A psychologist named William van Ornum will be writing regularly on America Magazine’s “In All Things” blog about the intersection of Christian faith and psychology. In his initial post he writes that one common denominator is Ignatius’s exhortation to gratitude: “I will call back into my memory the gifts I have received–my creation, redemption, and other gifts particular to myself. I will ponder with deep affection how much Our Lord God has done for me, and how much he has given of me of what he possesses.” Van Ornum comments:
The Saint travelled from near suicidal despondency to reach this happier way of thinking, and countless Jesuits over centuries have brought the Lord to those who undertake the exercises. Finally in this 21st century, many in the profession of psychology have finally caught up with Ignatius, offering “positive therapy” or “cognitive psychology” in which we learn how to change our feelings by changing our thoughts.
He asks readers to suggest topics to write about. Read the whole post and the fascinating suggestions from readers in the comments.