Who would embark on this experience...
The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius are for those who seek:
What personal commitment am I expected to make...
One making the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius would be asked to:
The Spiritual Director/Prayer Companion is one who accompanies you in order to support and aid you in:
What time commitment am I expected to make...
Eight-week directed prayer experience
Five-month directed prayer experience
30-Week directed prayer experience
Movement towards interior freedom...
A Wisdom Story From the East
A peasant came running up to a holy man, who was
resting under a tree.
"The stone! The stone! Give me the precious stone!"
"What stone?" asked the holy man.
"Last night I dreamed that I would find a holy man who
would give me a precious stone that would make me rich
forever," replied the peasant.
The holy man rummaged through his bag and pulled out a stone.
"He probably meant this one," he said as he handed it to the
peasant. I found it on a forest path a few days ago. You can
certainly have it."
The man looked at the stone in wonder. It was a diamond, probably
the largest diamond in the whole world; he took it and walked away.
All night he tossed about in bed, unable to sleep.
Next day at the crack of dawn he woke the holy man and said,
"Give me the wealth that makes it possible for you to give this
diamond away so easily."
Anthony de Mellow, S.J., The Diamond, The Song of the Bird
Interior Freedom and The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
1. Freedom, to grow in self-knowledge to become more aware of our true authentic self and to live out of that authenticity.
2. Freedom to recognize evil and the obstacles of life within oneself and within one's community and the world.
3. Freedom to engage in a personal transformation that moves us to greater solidarity with all.
4. Freedom to engage in the work of social transformation leading to greater peace and justice.
5. Freedom to grow in friendship with Jesus.
6. Freedom to grow in the life, compassion, and Spirit of God.
Inner freedom leads to "indifference;" that is, an indifference that avails us the freedom to respond generously to our growing awareness of Gods love and action in our lives.
The Fruit of Inner Freedom - in the words of Pedro Arrupe, S.J.
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings,
how you will spend your weekends,
what you read,
what you know that breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.