December. The deep desire to help souls and the creation of a group of companions consecrated to the service of the kingdom led Ignatius, with his companions, to found a new religious order that went beyond the rules in force until then. Ignacio's experience configured a "way of proceeding" with very characteristic features. This charismatic legacy that can offer to a personal lay vocation has crystallized in different historical ecclesial projects, continues to be a source for living "with spirit" in times as changeable as ours. Learning to discern communally is perhaps a fundamental urgency for our 21st century.
Teachers: J.Carlos Coupeau SJ, Mª Carmen de la Fuente, Elena Casado, José de Pablo SJ and Carmen Llasat
SEVEN BLOCK. Closing of the experience in Manresa, conclusions and evaluation
- 1 December. A day visit to Barcelona is included to discover its monuments, such as the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia and to shop for souvenirs.
- 2 to 3 December. Two days to make a practical application of all goods received received and a personal evaluation always grateful for the experience and knowledge acquired. On the night of the 3rd December we will finish with a dinner and party according to the value of what we experienced. Eucharist to go out on the Way with the Lord,
- 4 December: Breakfast and departure.
Check in October 17th from 4 pm to 8 pm. First meeting will be at 8 pm with a dinner at the dinning room. The Spirituality Center gates closes at 9'45 pm.
Saturday night is free for people recovery from jetlag.
Late arrivals are not allowed, everyone must be in Manresa on the night of October 17.
Check out on December 4th after 10 am
What is the course objective?
Take an immersion in the life of Saint Ignatius, rediscovering his spirituality and the theology behind his writings and works, to reflect internally and better understand oneself and others, and thus be able to better accompany people and communities.
How to apply?
- By sending an email to info@covamanresa.cat; subject "Inmersión Ignaciana 2026"
- LIMITED PLACES
Includes full board accommodation, single room with bathroom, 94 teaching hours, 113 hours of practices, 82 hours of study, pilgrimage of the Ignatian Way Loyola-Manresa (by bus and with some experience of a short walk of 10 kms), a week of Exercises Spiritual (with personalized accompaniment if desired), visits to Ignatian places in Manresa, Montserrat and Barcelona, personalized attention throughout the course by the person in charge of the organization to solve logistic or other possible problems.
If you need different diets from the usual one (Mediterranean diet), we can offer: low carbohydrate diet, low fat diet and also vegetarian diet. If you want any of these special diets it is mandatory to request it before arriving at Manresa.
At the end of the Course you can request a Certificate of Attendance.
What are the organizing institutions?
- Cave of Saint Ignatius" International Center for Spirituality (Manresa)
- EIDES "Cistianisme i Justícia" (Barcelona)
What to bring to the course?
All participants must come with their Tablet or similar or laptop.
The materials that the professors will deliver to the participants to carry out personal work and complementary documents will be in PDF format.
Mainly, photocopies will not be provided, following principles of ecological sustainability.
For the pilgrimage it is advisable to bring appropriate footwear for walking on countryside roads as well as warm clothing for temperatures of 10º. and something for the rain (umbrella, raincoat, etc.)
FINAL AVALUATION PARTICIPANTS "INMERSION IGNACIANA 2024"
Ignatian inmersion Itinerary Dejando huella 2023 Final Evaluation "Inmersión ignaciana 2024"
Organizer of the course-experience and teacher. Member of the Manresa team, Director of the Ignatian Way Pilgrim's Office, Master's in Counseling, Ramón Llull University