The Exercises of St. Ignatius
About:
The Spiritual Exercises were written by Ignatius of Loyola, a theologian, priest, and founder of the Society of Jesus, in the sixteenth century. They are prayers, reflections, meditations, mental exercises and directions that were designed to be read and carried out over a 28 to 30-day time period with the aid of a spiritual director/guide.
These exercises grew out of Ignatius' own desire to seek God's will and to follow Christ no matter what the cost. Ignatius' intent was that the exercises would help others to discern God's will for their lives. The purpose of the Exercises is very practical: to grow in union with God, who frees us to make good decisions about our lives and to “help souls”.
Our Resource/Guide:
The Ignatian Adventure by Kevin O’Brien
In The Ignatian Adventure, Kevin O’Brien, SJ, offers a unique way of “making” the Spiritual Exercises in daily life. However, this follows Ignatius’ intent. Ignatius insisted that the Exercises be adapted to meet the particular needs of the person making them. The goal is drawing closer to God, not just mechanically running through the exercises. The key word is adaptability.
The first part of O'Brien's book provides helpful background information, including a brief history of St. Ignatius, an explanation of the Spiritual Exercises and their purpose, a description of the different ways to pray the Exercises, and some preparatory instructions for the adventure.
Format:
The Ignatian Adventure facilitates an eight-month long retreat in daily life. There are 32 weeks of prayer and meditations with suggestions for each day of the week.
As such, praying the Exercises requires a significant commitment of time. However, each participant can choose a daily/weekly rhythm that works best for them. Once a week, the group will gather in person at the Abbey or online for reflection and listening.
Gathering:
60-75 minutes/week @The Abbey of the Heights or online (via Zoom)
The weekly gathering will open with a time of centering, followed by a time of listening/sharing/reflecting on our experience over the previous week. We’ll close our gathering with prayer and look forward to what’s coming next.
Day/Time:
In-person group will meet Thursdays at 6:30 pm starting September 5.
The online group will meet Monday afternoons starting September 9. (exact time TBD).
There will be weeks where conflicts or unexpected things occur. We will also build in designated “off” weeks around holidays. The goal is to be completed with the Exercises before Memorial Day 2025 (May 26th).
To sign up:
If you’d like too participate in one of these groups (space is limited), email us through the button below and let us know your preference for in person or online.