The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius remain an abiding source of inspiration and wisdom for Christians in the modern day who wish to be closer oriented to God and his Kingdom. Ignatius of Loyola was initially a Spanish page in service of a knight, who later became a knight himself. Ambitious and eager for fame and glory, Loyola was gravely injured when a cannonball collided with his legs, leaving his left leg multiple fractures. The surgery of the time was crude; he would walk again, but with a permanent, pronounced limp. As he lay convalescing, Loyola experienced a series of visions. Being as the hospitals of the era were run by religious orders he spent weeks bedridden, reading the many texts concerning Jesus Christ and the saints. This experience buoyed and inspired Loyola to lead his life in the same fashion as the heroic saints; living to spread the holy word and undertake great pilgrimages.
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, one of the great masterpieces of the Christian canon, today continues to offer some of the most accessible and insightful guidance for going on retreat whether as a part of a group or by oneself. Based on the rich fruit of St. Ignatius' own meditations and practice, this guide for spiritual perfection has been treasured and faithfully used for centuries by members of the saint's Jesuit order and by millions more. The Exercises have been universally recognized as a brilliant and inspired guide to the development of a deeper Christian spirituality ever since St. Ignatius completed them in 1533. This four-week system of meditation and prayer continues to be the very backbone of Ignatian retreats, where earnest seekers come to examine their lives, contemplate the future, face decisions, and revitalize their souls. Cover photography by Paul Spremulli.
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