Unit 2 - Spiritual Exercises

Author Bio: St. Ignatius of Loyal was a spanish priest who founded the Society of Jesus and then later became the society's first Superior General. Ignatius was mainly involved within the spiritual realm and was best known for his work Spiritual Exercises. This work includes meditations, prayers, and mental exercises. Ignatius in his early life joined the military, but after being badly wounded and after he recovered from his wound, Ignatius converted to the religious world.

Date/Context: Spiritual Exercises was written in 1548. Ignatius was severely injured during battle and after battle he received help from spiritual directors to get in touch with the spirits. He devoted his life to religious practices and saw many visions which later allowed him to write Spiritual Exercises. He designed this work to help people serve and love Christ.

Summary: This work is a compilation of various meditations, prayers, and mental exercises. Ignatius used this work to help people strengthen their relationship with god. In this work Ignatius uses many retreats in order ensure that people will follow Jesus no matter what the cost is. The exercises first to help the person reflect on their own life and then call to christ to follow him. Then the person learns how to follow christ and then they see the suffering displayed by christ. The spiritual exercises ensure that people will love and serve christ.

Key Quotations:

• "Always to be ready to one with mind and heart, setting aside all judgement of one's own, the true spouse of Jesus Christ, our holy mother our infallible and orthodox mistress, the Catholic Church, whose authority is exercised over us by hierarchy."
• "To have great esteem for religious orders, and to give the preference to celibacy or virginity over the married state."
• To praise relics, the veneration and innovation of Saints: also the stations, and pious pilgrimages, indulgences, jubilees, the custom of lighting candles in the churches, and other such aids to piety and devotion."