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{{Short description|1522–1524 set of works by Ignatius of Loyola}}
{{italic title}}
[[File:Exercitia Spiritualia 1ed2.jpg|thumb|220px|{{lang|la|Exercitia spiritualia}}, 1548, first edition by Antonio Bladio (Rome)]]
The '''''Spiritual Exercises
Divided into four thematic "weeks" of variable length, they are designed to be carried out over a period of 28 to 30 days.<ref>Counsell, Michael. ''2000 Years of Prayer'', 2004, {{ISBN|1-85311-623-8}} p. 203</ref> They were composed with the intention of helping participants in religious [[Retreat (spiritual)#Roman Catholicism|retreats]] to discern the will of God in their lives, leading to a personal commitment to follow [[Jesus]] whatever the cost.<ref name="spirex" />{{rp|98}} Their underlying theology has been found agreeable to other Christian denominations who make use of them<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://trinityic.org/ignatian-spirituality-the-spiritual-exercises/|title=Ignatian Spirituality & The Spiritual Exercises {{!}} Trinity Episcopal Church|website=trinityic.org|access-date=7 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308043539/http://trinityic.org/ignatian-spirituality-the-spiritual-exercises/|archive-date=8 March 2017}}</ref> and also for addressing problems facing society in the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/08/chris-lowney-book-ignatius-loyola-spiritual-exercises/|title=Lessons in the Life of Prayer from Ignatius Loyola {{!}} National Review|date=2018-08-11|work=National Review|access-date=2018-08-11|language=en-US}}</ref> ==Editions==
Archival work on the authentic text of the ''Spiritual Exercises'' was undertaken at the initiative of the 19th century Jesuit Superior General [[Jan Roothaan]], who himself published a translation and notes from the original manuscripts of St. Ignatius. The culmination of this work was a "critical edition" of the ''Exercises'' published by the Jesuit order in 1919, in the ''Monumenta Historica Societatis Jesu'' series.<ref>''Monumenta Historica Societatis Jesu'', Monumenta Ignatiana, Series Secunda: Exercitia Spiritualia. Madrid, 1919.</ref> A critical edition from 1847 that incorporates Roothaan's studies can be found online.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/a588350800loyouoft#page/n5/mode/2up|title=The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola|website=archive.org|access-date=2017-03-08}}</ref> An authoritative Spanish-Latin text, based on the critical edition, was published in Turin by Marietti, in 1928. This was edited by the editor of the critical edition, and included convenient marginal numbers for every section, which can be found in all contemporary editions (and inline in this article).
An [[English language|English]] translation by Louis J. Puhl, S.J., published in 1951, has been widely used by Jesuits, spiritual directors, retreat leaders, and others in the English-speaking world. Puhl translated directly from studies based on the original manuscripts.<ref name="spirex">{{Cite web
==Background==
[[File:LaMorenetaVirginOfMontserrat.jpg|140px|thumb|left|[[Virgin of Montserrat]]]]
After recovering from a leg wound incurred during the Siege of [[Pamplona]] in 1521, Ignatius made a retreat with the [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictine]] monks at their abbey high on [[Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey|Montserrat]] in [[Catalonia]], northern [[Spain]], where he hung up his sword before the statue of the [[Virgin of Montserrat]]. The monks introduced him to the spiritual exercises of
[[File:1 montserrat Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey Funicular de Sant Joan 2014.jpg|thumb|right|Abbey on Montserrat]]
[[File:Manresa, Cova de Sant Ignasi-PM 58510.jpg|thumb|Chapel in the [[Cave of Saint Ignatius]] at [[Manresa]]]]
The ''Spiritual Exercises'' of Saint Ignatius form the cornerstone of [[Jesuit spirituality|Ignatian Spirituality]]: a way of understanding and living one's relationship with God in the world as practiced by members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Although he originally designed them to take place in the setting of a secluded [[Retreat (spiritual)|retreat]], during which those undergoing the exercises would be focused on nothing other than the ''Exercises'', Ignatius also provided a model in his introductory notes for completing the ''Exercises'' over a longer period without the need of seclusion.<ref name="spirex"/>{{rp|19}}
Ignatius considered [[the examen]], or spiritual self-review, to be the most important way to continue to live out the experience of the ''Exercises'' after their completion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen|title=The Daily Examen - IgnatianSpirituality.com|work=Ignatian Spirituality|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
== Spiritual viewpoint ==
Ignatius identified the various motives that lead a person to choose one course of action over another as "spirits".<ref name="Tetlow">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/making-good-decisions/discernment-of-spirits/discernment-in-a-nutshell|title=Discernment in a Nutshell|last=user1|website=Ignatian Spirituality|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> A major aim of the ''Exercises'' is the development of [[Discernment of
