The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
What Are The Spiritual Exercises Of St. Ignatius?
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are one of the great masterpieces of Christian spirituality. Developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century, they consist of a compilation of meditations, contemplations and prayers, mainly based on the Gospel, by which we are invited to gradually develop a deep, interior knowledge of the Lord. For St. Ignatius the content of our prayer is primarily our own life experiences seen through the light of Jesus Christ revealed in the Gospels.
What do the Spiritual Exercises Offer?
St. Ignatius wrote in the first paragraph of the Spiritual Exercises: “For just as taking a walk, journeying on foot, and running are bodily exercises, so we call Spiritual Exercises every way of preparing and disposing the soul to rid itself of all inordinate attachments, and, after their removal, of seeking and finding the will of God in the disposition of our life for the salvation of our souls.” [Sp.Ex. 1]
The prayer of the Spiritual Exercises offers an experience of graced striving toward freedom and hope. St. Ignatius wrote in the first paragraph of the Spiritual Exercises: “For just as taking a walk, journeying on foot, and running are bodily exercises, so we call Spiritual Exercises every way of preparing and disposing the soul to rid itself of all inordinate attachments, and, after their removal, of seeking and finding the will of God in the disposition of our life for the salvation of our soul.” [Sp.Ex. 1]
The Spiritual Exercises propose a faith dynamic which serves as a catalyst by which our love for God grows and our relationship with the Lord deepens. As we see what God has done through salvation history and in each individual life, we begin to form an understanding of why God has done what God has done, namely, out of love for each one of us.
In light of the love God has for us, we then choose to respond to that love with our own. As St. Ignatius writes towards the end of the Exercises: “Take O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will. All that I have and possess. You have given all to me, to you O Lord, I return it. Do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace and I Shall want for nothing more.”
Through the Exercises, our love for Christ grows and our generosity to serve him expands through our awareness of his goodness, service to us, grace and fidelity. God loves first and then we try to love back.
The Manresa Retreat
St. Ignatius developed the Spiritual Exercises so that people could retreat for 30 days of prayer and silence to grow in their relationship with God and learn to listen for the voice of the Spirit in their lives. He also adapted these Exercises for people who could not, for various reasons, go away for 30 days. This adaptation, called the 19th Annotation, is the basis of the Manresa Retreat.
The Manresa Retreat is a 12-week retreat based on the spirituality/prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is for the busy person, the young person still in school, someone in full-time work and the retired person whose schedule is full of activities. It is designed to be flexible to the needs of your own life, and whether you have a deep knowledge of St. Ignatius or if this is something new, this retreat could be for you.
The Retreat Consists of Three Parts:
Daily Prayer:
Daily Prayer is the cornerstone of this retreat. Spending about 30 minutes a day is a good amount to begin with until you find your rhythm. Your prayer will be guided by the retreat text Finding Christ in the World.
Presentations on the Spiritual Exercises
Along with daily prayer, there is additional weekly material on the Spiritual Exercises. Content alternates between video presentations by Fr. Casey Beaumier, S.J., Director of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies at Boston College and additional Jesuit sources.
Small Group Faith Sharing
The retreat is best experienced when done with a small group. Much of what you may wish to share with your small group will arise from your personal prayer time. Groups will meet weekly for about an hour. This can be done in person or virtually.
Is the Manresa Retreat Right for You?
- Do you have a spiritual hunger and a sincere desire to deepen your relationship with God, yourself and others?
- Do you want to grow in your self-awareness as a beloved child of God?
- Is there something in your life you are discerning?
- Are you hoping to grow in a sense of spiritual freedom?
The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday life can be a transformative experience, but it is a commitment. Participants should expect to:
- spend about half hour a day in private prayer, using the resources provided.
- have access to the internet and a device with video and audio capabilities.
- meet with other retreatants in small groups on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for the duration of the 12 weeks.
The cost of the Retreat is $20.00
Divine Mercy Parish will offer the Manresa Retreat for parishioners this Fall from September 22 to December 14.
Anticipating The Graces of the Retreat:
Ignatian Spirituality helps people discover God working in their daily lives. It invites each individual to a deeper knowledge of God’s love for them and into greater freedom to follow God’s call. The gift of Ignatian Spirituality is to find ourselves more engaged in the world in a prayerful way.