Perspectives on Directing The Nineteenth Annotation: A Handbook for Spiritual Directors by Rachel Gehring
This is Rachel's 2016 bachelor thesis updated and presented for spiritual directors as an educational handbook for directing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises using The Ignatian Adventure by Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ. Following a brief explanation of the annotated nineteen as a great retreat for the contemporary person, this thesis explains what a spiritual director should keep in mind as he or she journeys with a retreatant through The Ignatian Adventure. First, the director should be aware of the multiple opportunities for the retreatant of the Exercises: healing, holiness, and election. Second, since O’Brien offers a blueprint for the Exercises, the director should focus on understanding the “weeks” and accompanying the retreatant - via synthesized instruction from Jesuit experts. Third, the director should take a facilitative approach to spiritual direction in order to assist with healing and deal with conscience. Overall, “Perspectives on Directing The Nineteenth Annotation” is an instructional handbook for spiritual directors. *Ideally, this handbook is to be utilized in conjunction with Rachel's Cast Into the Deep program of nineteenth annotation training for spiritual directors.