The spiritual exercises of saint ignatius of loyola. The exercises were intended for use during a retreat. Ignatius composed a retreat handbook titled spiritual exercises ignatius was a spanish soldier wounded in battle in. It is impossible to exaggerate the influence of the spiritual exercises of st. It is the spiritual exercises, composed by the saint before he was even a priest. Ignatius of loyola was a man without any great pretensions to education at the time he wrote this book. Spiritual awakening fundamentals of his little book the spiritual exercises. Learn about his life, spiritual awakening, writings, and legacy.
What are the spiritual exercises of saint ignatius. They are divided into four thematic parts and composed with the intention of helping participants in religious retreats to discern the will of god in their lives. Puhl translated directly from studies based on the autograph, which are the exercises in ignatius s own handwriting. Early in february 1522, a pilgrim set out from his familys castle in the rugged basque mountains of northern spain. Brian mcdermott sj, former academic dean of the weston jesuit school of theology.
Its time to take your spiritual pulse, reorient yourself to your creator, and seek his guidance to live your faith more seriously. The spiritual path laid out by ignatius is a way of discerning gods presence in our everyday lives. He kept a journal as he gained spiritual insight and deepened his spiritual experience. Saint ignatius of loyola avoids setting a formula for prayer, providing readers with an extensive variety of meditative themes. Ignatius of loyola author of the spiritual exercises. The copy so designated is not indeed in the handwriting of the saint, but has a good number of corrections made by him and is known to have been used by him in giving the exercises. They are a way for everyone to seek and find god in their workplaces, homes, families, and community. These spiritual exercises were written by ignatius of loyola, a theologian, priest, and founder of the society of jesus, in the sixteenth century. The compiler of the spiritual exercises, ignatius was described by pope benedict xvi as being above all a man of god, who gave the first place of his life to god, and a man of profound prayer. He limped eastwards toward the holy land at the start of a journey that continues today. The spiritual exercises of ignatius of loyola, written between 1522 and 1524, are a set of meditations, contemplations and prayers by saint ignatius of loyola, the founder of the jesuits. For as strolling, walking and running are bodily exercises, so every way of preparing and disposing the soul to rid itself of all the disordered tendencies, and, after it is rid, to seek and find the divine will as to the management of ones life for the salvation of the soul, is called a spiritual exercise.
This is a digitally enhanced experience of the spiritual exercises of ignatius loyola intended for spiritual directors, practitioners, extenders, and promoters of ignatian spirituality. The exercises invite a retreatant to grow in union with god as a disciple of jesus christ. Until the close of his studies at paris 1535, he continued to make some additions to it. In this unique handbook of christian literature, the founder of the jesuits offers a way of raising the mind and heart to god. Ignatius loyola to help people deepen their relationship with god. Those meditations eventually became the spiritual exercises of st. Ignatius of loyola seems to lay out a method of meditation that bears striking similarities to mindfulness as it is being promoted by contemporary psychologists. Saint ignatius profound precepts of mystical theology image classics st. The spiritual exercises, the underpinning of all ignatian spirituality, is a series of guided exercises of reflecting on ones experience, and of practical instructions on various ways of praying. Ignatius of loyola created the spiritual exercises, people from all walks of life have been drawn to this powerful retreat experience. This home retreat, based on the spiritual exercises of st. Ignatius of loyola, 1914, full text etext at sacred. Chris lowney taking a walk with the best of the jesuits.
They are based on the experiences that ignatius of loyola had long before he became a priest and founder of the jesuits. He added to these notes as he directed other people and discovered what worked. Facultatem concedimus ut liber cui titulus the spiritual exercises of st. Ignatius conversion experiences in 152, spiritual exercises has provided guidance and encouragement to its readers for several hundred years. Exercitia spiritualia, composed 15221524, are a set of christian meditations, contemplations, and prayers written by saint ignatius of loyola, a 16thcentury spanish priest, theologian, and founder of the society of jesus jesuits. Ignatius was a spanish soldier wounded in battle in 1521. The spiritual exercises is a compilation of meditations, prayers, and other contemplative practices. For centuries the exercises were most commonly given as a long retreat of about 30 days in solitude and silence.
Its a well known fact that we need exercise to maintain our physical health. Preface the present translation of the exercises of st. The spiritual exercises are a compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by st. He recorded his method in a celebrated treatise called the spiritual exercises, a simple set of meditations, prayers, and other mental exercises, first published in 1548. The most common form used by people today is the retreat in everyday life.
