Review article

The Importance of Imagination in Ignatian Spirituality

Ivan Platovnjak orcid.org/0000-0001-7779-0889 ; Faculty of Theology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

In the book of Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius Loyola provides a variety of contemplations that include imagination. Contemplation, known throughout the history of spirituality, does not usually involve active use of imagination. So why then does Ignatius repeatedly instruct the participants in spiritual exercises to employ their imagination in contemplation? The author puts forward the thesis that imagination in Ignatian spirituality is very important, almost irreplaceable. In the article, the author first briefly defines imagination and outlines the understanding of contemplation throughout history. Then he shows the role of imagination in Ignatian spirituality and fundamental characteristics of Ignatian contemplation. In the final part of the article, he presents the results of the survey on imagination in Ignatian contemplation among the persons practicing Ignatian contemplation in Slovenia, and thus he empirically evaluates the raised thesis.

Keywords

Ignatius of Loyola; Spiritual Exercises; Ignatian contemplation; imagination; spiritual life.

Hrčak ID:

212950

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/212950

Publication date:

17.12.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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