The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises are prayers and meditations developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (commonly referred to as the Jesuits).

St. Ignatius of Loyola (1492-1556) was born to a noble Basque family. In his youth, he spent time at the Royal Court of Castile and fought in the Spanish army. He experienced a profound religious conversion during a long period of convalescence following a battle injury. Living in a cave outside of Manresa, he began to keep the journal that became the basis of the famous Spiritual Exercises.

The Spiritual Exercises are meant to accompany souls on a journey toward deeper contemplation of God’s love and a more meaningful understanding of his call to discipleship in the life of each person. Divided into four stages, or “weeks,” the exercises focus on the interior movements of the heart to unveil the will of God.

©LPi