Ignatius of loyola by ignatius, of loyola, saint, 14911556. F or those seeking a more integrated life of christian prayer, saint ignatius loyola s spiritual exercises is an excellent shot in the. Ignatius, one of the great masterpieces of the christian canon, today continues to offer some of the most accessible and insightful guidance for going on retreat whether as a part of a group or by oneself. He added to these notes as he directed other people and discovered. This resource is designed to support those who lead others in the exercises, whether as a 30day retreat, a 19th annotation retreat, or some other. Are you a busy person who has a desire to deepen your relationship with god. Take the time to check your spiritual pulse, reorient yourself to your creator, and seek his guidance to live your faith more seriously. June 16 july 22, 2020 this thirtyday retreat offers a personal experience of the spiritual exercises of st. The spiritual exercises of ignatius of loyola latin original. Divided into four thematic weeks of variable length, they are designed to be carried out over a. Ignatius of loyola, starts on ash wednesday and finishes during the first week of easter thursday, february 27. The spiritual exercises of saint ignatius loyola has been one of the greatest classics of western spirituality for more than 400 years.
The spiritual exercises jesuit conference of canada and. In describing the importance of spiritual exercises of saint ignatius loyola, pope benedict xvi described the retreat as a a strong experience of god, sustained by listening to his word, understood and welcomed in ones personal life under the action of the holy spirit, which in a climate of silence, prayer and by means of a spiritual guide, offer the capacity of discernment in order to purify the heart, convert ones life. The spiritual exercises work by ignatius of loyola. Spiritual exercises in everyday life seel the spiritual exercises are an unfolding series of prayers, meditations, and reflections put together by st. The spiritual exercises grew out of ignatius loyolas personal experience as a man seeking to grow in union with god and to discern gods will. Ignatius of loyola, a plan of contemplation to be carried out over about a month.
Exercitia spiritualia, composed 15221524, are a set of christian meditations, contemplations, and prayers written by ignatius of loyola, a 16thcentury spanish priest, theologian, and founder of the society of jesus jesuits. This masterpiece has long been recognized as a brilliant and inspired guide to the development of a deeper spirituality. Ignatius composed a retreat handbook titled spiritual exercises. Divided into four thematic weeks of variable length, they are designed to be carried out over. About the exercises spiritual exercises of st ignatius. Saint ignatius of loyola, spanish theologian, one of the most influential figures in the roman catholic counterreformation in the 16th century, and founder of the jesuits society of jesus.
Spiritual exercises of saint ignatius audiobook by. The spiritual exercises loyola spirituality center. The spiritual exercises of st ignatius pathways to god. The spiritual exercises of saint ignatius of loyola outline the churchs classic means of orienting ones soul toward god and eternal salvation. Ignatius has been made from the spanish autograph of st. Whether you are discovering it for the first time or you are an expert seeking fresh insight into the exercises, you will profit from this unique new series. Ignatius of loyola translated from the autograph by father elder mullan, s.
Ignatius of loyola, the founder of the society of jesus the jesuits recognized the need for exercise in order to maintain our spiritual health as well. And there is no better way to do so than by delving into saint ignatius classic spiritual exercises, which started the modern retreat movement and played a pivotal role in the conversions of many saints to a radical following of christ. Spiritual exercises of ignatius of loyola wikipedia. Saint ignatius of loyola was the principal founder and first superior general of the society of jesus. The spiritual exercises of saint ignatius form the cornerstone of ignatian spirituality. The puhl translation of the spiritual exercises has been used by jesuits, spiritual directors, retreat leaders, and others since it was first published in 1951. The aim of spiritual exercises is to assist people in finding gods will for their life, and to. Thereafter there were only minor changes until pope paul iii approved it in 1548. Introduction for many people, st ignatius of loyola and his most famous spiritual text, the spiritual exercises, are associated with an active christian life and with developing the spiritual means to enable us to respond wholeheartedly to the call. If you are new to the spiritual exercises, click here. The spiritual exercises grew out of ignatius loyola s personal experience as a man seeking to grow in union with god and to discern gods will. The story of his pilgrimage has become a model for members of. The spiritual exercises of saint ignatius or manresa. Often described as ignatius greatest gift to the world, these exercises unfold a dynamic process of prayer, meditation, and selfawareness.
Ignatius loyola are a monthlong program of meditations, prayers, considerations, and contemplative practices that help christian faith become more fully alive in the everyday life of contemporary people. Ignatius is remembered as a talented spiritual director. Ignatius of loyola out of his own personal spiritual experience and those of others to whom he listened. Ignatius of loyola 14191556 was the founder of the jesuits, and was canonized by pope gregory xv in 1622. It is not like other classics in western spirituality that are typically read from beginning to end. Publication date 1914 topics meditations, spiritual exercises publisher new york. Journey into freedom a retreat based on the spiritual exercises of st ignatius of loyola this lent we will take a journey through the life of jesus, praying with scripture using material based on the spiritual exercises of st ignatius of loyola. Ignatius s intent was that the exercises would help others to discern gods will and to set the world on fire for christ. Ignatius own meditations and practice, this guide for spiritual perfection has been treasured and faithfully used for centuries by members of the saints. Although originally intended for those making a retreat under the direction of an experienced master, the spiritual exercises have since.