Ignatius 90

Below are some curated resources to help one prepare for the Spiritual Exercises. There is a bio of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a guide to Ignatian Imaginative prayer and the Examen, and an introduction to Discernment of Spirits.

Ignatius Bio

Imaginative Prayer

Pray with your Imagination

Ignatian Contemplation

Lectio Divina

The art of praying with Sacred Scripture is called lectio divina.

How to do lectio divina from GoodCatholic.com

Prayers

The Examen

A daily prayer to find God in all things

How to Pray:

1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you.
2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life.
3. Review your day- recall specific moments and your feelings at the time.
4. Reflect on what you did, said, or though in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away?
5. Look toward tomorrow- think of how you might answer and heed God’s calling for you. Be specific. Conclude with an Our Father.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me;

Body of Christ, save me;

Blood of Christ, inebriate me;

Water from the side of Christ, wash me;

Passion of Christ, strengthen me;

O good Jesus hear me;

Within your wounds hide me;

separated from you, let me never be;

From the evil one protect me;

At the hour of my death, call me;

And close to you bid me; That with your saints,

I may be praising you forever and ever.

Amen.

Suscipe

Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will,

 All that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it.

 All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will.

 Give me Thy love and thy grace,

 For this is sufficient for me.

Books for the Exercises

Required

Spiritual Exercises book: Draw Me Into Your Friendship by David Fleming

Or Free PDF of Spiritual Exercises on Google Books

Bible of your choosing, preferably a Catholic edition

Journal

Suggested

Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis

A Pilgrim’s Journey: The Autobiography of St. Ignatius

Hearts on Fire, Praying with Jesuits

Reimagining the Ignatian Examen (app available)

Discernment of Spirits

“He did not consider nor did he stop to examine this difference until one day his eyes were partially opened and he began to wonder at this difference and to reflect upon it. From experience he knew that some thoughts left him sad while others made him happy, and little by little he came to perceive the different spirits that were moving him; one coming from the devil, the other coming from God” (Autobiography, no. 8).

Discernment of spirits is a method of prayer and discernment to determine whether a particular feeling is of the Holy Spirit or Evil Spirit. This should not be done without the guidance of a trusted Spiritual Director, knowledgeable in such matters.

However, it is good to know what it is and how to do it.

There are certain interior movements that occur as we pray. They are caused by the Holy Spirit and the Evil Spirit. They lead to two different directions: Consolation and Desolation.

Spiritual Consolation, on the surface can feel like happiness, joy, and life can feel easy. One is on fire and burning with passion for God and feels a great closeness to Him and desire to serve Him. However, one can also experience hard Consolation. They may be feeling down or sad, yet still feel drawn closer to God. This can happen if they are engaging in sinful behaviors and recognize the sinfulness and feel a great sadness at what they have done, or merely in times of struggle.

Spiritual Desolation however can have a darkness, a dryness, or turmoil. One may feel doubts, be bombarded with temptations, and feel abandoned by God. These feelings, in Ignatius’s words, “move one toward a lack of faith and leave one without hope and without love.” But sometimes, when we are relishing in our sin, we may not feel this way. This is easy desolation, and is a trick of the Evil Spirit to keep us from God.

When do we feel each? It depends how we are doing spiritually. If we have seperated ourselves from God, the Holy Spirit disturbs us and shakes us up. It brings feelings of remorse and discontent. Its goal is to make us unhappy with our sinful way of life. The Evil Spirit, on the other hand, wants us to continue in the darkness and tries to make us feel content.

When we are trying to live a life pleasing to God, the Holy Spirit strengthens and encourages us. The Evil Spirit seeks to derail us and sow anxiety, frustration, and needless confusion.