Imago Dei Institute for Christian Formation (IDI) is an unique ascetic, scholastic, and psychomoralitic in-Institute retreat center with separate cycles for men and women. Together with staff and clinicians-in-training the IDI boarders learn about and journey upon the Imago Dei Way. The IDI curriculum includes guidance and training in Imago Dei Pastoral Theology, the opportunity to undergo deep characterological, moral, and spiritual transformation in accord with Thomistic Psychomoralitics, and formation in the riches of Catholic spirituality, especially as concerns the discernment or renewal of the four essential human vocations and the three essential Christian Vocations.
The small cohort that make up IDI are both mentees and mentors, all engaged upon the Imago Dei Way (certification in Imago Dei Pastoral Theology requires undergoing MAP psychotherapy). Though all members of IDI are engaged in the Imago Dei Way they represent a spectrum of mental, moral, and spiritual conditions: from those struggling with issues of inner mal-being to those desiring the inculcation of Catholic manhood or womanhood, to those who seek to plummet the depths of the spiritual life. Remarkably, it is often from both ends of the inner well-being spectrum—from the turmoil of mal-being to the piercing peace of mature well-being—that are found those most open to the Imago Dei Way.
Though the cohort is formed cyclically throughout the year admissions are limited. This is due to the great care taken to have the proper admixture of members to best facilitate the conversional and/or psychomoralitic dynamics entailed in progressing upon the Imago Dei Way.
Imago Dei Institute further inculcates the Imago Dei Way by maintaining a traditional Benedictine monastic milieu and drawing on the spirituality and pastoral theology of the Holy Doctors of the Church. Fully integrated into this milieu and spirituality is the cutting edge psychological conceptualization known as Moral Agency Psychology (MAP). MAP itself locates the current psychological sciences within a Thomistic anthropology of the human person that is completely in accord with the Catholic worldview.
The program employs Moral Agency Psychology as appropriate in individual and family sessions. Psychoeducational, philosophical, and catechetical classes round out the IDH curriculum. There is prescribed homework and evaluations of mastery of material. Spiritual exercises (e.g., Mass, Rosary), manual work (e.g. gardening) and recreation (e.g., hikes) are extracurricular.
Men's program
Imago Dei Institute of Formation and Studies (IDH) men's program is dedicated to the formational strengthening of Catholic men. To this formative end IDH integratively employs educational, , moral, and spiritual modalities. IDH consists of a small cohort of students, mentors, clergy, religious, and dedicated laity engaged in learning and practicing the truths of Catholicism, the principles of Catholic manhood, and discerning or re-discerning of their vocational state and practicing the traditional spirituality specific to it. At the same time, members identify and overcome any psychological or moral obstacles that may impede the formative process. Enrollment is rolling which allows qualified men to join at anytime and be integrated into the curriculum.
Imago Dei Institute is a response to today's unprecedented dysfunction and destruction of the family and the corollary absence of authentic Catholic milieus and cultures. In accord with God's economy of grace (where sin abounds grace abounds more, and the promulgation of error is answered by the more definitive promulgation of truth) today's call is for the definitive restoration and renewal of that which is the specific product of the family and a wholesome culture. These products are maturation, moral development,and the distinct charisms of gender. IDI is dedicated specifically to the strengthening of the (intended) leaders of the Catholic family, culture, and Church and to subsequent implementation of authentic Christian patriarchal principals therein.
The Imago Dei Way curriculum entails coursework that revolves around the examination of four core subjects: Truth, Love, Integrity, and Cause. The coursework on Truth entails examining epistemology and the practical process of cognitively assenting to it. The coursework on Love entails examining volition, morality, and the practical process of choosing the truth as the good. The coursework on Integrity entails the cognitive unification of all truth and the practical process of uncompromising living out of that the truth as an integrated good. The coursework on Cause entails examining the common causes of Catholic men and the practical process of formulating a personal, vocational, familial, societal, and ecclesial plan of action. The philosophical and theological explication and moral application of these concepts is done in accord with a scholastic and Catholic understanding of human nature, virtue and vice, and sin and grace.
Mentoring from life coaches and other members of the program rounds out the Imago Dei Institute of Studies curriculum. There is prescribed homework and evaluations of mastery of material. Spiritual exercises (e.g., Mass, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, Divine Office), manual work (e.g. gardening, woodworking) and recreation (e.g., hiking, fishing) are extracurricular. Due to cohort dynamics the frequency of group activities may vary. Each week consists of a formal lecture and formal seminar. Daily study and discussion groups centered on the week's subject
Men's Program
Men that have gone through IDI are poised to answer the call of our age, the call to steadfast and courageous Christian manhood to champion the cause of Faith and family. Some men join the IDI program with a dire sense of psychomoral urgency. Others join because they are hampered from adequately progressing on the path of mature Christian manhood (a condition endemic to our age). Still others join the program to advance beyond their current levels of spiritual and moral development and to learn the Imago Dei Way for personal, clinical, or pastoral purposes. In any case, all find that their varying degrees of disquietude becomes a clarion call to their personal development of Christian manhood and the restoration of the Church and family.
Woman's Program
The Imago Dei Institute of Christian Formation (IDI) is intended for women who desire to further manifest the feminine charism by conforming their hearts to that of the Blessed Mother's. In doing so inner issues that impede the feminine charism will be diminished and that which facilitates it promoted. As grace builds upon nature so does the female vocation in the lay state or consecrated life builds upon womanliness. But many women today have had the blossoming of the feminine heart innerly hampered due to the familial and/or sociological improprieties so endemic to our age. The Imago Dei Way thus entails a foundational understanding of vocation that includes education and formation in the principles of Christian womanhood. In addition, the (re)discerning and inculcating of one's vocational state and the spirituality specific to it occurs.
