Are You Stuck in a Rut With Your Spiritual Life?

Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church

Do you want to learn more about the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church? Join us at the Avila Institute for this insightful course!

The Church was established by Christ to carry out His mission until the end of the age through the power of the Holy Spirit. This course will provide students with an overview of the action and presence of the Holy Spirit throughout Salvation History, highlighting God’s works of creation, redemption, and sanctification. The course will also focus on interiorizing these foundational truths of the faith through prayer and personal reflection.

Contemplative Prayer and the Beloved Disciple

Do you want to learn more about St. John the Beloved’s thoughts on contemplative prayer? Join us at the Avila Institute for an insightful course about his life and teachings!

St. John the Evangelist’s insights into our Lord’s Heart offer the Church a model of apostolic life and Christian contemplation. Only in imitation of the Beloved Disciple are we able to stand with Mary at the Cross and fully share in Christ’s saving Passion. When others flee, John stays. In this, our Lord is greatly consoled in His hour by the love of His friend. Similarly, in these, the last days, Christians must adopt the charism of the Beloved Disciple in order that union with Christ might be achieved through a share in His suffering. This charism is particularly Marian and particularly Eucharistic. Most of all, it is contemplative: St. John is uniquely suited to receive the secret of our Lord’s heart – the secret of Love.

Contemplative Prayer and the Beloved Disciple will look at some important theological questions through the contemplative lens of St. John. Besides being a study of the Beloved’s work in the New Testament, we will consider its prophetic implications in our modern world as well as the practical applications of the Johannine charism in our prayer life and apostolic efforts.

Bible and the Revelation of Prayer

Starting with an overview of the revelation of prayer from Genesis to Revelation as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this course studies the use of the Bible in the Public Worship of the Church. The Liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian life while the Bible is the soul of theology. Exploring the relationship between the Bible and the Liturgy opens up a vision of prayer filled with Patristic insight and the wisdom of the early Church. Objectives: 1. Provide familiarity with the Canon of Sacred Scripture in relation to the Revelation of Prayer. 2. Discuss the Nature of Mystagogical Catechesis and consider its application in the theological enterprise. 3. Explore the relationship of the Bible, Liturgy, and prayer in the Life of the Church. 4. Explain the principles of Christian spirituality witnessed in liturgical practices of the Ancient Church.

The Mystery of Mary and Her Role in the Spiritual Life

This course will include a biblical survey of Mary’s role beginning in Genesis and as further revealed in each scriptural revelation of her role. Upon this biblical foundation, we will then explore extra-biblical tradition in the thought of Sts. Louis De Montfort, Maximilian Kolbe, and John Paul II with particular emphasis on Mary’s relationship to the Blessed Trinity, her perfect example and the preeminent disciple of Christ, and her role as spiritual mother to all believers.

Apply for the Institute HERE.

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Kristin Priola

Kristin Priola is the Event and Marketing Coordinator at the Avila Foundation, parent organization of SpiritualDirection.com, the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, and Divine Intimacy Radio. Receiving the position was providential and in God’s perfect timing. Although cradle Catholic, in college she reverted and became confirmed in the Church in 2016. Kristin graduated with a degree in Communications from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Kristin is recently married to her new spouse, William. She is also involved with Apostoli Viae and a Young Professionals Bible study. For fun, Kristin enjoys discussing theology with friends, dancing, singing, cooking, and writing. She hopes to continue growing in her faith through the sacraments and involvement with faithful community.