The Spiritual Exercises were written by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who compiled this series of meditations in a booklet, in order to propose a path of prayer and meditation based on the Gospels. These exercises were born from the spiritual experience of the saint and today they are offered during retreats to those who wish.
Literally, the ignatian exercises they invite us to be touched by Christ, through episodes of the Scriptures; They call us not to be simple listeners or attentive readers of the Word of God, but to live a true encounter with Jesus. Also, they are a powerful experiencewhich invites us to introspection, to conversion.
“The exercises are all the best that I can think, feel and understand in this life, so for man to be able to take advantage of himself, as well as to be able to bear fruit, help and take advantage of many others…”
-Saint Ignatius of Loyola, letter to Manuel Miona, 11-16-1536
What do the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius consist of?
Through his exercises, Saint Ignatius not only proposes a way of praying and meditating to get to know Christ better, but also a way of developing one’s own inner freedom.
To achieve this goal, his work brings together meditations that progressively “exercise” the mind in the practice of prayer and meditation. In addition, in his writings a parallel is drawn between physical exercise and spiritual exercise, implying that both require training, progression and regularity if a goal is to be achieved.
the meditations Ignatian nuns allow us to walk with Christ and explore our interior, with the purpose of achieving a life transformed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
These meditations are based on the compilation of gospel passages (Childhood and public life of Jesus, Passion, Resurrection), and in feeling what they cause in us: what happens in our hearts, that is, how each biblical passage acts in our lives. In fact, the Ignatian meditations are an immersion in the scripturesbecause Saint Ignatius invites us to enter them completely, with all our senses, with all our being.
For what and for whom are the Ignatian exercises?
These exercises are proposed to all those who wish to live a true personal encounter with Jesus and welcome in their lives that sweet look that changes and transforms.
In fact, these exercises are the center of numerous retreats, whose objective is to allow the meditator to make an inner journey that leads to a true encounter with God, while being accompanied and guided. To achieve this, the spiritual guides use the work of Saint Ignatius during the retreat.
The period for carrying out these withdrawals is generally 4 weeks. However, they can also be adapted to the possibilities of each person (a few days, a week, 15 days…). In addition, it should be noted that these retreats can be held in spiritual centers or online, through sites that offer accompaniment to the participants.
In summary, all those who wish -regardless of their availabilities- can discover this Ignatian path to God, to live their Christian life to the full.
“The Exercises are a privileged opportunity that God offers people to listen to the Holy Spirit, in order to find appropriate answers to the questions specific to the various situations of each person.” -Saint John Paul II
Prayer of abandonment of Saint Ignatius (suscipe)
“Take, Lord, and receive
all my freedom
My memory,
My understanding
and all my will;
all I have and possess.
You gave it to me,
to you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours:
dispose of it
according to Your Will.
Give me Your love and grace,
that these are enough for me. Amen.”
With , begin your walk towards Christ, hand in hand with Saint Ignatius!
offers you many prayer communities, which provide us with spiritual guidance in our practices of prayer and meditation on the Word of God. For example:
By signing up for this retreat, you will be able to feel the treasures of interiority and feel and taste the closeness of God, guided by Ignatius of Loyola.
In addition, through this community, you will be able to pray in community and receive a gospel meditation every day, to feed your soul.