top of page

Connect With Other Members

Adult Education Course

Sign-up and Member Login...

Sign up or log in as a member above, then join the Groups Feed below to communicate with other members.

Groups Feed

View groups and posts below.

This post is from a suggested group

golemanjanegolemanjane

Question about Rule 12

I was teaching the rules this past weekend to a group of Spiritual Directors and had an important question come up about Rule 12 and stopping the snowball at the top of the mountain. She said what if someone can't stop it at the top? What if someone can't stop it at all. It's not that easy or simple and then they feel guilty, ashamed, a failure. . . (I think her context was with alcohol). We discussed that this is a tool box. That there are many different tools. It is important to understand that we are not alone and sometimes need a community or trusted to friend to help, how secrets are not helpful, etc. But I have felt uneasy about this rule. I remember teaching medical students and using a video clip of Bob Newhart as a therapist where he keeps repeating "Just stop it! โ€ฆ

28 Views
Jenni DeWitt
Jenni DeWitt
3 days ago

Hello! You are in Nebraska?! I am too, north of York. The Benedictine Center is wonderful.


For your question, I wonder if it would help to remember this rule is related to spiritual desolation, where struggling with alcohol would be non-spiritual desolation. While non-spiritual desolation often can lead into spiritual desolation, they are two different things. Physical addiction is powerful, but itโ€™s something we would need a counselor to help us through, because it is physical.


As for the snowball rule, in my own life, I noticed at first I would be very far into the spiritual desolation before I realized what was happening. No shame in that, weโ€™re doing our best. However, over time I started to realize (be aware as Father G puts it) earlier and earlier in the process. Not that itโ€™s ever perfect, but it does start to become a little more second nature.


I hope thatโ€™s at least somewhat helpful.

Jenni

This post is from a suggested group

golemanjanegolemanjane

Question about Rule 12

I was teaching the rules this past weekend to a group of Spiritual Directors and had an important question come up about Rule 12 and stopping the snowball at the top of the mountain. She said what if someone can't stop it at the top? What if someone can't stop it at all. It's not that easy or simple and then they feel guilty, ashamed, a failure. . . (I think her context was with alcohol). We discussed that this is a tool box. That there are many different tools. It is important to understand that we are not alone and sometimes need a community or trusted to friend to help, how secrets are not helpful, etc. But I have felt uneasy about this rule. I remember teaching medical students and using a video clip of Bob Newhart as a therapist where he keeps repeating "Just stop it! โ€ฆ

24 Views
golemanjane
3 days ago

Thank you so much Debra. I agree with you! This is so helpful!

This post is from a suggested group

frdozier

Certification Ignatian Spiritual Exercises?

Good morning!


Are there any recommended online programs to train/certify others to lead the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and 19th Annotation? Does IDI offer these?


Thank you!


Fr Daniel

13 Views

This post is from a suggested group

eithne1eithne1

Just joined !

Hi , I just wanted to

Introduce myself as a new member. Iโ€™m in the UK and happy to connect with those of you in the US and UK Have a blessed Sunday


208 Views
myavarone
3ๆœˆ19ๆ—ฅ

Hi eithne1,


Thank you for posting from the UK! And welcome to our Groups page.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and I, who founded the Ignatian Discernment Institute, are Oblates of the Virgin Mary. We have priests in Southampton and Middlesbrough. Perhaps you are near one of our communities there.


Every blessing,

Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV

This post is from a suggested group

debrablack

Washington State

I would like to connect with other members who are located in Washington state. Please email me at DebraBlack@1cor138.com if interested. God bless you!

191 Views

This post is from a suggested group

Maryallyn Black

Retreats on 12 steps and discernment

I wanted to share a little joy with fellow teachers of discernment. From 11/21โ€“11/23, I had the gift of facilitating a retreat for women in recoveryย that brought together the Ignatian Discernment of Spirits and the Twelve Steps of AA. The weekend was powerful and grace-filled, and the women spoke so beautifully about how helpful the discernment tools wereโ€”more than a few described the experience as life-changing.

Iโ€™m really encouraged by what unfolded and am looking forward to offering a workshop in Aprilย on the Discernment of Spirits and the Twelve Steps. Grateful to be walking this path with others who care about sharing this wisdom where itโ€™s so needed.

253 Views
Holly Novotny
Holly Novotny
1ๆœˆ27ๆ—ฅ

This is fantastic! It is wonderful to hear how others are using the material and sharing it in different applications. I'm currently working on a healing retreat and this gave me an idea for one of the retreat talks. (@myavarone, this forum was a brilliant idea!)

This post is from a suggested group

bryanochsbryanochs

Lacey/Yelm WA Discernment Series

Hello all!


I just wanted to give an update on some good news. This is Fr. Bryan Ochs, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Lacey, WA, St. Columban Catholic Church in Yelm WA, and St. Peter in Tenino WA. Today we just had our first of 5 classes on Discernment of Spirits and wanted to give an update and encouragement to other teachers.


We had a morning session and Evening Session with 125 people total between the two. This was advertised in our parish bulletin, and I promoted it from the pulpit at Mass, and I offered personal invitations. It was pitched as "Overcoming Spiritual Discouragement," at the suggestion of Fr. Gallagher.


People were able to sign up online. I think we actually had more people there than actual signups. We made the book optional, and I would say about 2/3 of the participants bought the book. We sold โ€ฆ


160 Views
debrablack
debrablack
1ๆœˆ23ๆ—ฅ

You're our Bellingham homeboy Fr. Ochs and we love you! I'm heartened to hear this is going well. Please keep us updated on the challenges as well as the fruits. God bless you!

็ทจ้›†ๆธˆใฟ

This post is from a suggested group

Kelly RamirezKelly Ramirez

Spouses not in alignment

Hello all,

I am a spiritual director who has a directee who is married. This directee is in the process of becoming certified to be a spiritual director. One of her 'strengths' is her knowledge of and keen interest in Discernment of Spirits and she has taken several courses over the past couple of years. She has spoken to me at length during our sessions about the struggles in her marriage - mainly that her husband periodically tells her that during a discussion they have had, he feels she is criticizing him and condemning him. She mentioned a comment her husband said to her after she sent him a text to support him one day she knew he had a hard day at work ahead of him. His comment to her the next day was that he doubted whether she really meant it or not. Her question to โ€ฆ


152 Views
myavarone
2025ๅนด11ๆœˆ30ๆ—ฅ

Dear Kelly,

Thank you for posting on the IDI site, and for your work as a spiritual director!

Because of the individual and personal nature of your question, it may be best addressed to your supervisor. I will give only a general guideline which admits of exceptions. If a directee is seeing a marraige counselor, particlularly one who understands the importance of faith, I encourage them to address to their counselor any questions about how they relate to their spouse. As she puts into practice the advice she receives during marriage counseling, she will have plenty of movements of spirits, and these are the purview of spiritual direction. This prevents me from becoming a de facto second counselor, which would be outside of my area of expertise and might lead to conflicting advice.

I will remember you at Evening Prayer tonight.


In Christ and the Virgin Mary,

Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV

This post is from a suggested group

Terri St GeorgeTerri St George

Nov -Dec class

Going to teach the Rules of Discernment over 5 classes Nov -Dec. Please pray for success.

Terri St George

Tarpon Springs FL

261 Views
myavarone
2025ๅนด10ๆœˆ09ๆ—ฅ

Thank you for the post, Terri. We will certainly pray for you as you prepare for your course! May our Divine Master bless you abundantly,

Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV

IDI

bottom of page