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God in all things
30 Days and a Broom
Discovering freedom and purpose through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
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What are the Spiritual Exercises?
The Spiritual Exercises are a way of praying that helps you notice where God is already showing up in your life: moments of delight, despair, doubt. All of it. Through daily prayer and imaginative contemplation with scripture, you learn to listen more closely, to let go of baggage, and to make choices from a place of freedom rather than fear. It's less about following rules and more about falling in love with God, with your own life, and with the created world.
Retreats
Although the traditional setting of the exercises is a 30-day silent retreat, Ignatius outlined an option for completing the exercises over an extended period of about 9 months by setting aside an hour of prayer each day amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. This extended option is known as the 19th Annotation or the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Living. You can also "dip your toe" in the experience by attending shorter weekend or 5-8 day retreats. Most Ignatian retreats are silent, except for time spent meeting with your director or in communal worship.
The Rules of Discernment
The rules are like a map for understanding the lay-of-the-land of your inner life. As you pray and move through the day, you'll notice movements within you: consolation, that quiet sense of being drawn closer to God, filled with hope and love; and desolation, that unsettled pull away from God, bogged down by darkness and discouragement. The rules can help you to become aware of these movements, to understand where they’re leading you, and to take action that will lead to freedom.
Spritual Direction
13th rule and role of director.
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30 days & a broom?
My friend Stephanie tells the story about first walking into the rooms of AA and seeing somebody else with 30 days who had enough freedom, composure, and sense of belonging that he helped sweep up after the meeting. She remembers looking at him and thinking: "I want 30 days and a broom!" I know that feeling! The phrase captures the sense of freedom and purpose that I received through the Spiritual Exercises.
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Looking for resources in Wisconsin?
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Confidence in Discernment
Jesus, I trust in you.
"While the outcome of our own life and that of the world is not yet know, we can have confidence that it is an adventure held safe in God's mercy. Faith then becomes an act of courage. We can dare to hope."
Elizabeth Johnson,
Quest for the Living God
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Check this video about St. Ignatius!
There are so many great resources about the life of St. Ignatius. This one doesn't provide much biographical depth, but it is visually stunning and provides a nice overview. If you're looking for an easy way to just jump in and start exploring, consider listening to the Pray-As-You-Go audio resources.
Click to play
A fellow traveler...
Having been lavishly blessed by the Spiritual Exercises, I feel compelled to share the experience. I'm beginning year two of the Seminars in Ignatian Formation, which includes a spiritual direction practicum. Feel free to reach out if you'd just like some conversation with a fellow traveler on the spritiual journey!