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The Jesuit Retreat House
5629 State Road
Parma, OH 44134
Phone: 440.884.9300
Fax: 440.885.1055
E-Mail: jrhcleve@att.net
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Jesuit Retreat House
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
During his long term convalescence after being injured in the battle of Pamplona in Spain and during his months of prayer in the cave at Manresa, Ignatius of Loyola became engrossed in a prayer life that would become the Spiritual Exercises.
For
many months, Ignatius (still a lay person at this time) noticed how God led him
to pay attention to the diverse "voices" inside of him - to the movements
of consolation and desolation in his heart and spirit. Furthermore, he gradually
learned to discern the sources of these desires, thoughts and movements of the
heart and spirit: which of them came from God and which of them drew him away
from God - and perhaps most importantly, which of them he should act upon.
Throughout this time, Ignatius learned how important it is to look for God
in the stuff of his everyday experience, to "find God in all
things." He learned that God was shaping and forming
him to be a companion of Jesus. The fruit of these months of prayer and
reflection is contained in his Spiritual Exercises.
The
Spiritual Exercises have been described as a "school of prayer" that
helps the retreatant to develop a more loving, personal relationship with God
through prayer with Scripture, meditations, journaling, and daily conversation
with a spiritual director. They invite one to reflect upon one's own life;
to contemplate and feel the love of God; to walk with Jesus in his life, death,
and resurrection; and to freely respond to God's call of love and service.
While the Exercises originally took the form of a 30-day silent retreat, they
have been adapted into many different forms in order to meet the needs and
schedules of retreatants.
Ultimately, what comes from the Spiritual Exercises is a practical spirituality that meets people where they are and helps bring them closer to God. The Exercises have changed countless lives and remain immensely popular today.
Click here if you wish to view a slideshow about the Spiritual Exercises.