Fostering Reflection
There are many reasons why Jesuit education has been successful over the last 500 years . Some are well known . Cura personalis or care of the person , magis , or striving for excellence , and becoming men and women for others are all hallmarks of good Jesuit education . Yet , as equally important and somewhat overlooked is the importance of developing habits of reflection .
The act of reflecting , or stepping back to consider one ’ s life , one ’ s actions , one ’ s challenges , and perhaps most importantly one ’ s relationship to god goes back to St . ignatius and his Spiritual exercises . it is woven throughout the experience of Jesuit education in ways both implicit and explicit , and is key to identifying successes and failures , as well as the ways in which god may be calling us . Among the prayers that St . ignatius insisted be prayed by his Jesuits is a prayer of self-reflection entitled The examen to be prayed twice a day : once at noon and once at the end of the day . in it one considers the events of the day , both good and bad , and attempts to identify how god was at work in such events .
inspired by St . ignatius , the practice of reflection is a key element of the Fordham prep experience . From pedagogy to prayer , reflection is fostered at the prep . it is an essential element of lesson planning , particularly in considering the contexts of both subject material and individual learner . every Friday morning , the prep community prays the ignatian examen , and while the core elements of becoming aware of god ’ s presence , expressing gratitude for gifts received , identifying both what moves us and calls us to greater love of god and neighbor , and asking for the Spirit ’ s aid in all we do are always attended to , we have learned that such core elements can be adapted to certain situations . For example , we have prayed the examen in light of vocations , hunger , Advent , epiphany and Lent to name a few , and thus deepened our reflection .
These retreat experiences lead to greater bonds among the community ’ s members as well as a deeper awareness of how god is acting in our lives . Starting in sophomore year , an integral part of the training of our student retreat leaders is the reflection and sharing of prayer and identifying where god ’ s presence has been experienced in both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of one ’ s life . As our sophomore , junior and senior leaders grow in their ability to recognize god , they are able to inspire and teach their peers to do the same .
perhaps an analogy from our Sophomore Discovery retreat can best express the importance of reflection in the life of the prep community . One unknowing volunteer stands within inches of a wall and with head and eyes straight forward is asked to describe what he sees with each step he takes back . His perspective and his vantage inevitably changes as he is able to see more . it is this seeing more accomplished through reflection that gives greater life to the Fordham prep experience .
Campus Ministry reflection plays a vital role within the prep ’ s retreat program . The prep ’ s four-year retreat program speaks to the value and importance of taking time to stop and consider one ’ s relationship to self , god and others .
Michael Kravatz Director of Student ministry
Spring / Summer 2016 | 15