Ignatian spirituality is a spiritual practice based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Ignatian spirituality insists that God is present in all things and active in our world and our lives. It is a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment, and an active life of service to others. The cornerstone of Ignatian Spirituality is the Spiritual Exercises. The 30 day silent retreat is Ignatius' blueprint for spiritual freedom. The Exercises touch the soul by developing an intimate and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Here are some common phrases or buzzwords that are often associated with Ignatian spirituality:
- AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam--For the Greater Honor and Glory of God)
- The Magis (Meaning 'greater.’ This word reflects Ignatius' desire to always give more, and engage more deeply with God and life experiences.)
- Women and Men for Others (Coined by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, the superior general of the Jesuits from 1965-83 as a motto for students at Jesuit high schools and universities.)
- Inner Freedom (the result of self-awareness and discernment.)
- Contemplation in action (not a monastic existence, but an active one that is, at the same time infused with prayer)
- Union of minds and hearts (As brothers and sisters, we listen for the God who is present among us, admitting no division based on ethnicity, nationality, background, age or gender.)
- Consolation and Desolation (Ignatius' term for moving closer to or farther from the work and will of God.)
- A Faith that does justice (The realization that there can be no true expression of faith where concerns for justice and human dignity are missing.)
- Finding God in all things (As Jesuit poet, Gerald Manley Hopkins put it, "the world is charged with the grandeur of God." This Ignatian challenge claims that we may encounter God anywhere.)
- Two standards (A portion of the Spiritual Exercises in which a retreatant is able to claim her/his Christian identity.)
Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, was born in 1491 in the Basque Country of Northern Spain to parents of distinguished families in that area. He was the youngest of 13 children and was called was called Iñigo. At the age of 15, he served as a page in the court of a local nobleman and later embraced a military career and became a valiant soldier. Wounded in battle by a cannonball, which broke one leg and injured the other, Ignatius was taken prisoner by the French, who set his leg and eventually allowed him to go home to Loyola. He spent his time recuperating at the home of his brother. Confined to his sick bed, he was given pious books to read, which he grudgingly accepted. To his surprise, he enjoyed them and began to dream of becoming a "knight for Christ", pursuing the ideals of St. Francis and St. Dominic. He eventually promised to devote his life to being a knight for St. Peter if he recovered, which he did after nine months of convalescence. Ignatius noticed that after doing good deeds for the Lord, he felt peaceful -- which he termed as a "consolation", but when he thought of being a successful soldier or of impressing a beautiful woman where he had initially felt enthused, he later felt dry. Through this process of discernment, Ignatius was able to recognize that God was leading him to follow a path of service. Out of this experience he wrote his famous "Spiritual Exercises". After traveling and studying in different schools, he finished Theology studies in Paris, Many initially hated Ignatius because of his humble and austere lifestyle. Despite this, he attracted many followers at the university, including Francis Xavier. Quickly, Ignatius started his order, The Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. He travelled to Europe and the Holy Land, then settled in Rome to direct the Jesuits. His health suffered in later years, and he was nearly blind at death. He died at the age of 65.
Ignatian spirituality is a way to pray, an approach to making decisions, a point of view about God, and a practical guide to everyday life. Ignatian spirituality sees God as actively involved in the world and intimately involved with us in every moment and place. We share with you some prayers, reflections, and meditations that are part of our Ignatian Retreats.
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For those considering becoming Catholic, classes begin early in September.
Coordinator: Mary Romo: 415.422.6033.
For those wanting to get confirmed, Confirmation class is being
offered for Spring 2013. The class meets every Sunday, beginning January
27, 6:15 to 7:45 pm at the Romero Room, University Ministry Office, Lower
Phelan Hall. Confirmation mass/ceremony will take place at St. Agnes in late
April or early May. Stop by or contact the University Ministry office for more information. 415.422.4463
| Week |
Date |
Topic |
Week 1 |
Jan 27 |
Introduction/Get to know one another/Scope of class What is God’s presence in your life? To what is what God calling you? What are your beliefs? Why do you want to get confirmed? |
| Week 2 |
Feb 2 |
Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures Structure of OT/ Salvation history/God’s Covenant |
| Week 3 |
Feb 10 |
New Testament/The Gospels Continuation of Salvation history |
| Week 3 |
Feb 17 |
No Class: Presidents’ Day Weekend |
| Week 4 |
Feb 24 |
Prayer in Scriptures/Prayer in general/ Relationship with God |
| Week 5 |
March 3 |
Acts of the Apostles/Church History |
| Week 5 |
March 10 |
No class: spring break |
| Week 6 |
March 17 |
Church History, cont’d |
| Week 7 |
March 24 |
The Paschal Mystery/Easter/The Sacraments |
| Week 8 |
March 30 |
SATURDAY MORNING (Time TBD): Rehearsal at St. Agnes
SATURDAY EVENING (CONFIRMATION is at the EASTER VIGIL MASS at St. Agnes.) |
| Week 9 |
March 31 |
No class: Easter Sunday |
| Week 10 |
April 7 |
Saints/Spirituality/Relationship With God & Others |
| Week 10 |
April 14 |
What we believe/Nicene Creed/Apostles’ Creed/What does it mean to be a Catholic? |
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