How to become a spiritual trainer or companion? University offers a degree in spiritual theology – Zenit

(Zenit Noticias / Rom Regina Apostolorum De Rome launches an innovative degree program in spiritual theology for the academic year 2024-2025. This program, designed to form spiritual companions and directors of spiritual exercises, promises to be a transformative trip both personally and spiritually.

A complete program

The Bachelor of Spiritual Theology program is a biennial course that deepens the foundations of Christian spiritual life. “Our goal is to help Christians integrate spirituality into their daily lives,” explains the dean of the Faculty, P. José Fernández San Román, LC this course answers essential questions such as what does it mean to live the sacrament of baptism? Or how are you guiding the baptized to grow in their spiritual life? These questions are not only theoretical, but they have deep practical implications for those who seek to live their faith in an authentic and significant way.

Formation of companions and spiritual directors

One of the most relevant aspects of the program is the formation of spiritual companions. These guides “help others to see with new eyes, paraphrasing Romano Guardini, a great reference of Pope Francis,” continues the dean. In a world that desperately needs authentic witnesses of faith, this Christian form, many of them priests, who are receptive to the action of the Holy Spirit and committed to living and sharing their faith.

More than an academic study

Spiritual theology is not just an academic study; It is based on the lived experience of faith. Through the study of the lives and writings of the saints, “the theology of the saints” so dear to the former teacher of the Athenaeum P. Léthel, the students learn to see how faith is lived in practice and how can transform the daily life. “We need a theology made on your knees,” says Father Fernández San Román, citing the phrase of Urs von Balthasar about the “Knnden Theologie” so loved by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Program news

This year, the program includes new and exciting novelties. “In addition to studying the great masters of spiritual life, we give great importance to the necessary skills to become director of spiritual and trainer exercises. In addition, we organize a course on the theology of the Holy Spirit with Salvatore Martinez, former Italian president of renewal in the Holy Spirit. And we are happy to announce that The Holy See has given us permission to offer 30% of the distance training credits, making the program even more accessible, especially for pastoral agents, ”says the Dean of the Faculty. In addition, the degree organizes every year an intensive course to form directors of Ignatian spiritual exercises.

A teaching body of excellence

The program has a teaching staff of renowned experts, including Mr. Daniela del Gaudio, of the Pontifical International Marian Academy; P. Barrajón, member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology; I. Andereggen, president of the Argentine Tomista Society and also an expert in the spirituality of San Juan de la Cruz; Salvatore Martinez, former Italian president of renewal in the Holy Spirit; E. Eguiarte, expert in the thought of St. Augustine; A. Castilian, theologian and expert in didactics of theology; S. Advani, expert in Ratzinger’s thought; A. Santoro, expert in Ignatian spiritual exercises; M. Erasmi, expert in spiritual discernment; J. Spence, expert in the thought of Santa Teresa de Lisieux; A. Tagliafico, expert in the spirituality of Santa Teresa de Ávila and in spiritual accompaniment; F. of ugly, expert in the spirituality of the Christian East; E. Martínez Albesa, historian of Christian spirituality; E. McNamara, an expert in the liturgical spirituality and collaborator of Zenit with a rubric on liturgy. In addition, seven of the teachers of the Faculty of Theology belong to the Pontifical Academies.

Open registrations

Those interested can visit the Athenaeum website for more information and to register. “We are excited to receive new students ready to undertake this spiritual trip,” concludes Fr. José Fernández San Román, LC, dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum of Rome.

The program can be consulted here and in this link you can download the informative brochure. For inscriptions you can access here. And for more information the university has this mail: info.teologia@upra.org

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