What are the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola:

 

The Spiritual Exercises are collection of contemplative prayers, meditations and rules of discernment designed to guide you toward a sweeter & deeper connection with Christ while following him closely through the gospels.  By entering into a personal experience of the mystery of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, one can grow in love for Jesus and into a closer discipleship to him. The Exercises are a proven approach to prayer and discernment and can be a helpful when facing a significant transition or decision in life.

 

Friend, if you're attend our community gatherings, you've already been introduced to some of these exercises including: Imaginative Prayer, Prayer of Examen, & Colloquy!

 

What is the Ignatian Retreat?:

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The Itnatian Retreat was created by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century as a “Retreat in Everyday Life.” This retreat was originally designed as a 30 day retreat in a monastery. During this time of prayerful solitude, one would journey through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. As blissful as retreating to a monastery sounds, Ignatius quickly learned that most people cannot retreat from their everyday lives for 30 days. And so, the “Retreat in Everyday Life” was born.

 

Instead of a monastery, the 19th Annotation occurs at home and across eight or nine months during which you’ll be guided  into a daily rhythm of contemplative prayer & meditation on Jesus’ life, death, & resurrection. By beginning in September, you will have the opportunity to be with Jesus in the Exercises at his birth during Advent & Christmas and also journey with him to the cross during Lent & Easter.

 

The 19th Annotation also includes weekly meetings with a trained spiritual director. Together, we'll meet over the course of the retreat to discuss what you're noticing within you and how you're personally experiencing Jesus as you journey through the Spiritual Exercises.

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Who is the Ignatian Retreat for?

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This "Retreat in Everyday Life" is perfect for one who:

• has a habit of or longs to establish a daily contemplative prayer practice.

• wishes to strengthen their ability to discern the will of Christ in their everyday life.

• longs to know Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly and follow him more closely. Not out of obligation or ritual, but from a place of intimate connection and true love.

• is comfortable with scripture which is used as a sacred meeting place for contemplative prayer & meditation throughout the retreat.

• has experienced Spiritual Direction (aka Soul Care), which demonstrates your ability to talk about your inward journey and entrust it with your director; and

• can commit to weekly spiritual direction sessions starting in September 2023 through May 2024.

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Our guiding intention as you move through the exercises is to know Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more closely. This occurs slowly and over time as you contemplate the mystery of Christ’s life, death, resurrection and ministry.

 

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