IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY St. Ignatius Way of Proceeding Carlos Aedo The Jesuit Collaborative www.jesuit-collaborative.org
SUSCIPE Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, My memory, understanding, my entire will. Give me only Your love and Your grace, that's enough for me. Your love and Your grace, are enough for me. Take, Lord, receive all I have and possess. You have given all to me, now I return it. Take, Lord, receive, all is Yours now. Dispose of it, wholly according to Your will
O Spirit of God, we ask you to help orient all our actions by your inspirations, and carry them on by your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from you and through you be happily ended. Amen.
A WAY OF PROCEEDING A WAY OF LIVING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Spiritual Exercises Constitutions Autobiography Letters
WHAT IS IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY?
Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. It is a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment, and an active life of service to others.
FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS
Everything is an important element of our spiritual life: work, money, sexuality, depression, sickness, etc.
They should practice the seeking of God s presence in all things, in their conversations, their walks, in all that they see, taste, hear, understand, in all their actions, since His Divine Majesty is truly in all things by His presence, and essence. This kind of meditation, which finds God our Lord in all things, is easier than raising oneself to the consideration of divine truths which are more abstract and which demand something of an effort if we are to keep our attention on them. But this method is an excellent exercise to prepare for great visitations of our Lord, even in prayers that are rather short. St. Ignatius. From a letter about the formation of young Jesuits.
O How do I know what I m supposed to do in life? O How do I know who I m supposed to be? O How do I make good decisions? O How can I live a simple life? O How can I be a good friend? O How can I face suffering? O How can I be happy? O How can I find God? O How do I pray? O How do I love?
CONTEMPLATIVE IN ACTION
THE ROAD IS OUR HOME
To be a contemplative in action means to be constantly in touch with God in the world. It means acknowledging that we live in a grace-filled world, and we can trace the footprints of God everyday. This means seeing God in the ordinary, in the day to day.
For ultimately, there is no reality that is only profane for those who know how to look. Teilhard De Chardin S.J.
FREEDOM AND DETACHMENT
O Do I know what is my purpose in life? O Am I free enough to choose what is good for me?
Every person in the world is so put together that by praising, revering, and living according to the will of God our Lord he or she will safely reach the Reign of God. This is the original purpose of each human life. Every other thing on the face of the earth is meant for humankind, to help each person come to the original purpose God has put in each of us. The only thing that makes sense in the use of all other things, then, is that person uses everything that help realize that original purpose deep in the self, and turns away from everything that alienates us from the original purpose in ourselves. Adaptation of The First Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. By Joseph A. Tetlow S.J.
I have wandered freely in mystical traditions that are not religious and have been profoundly influenced by them. It is to my Church, however, that I keep returning, for she is my spiritual home. Anthony de Mello, S.J. (1937-1987)
A WAY OF PROCEEDING FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS BECOMING A CONTEMPLATIVE IN ACTION SEEKING FREEDOM AND DETACHMENT
LIVING IGNATIUS WAY OF PROCEEDING THE IGNATIAN EXAMEN
The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God s presence and discern his direction for us. The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God s hand at work in our whole experience.
PRAYING THE EXAMEN Ask God for light. Give thanks. Review the day. Look at what s wrong. Look toward the day to come.
ASK GOD FOR LIGHT Begin by asking God for the grace to pray, to see, and to understand
GIVE THANKS Look at your day in a spirit of gratitude. Everything is a gift from God
REVIEW THE DAY Guided by the Holy Spirit, look back on your day. Pay attention to your experience. Look for God in it.
LOOK AT WHAT S WRONG Face up to failures and shortcomings. Ask forgiveness for your faults. Ask God to show you ways to improve
LOOK TOWARD THE DAY TO COME Where do you need God? What can you do?
October 3 rd, 2012 Did the Examen help me connect with God? Could the Examen be a useful practice for my life?
Books Internet The Examen Videos RESOURCES