This course continues the path of spiritual formation (see here) after the initial three years, which cover the journey from second conversion through the stages of deep purification. Solid Foundations 400 focuses on the part of the journey from Spiritual Betrothal to the threshold of participation in the Lord’s redemptive work.
Along this path, we will study the following stages: Spiritual Betrothal, Spiritual Marriage (Union of Love), The Celebration of the Union, The Intensification of the Fire, The Flares of the Holy Spirit.
Although participants may still be at the beginning of their spiritual journey, it is vital to know the goal toward which God leads us—the fullness of His gift. When St. Thérèse of Lisieux, at only 17 years of age, read St. John of the Cross (the Spiritual Canticle and the Living Flame), she prayed that all she had discovered might be realised in her soul. In the same way, studying these advanced stages is not premature or unsafe: rather, they serve as a powerful source of hope, illuminating our path and drawing us forward. The three Carmelite Doctors will be our main guides.
The course opens by establishing the intrinsic connection between the stages under consideration and the antecedent phases of the spiritual life, especially the process of deep purification. For the first time, this course proposes a comprehensive treatment of the phases subsequent to deep purification. It seeks to assist Christians in attaining a more precise understanding of the nature of God’s gift to us, as expressed in Christ’s words to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10), and of what holiness assumes in lived experience. Given the Church’s constant teaching that all are called to holiness, it is of particular importance to articulate clear and vital indications of what holiness entails, together with descriptions of its concrete expression within the ordinary conditions of daily life.
The course is grounded in the teaching of the three Carmelite Doctors, the principal work of Blessed Marie-Eugène of the Child Jesus OCD, and the writings of Fr Louis Guillet, OCD. Particular attention is given to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, whose way is presented as the ‘common way’: the way exemplified by Our Lady, and one that illuminates both the contemplative vocation and the hidden sanctity of ordinary life. St. Thérèse is seen as a privileged embodiment of the doctrine of the great Doctors of Carmel – St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. In this sense, her life and teaching serve as a secure and theologically reliable measure of holiness as it may be lived.
In this course, experience a grace-filled moment in which St Thérèse of the Child Jesus guides you toward seeing the true face of God.
Time: The course consists of 14 lessons, each lasting one hour and thirty minutes, for a total of 21 hours of teaching.
Fee: The course fee is $420 / £320 / €360. A discounted rate of $210 / £160 / €180 is available for those who need it. The School of Mary is committed to making spiritual formation accessible, so please reach out if further financial concerns arise.
To enrol, please email contact@schoolofmary.org , indicating your name and contact details and including a concise statement outlining your background and motivation.