According to the theologian [[Hans Urs von Balthasar]], "choice" is the center of the ''Exercises'', and they are directed to choosing God's
"Discernment" is very important to Ignatian thought. Through the process of discernment, the believer is led toward a direct connection between one's thought and action and the grace of God. As such, discernment can be considered a movement toward [[mysticism|mystical]] union with God, and it emphasizes the mystical experience of the believer. This aspect of the ''Spiritual Exercises'' reflects the trend toward [[Christian mysticism#Spanish mysticism|mysticism]] in [[Catholic]] thought which flourished during the time of the [[
{{Jesuit}}
== Typical methodology and structure ==
The original, complete form of the ''Exercises'' is a retreat of about 30 days in silence and solitude.<ref name="Spiritual">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises|title=The Spiritual Exercises|last=lpignatian|website=Ignatian Spirituality|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> The ''Exercises'' are divided into four "weeks" of varying length with four major themes: sin and God's mercy, episodes in the life of Jesus, the passion of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus together with a contemplation on God's love. This last is often seen as the goal of Ignatian spirituality, to find God in all things.<ref name="spirex"/>{{rp|235}} The "weeks" represent stages in a process of wholehearted commitment to the service of God.
*First Week: Sin, and God's mercy
*Second Week: Episodes in the life of Jesus
*Third Week: The passion of Jesus
*Fourth Week: The resurrection of Jesus, and God's love
Morning, afternoon, and evening will be times of the examinations. The morning is to guard against a particular sin or fault, the afternoon is a fuller examination of the same sin or defect. There will be a visual record with a tally of the frequency of sins or defects during each day.
Ignatius' book is not meant to be used by the retreatant but by a director or spiritual guide. Each day the exercitant uses the material proposed by the director for four or five hour-long periods, each followed by a review of how the period went. The exercitant reports back to the spiritual director who helps interpret the exercitant's experiences and proposes material for the next day. Ignatius observes that God "deals directly" with the well-disposed person and the director should not give advice to the retreatant that might interfere with God's workings.<ref name="spirex" />{{rp|15}}
After the first week Ignatius recommends a form of [[Christian contemplation#
== Modern applications ==
The ''Spiritual Exercises'' of Ignatius of Loyola are considered a classic work of spiritual literature.<ref name=Schindler>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QTK8zhja1v4C
Since the 1980s there has been a growing interest in the ''Spiritual Exercises'' among people from other Christian traditions.<ref name=":0" /> The ''Exercises'' are also popular among lay people<ref name=Spiritual/> both in the [[Catholic Church]] and in other denominations, and [[laity|lay]] organizations like the [[Christian life community]] place the ''Exercises'' at the center of their [[spirituality]]. The ''Exercises'' are seen variously as an occasion for a change of life<ref name="spirex" />{{rp|18}} and as a school of contemplative prayer.
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* Timothy M. Gallagher, ''The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Life''. Crossroad, 2005.
* George E. Ganss, S.J. ''The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius: A Translation and Commentary''. Chicago: Loyola Press, 1992. {{ISBN|0-8294-0728-6}}.
* C. G. Jung, ''Jung on Ignatius of Loyola's 'Spiritual Exercises'.'' (Princeton University 2023).
* Anthony Mottola, ''Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius''. Image, 1964, {{ISBN|0-385-02436-3}}.
* Joseph A. Tetlow, ''The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola''. Crossroad, 2009.
* [http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ignatian-contemplation-imaginative-prayer/ Ignatian contemplation: application of the senses]▼
== External links ==
'''Online text'''
*[
*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ignatius/exercises.html Christian Classics Ethereal Library]
<!--*[https://archive.org/details/a588350800loyouoft The full text of ''Spiritual Exercises'' in several formats] – [[Archive.org]]-->
*[https://librivox.org/the-spiritual-exercises-by-st-ignatius-loyola/ The Spiritual Exercises] Audio from Librivox
▲*[http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ignatian-contemplation-imaginative-prayer/ Ignatian contemplation: application of the senses]
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[[Category:Spiritual retreats]]
[[Category:Ignatian spirituality]]
[[Category:Spiritual warfare]]
[[Category:1520s books]]
[[Category:16th-century Christian texts]]
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