The Christian spiritual tradition inspired by St. Ignatius Loyola and based on the Spiritual Exercises.
What is Ignatian Spirituality?
Fun Fact:
Ignatian spirituality is sometimes referred to as “Jesuit spirituality,” because St. Ignatius Loyola also founded the Society of Jesus (aka the Jesuits). While the two terms refer to the same thing, “Ignatian spirituality” is preferred. We cannot all be Jesuits, but we can all deepen our relationship with God through the wisdom of the Ignatian spiritual tradition.
Finding God in All Things
Ignatian spirituality emphasizes finding God in all things.
It is a spirituality for busy people with hectic lives, who cultivate the spiritual disciplines of reflecting on their days and noticing where God was present — and where God is leading.
Ignatian spirituality is rooted in the belief that God created the world and it is good. Wherever we find goodness, truth, and beauty, God is there. We should strive to pay attention to the goodness in the world around us, and to recognize the face of God in those things. The goal is to become more aware of the love of God in our lives, so that we deepen our friendship with Jesus.
The basic tenets of Ignatian spirituality come from St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556), who wrote down notes about his prayer and the internal changes he noticed as he began to develop his own friendship with Jesus. Those notes became The Spiritual Exercises, which have been “made” (Jesuits typically say they “make the Exercises”), discussed, taught, and written about for five centuries.
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
- attributed to Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907-1991)
Article.
“10 Elements of Ignatian Spirituality”
by IgnatianSpirituality.com (3 minute read)
Go deeper.
Read “What is Ignatian spirituality?” from Godinallthing.com (5 minute read).
Video.
“The Ignatian Way: Ignatian Spirituality, an Overview”
Check out this video from Loyola Press. (9 minutes, 43 seconds)
Go deeper.
IgnatianSpirituality.com, a ministry of Loyola Press, has many more articles and videos from some excellent writers.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.
- attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907-1991)
Books.
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything
by James Martin, SJ
by Margaret Silf
What Is Ignatian Spirituality?
by David Fleming, SJ
Why isn’t The Spiritual Exercises on this list?
Great question! “The Spiritual Exercises” refers to both a book and a retreat experience.
The book itself is a guide written for spiritual directors who accompany others as they make the Exercises. Yes, you can buy the book on Amazon, but you will quickly notice that it is more of a reference guide than the page-turner you were hoping for.
The Spiritual Exercises are meant to be experienced, not read. That experience is called a “retreat,” and it can take several forms. Learn more about the Spiritual Exercises.