Ignatian Spiritual Warrior Training for
the Humanities
Mr. Christian J. Cashman
Fairfield College Prep
CONTEXT :Globalization of
Superficiality

Average U.S. teen
sends/receives 3,000 texts/tweets
per month ~Newsweek Jan. ’12
 7% of college students elect
Humanities majors (14% 50 years
ago) NY Times June ’12
 21st Century has given us,
“1,000 miles wide & 1 inch deep”
 Social Media: “Enough about me!
What do you think of me?”
 “Multi-tasking is dead!” ~Digital
Nation, PBS Frontline
“The first key to
IGNATIAN reflection is
unlocking the mystery
of YOU!”
“The second is finding
GOD in your search...and
having your own unique
experience.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGhcI3zhnjQ
Reflection: EXAMEN

In what ways has
reflection worked well in
your classroom?

In what ways has
reflection not worked well
in your classroom?

How do you hope to grow
more in your personal &
professional reflective
practice in the upcoming
academic year?
Ignatian Spiritual Warrior Training
473
year old
Jesuit
tradition of…
• Mind
• Body
• Spirit
Our Ignatian “Way of Proceeding”
Do you speak Ignatian?
•
•
•
•
•
Ratio Studiorum
Eloquentia Perfecta
A.M.D.G.
Cura Personalis
Magis
• God in all things
• Examen & Discernment
• 1st Principle & Foundation
• Men & women for others
• Grad @ Grad
(~Fr. Traub, SJ, Xavier Univ.)
Action: The Ignatian Spiritual
Warrior Methods



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Beadle & Birthdays (see
Ratio)
Active, close reading (mark
the text)
Socratic Seminar
Ignatian Reflection Journal &
Paper (Q1 & Q4)
Examen & Magis (weekly,
quarterly, annually)
AMDG everywhere!
Model ALL of the above!
Reflection Journal Sample
8/31/12
Journal #1
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
~ Socrates
Please take five minutes to
1) Explain this quote in your own words and
2) evaluate from your own experience the truth of this statement, and
3) make any connections you can to St. Ignatius and his “way of proceeding.”
9/4/12
Journal #2
“We are spiritual warriors, on a journey, a pilgrimage. However, the enemy we face is not
out there somewhere. It is the enemy within.” ~Paraphrase of Joseph Campbell
1 )How is the internal spiritual warrior different from a warrior in the external world?
2) Describe the potential “enemy within” and what it might represent in your life or experience.
3) How might this image of the “spiritual warrior” connect to St. Ignatius’ spirituality or
pilgrimage?
9/6/12
Journal #3 Pilgrimage/Journey
1) What is the nature of your pilgrimage journey this year?
2) In what direction are you headed?
3) If you were to compose a song, or choose a song you already know to describe the Junior
year you hope for, what would it be?
The Ignatian Spiritual Warrior
MUST…
Have a personal awakening — MANRESA
experience of one’s own.
2) Seek the MAGIS every day – not the perfect thing,
but the better thing.
3) Develop spiritual courage & indifference in the face
of struggle & success. (1st Principle & Foundation)
4) Look for GOD in all things or at least the mystery in
all things…realizing there is always something
beyond our understanding (which we call God)
5) Finally do this work in the company of loyal
companions, with brothers & sisters who care about
one another in community…an Ignatian Spiritual
Warrior is never alone!
1)
Kindle other flames…

Tokusan & Yutan
After a long night of
rigorous discussion,
Master Yutan sent the
young monk Tokusan out
into the pitch blackness of
night and handed him a
candle to light his way.
When young Tokusan
stepped outside, Master
Yutan (whew!) blew out
the candle & shut the
door. It was at that
moment that the young
monk was enlightened!

Matthew 6
“You are the light of the
world. A city on a hill can
not be hidden. Nor does
one light a lamp and place
it under a bushel basket.
Just so, your light must
shine before others so that
they may see your good
works & glorify God.”
Thank you for sharing the gift of
yourself with Jesuit Education!
~A.M.D.G.