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Contact Us

Admissions
320-363-2896
[email protected]

Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary
P.O. Box 7288
Collegeville, MN 56321

General Inquiries
320-363-2100

Certificate in Spiritual Direction

Our graduate certificate in Spiritual Direction is a program of 12 credits in core theology and 10 credits in the art and skills of spiritual direction, including an 8-month supervised practicum. The 12 credits in core theology can be completed on-line. Credits can also transfer from other institutions. The practicum can be done at your home site, with distance participation in the practicum seminar.

Specific practices guide the Benedictine way of living, four of which are integrated into the spiritual direction courses for the certificate:

  • Lectio on Life  Traditional lectio divina  (prayerful reading of scripture) prepares us to approach our lived experience contemplatively.
  • Hospitality  The practice of hospitality opens us to receive God in unexpected ways when we welcome others as Christ.
  • Stability  Yielding to God's presence in the givens of life, staying with rather than escaping our experiences, frees us to be fully alive in the now.
  • Conversion of Life  Accepting that we are called to continual conversion increases our desire to listen and be faithful to God's call.

Additional Resources:

Consider trying the first course for personal enrichment, either on-campus or online. 

SPIR 437-  The Practice of Discernment in Prayer

An exploration of how our personal image of God evolves as we discern God's ways of being present to us in prayer and in life. By both studying and practicing discernment of spirits we can become sensitive to inner movements, understanding where they come from and where they lead us. The course will include an introduction to the practice of lectio divina applied to our lived experience. Grading is satisfactory / unsatisfactory.

This class is offered on campus in the evening every fall semester, September through November. The spring semesester online version, from January through April, is completely asynchronous, with no fixed times when the class meets as a whole.  

Please contact the instructor, Becky Van Ness, if you have any questions at [email protected]. 


To register, click here!


Click to flip through this booklet of reflections.

Spiritual Direction Booklet 

Related Links

Contact Us

Admissions
320-363-2896
[email protected]

Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary
P.O. Box 7288
Collegeville, MN 56321

General Inquiries
320-363-2100