The small cohort that make up IDI are both mentees and mentors, all engaged upon the Imago Dei Way (certification in Imago Dei Pastoral Theology requires undergoing MAP psychotherapy). Though all members of IDI are engaged in the Imago Dei Way they represent a spectrum of mental, moral, and spiritual conditions: from those struggling with issues of inner mal-being to those desiring the inculcation of Catholic manhood or womanhood, to those who seek to plummet the depths of the spiritual life. Remarkably, it is often from both ends of the inner well-being spectrum—from the turmoil of mal-being to the piercing peace of mature well-being—that are found those most open to the Imago Dei Way.
Though the cohort is formed cyclically throughout the year admissions are limited. This is due to the great care taken to have the proper admixture of members to best facilitate the conversional and/or psychomoralitic dynamics entailed in progressing upon the Imago Dei Way.
Imago Dei Institute further inculcates the Imago Dei Way by maintaining a traditional Benedictine monastic milieu and drawing on the spirituality and pastoral theology of the Holy Doctors of the Church. Fully integrated into this milieu and spirituality is the cutting edge psychological conceptualization known as Moral Agency Psychology (MAP). MAP itself locates the current psychological sciences within a Thomistic anthropology of the human person that is completely in accord with the Catholic worldview.
The program employs Moral Agency Psychology as appropriate in individual and family sessions. Psychoeducational, philosophical, and catechetical classes round out the IDH curriculum. There is prescribed homework and evaluations of mastery of material. Spiritual exercises (e.g., Mass, Rosary), manual work (e.g. gardening) and recreation (e.g., hikes) are extracurricular.
Men's program
Imago Dei Institute of Formation and Studies (IDH) men's program is dedicated to the formational strengthening of Catholic men. To this formative end IDH integratively employs educational, , moral, and spiritual modalities. IDH consists of a small cohort of students, mentors, clergy, religious, and dedicated laity engaged in learning and practicing the truths of Catholicism, the principles of Catholic manhood, and discerning or re-discerning of their vocational state and practicing the traditional spirituality specific to it. At the same time, members identify and overcome any psychological or moral obstacles that may impede the formative process. Enrollment is rolling which allows qualified men to join at anytime and be integrated into the curriculum.
Imago Dei Institute is a response to today's unprecedented dysfunction and destruction of the family and the corollary absence of authentic Catholic milieus and cultures. In accord with God's economy of grace (where sin abounds grace abounds more, and the promulgation of error is answered by the more definitive promulgation of truth) today's call is for the definitive restoration and renewal of that which is the specific product of the family and a wholesome culture. These products are maturation, moral development,and the distinct charisms of gender. IDI is dedicated specifically to the strengthening of the (intended) leaders of the Catholic family, culture, and Church and to subsequent implementation of authentic Christian patriarchal principals therein.
The Imago Dei Way curriculum entails coursework that revolves around the examination of four core subjects: Truth, Love, Integrity, and Cause. The coursework on Truth entails examining epistemology and the practical process of cognitively assenting to it. The coursework on Love entails examining volition, morality, and the practical process of choosing the truth as the good. The coursework on Integrity entails the cognitive unification of all truth and the practical process of uncompromising living out of that the truth as an integrated good. The coursework on Cause entails examining the common causes of Catholic men and the practical process of formulating a personal, vocational, familial, societal, and ecclesial plan of action. The philosophical and theological explication and moral application of these concepts is done in accord with a scholastic and Catholic understanding of human nature, virtue and vice, and sin and grace.
Mentoring from life coaches and other members of the program rounds out the Imago Dei Institute of Studies curriculum. There is prescribed homework and evaluations of mastery of material. Spiritual exercises (e.g., Mass, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, Divine Office), manual work (e.g. gardening, woodworking) and recreation (e.g., hiking, fishing) are extracurricular. Due to cohort dynamics the frequency of group activities may vary. Each week consists of a formal lecture and formal seminar. Daily study and discussion groups centered on the week's subject
Men's Program
Men that have gone through IDI are poised to answer the call of our age, the call to steadfast and courageous Christian manhood to champion the cause of Faith and family. Some men join the IDI program with a dire sense of psychomoral urgency. Others join because they are hampered from adequately progressing on the path of mature Christian manhood (a condition endemic to our age). Still others join the program to advance beyond their current levels of spiritual and moral development and to learn the Imago Dei Way for personal, clinical, or pastoral purposes. In any case, all find that their varying degrees of disquietude becomes a clarion call to their personal development of Christian manhood and the restoration of the Church and family.
Woman's Program
The Imago Dei Institute of Christian Formation (IDI) is intended for women who desire to further manifest the feminine charism by conforming their hearts to that of the Blessed Mother's. In doing so inner issues that impede the feminine charism will be diminished and that which facilitates it promoted. As grace builds upon nature so does the female vocation in the lay state or consecrated life builds upon womanliness. But many women today have had the blossoming of the feminine heart innerly hampered due to the familial and/or sociological improprieties so endemic to our age. The Imago Dei Way thus entails a foundational understanding of vocation that includes education and formation in the principles of Christian womanhood. In addition, the (re)discerning and inculcating of one's vocational state and the spirituality specific to it occurs.