A Lenten Retreat: Drawn from the Spiritual Exercises
The early Christians knew the desert as a place of encounter with the Living God. Might this same God be inviting you to create a little desert of your own without leaving town, a place of quiet where you might meet the God who loves you? If you've previously made a directed Ignatian retreat and feel drawn to enter more deeply into the Spiritual Exercises, consider the Lenten Retreat, an individually directed Ignatian retreat for individuals who are familiar with prayer in the Ignatian way and are seeking to spend six weeks entering more deeply into the rhythm of the Spiritual Exercises.
Individuals who make this retreat have made at least one Ignatian retreat of at least five days with an assigned spiritual director or the full Spiritual Exercises.
Are you thinking about making the Spiritual Exercises?
The retreat could give you a ‘taste’ of what is involved in making the long retreat.
The retreat will be crafted for where you are on your journey with and to God.
Dates: February 15 - March 28, 2026
Registration Deadline: February 1, 2026
How to prepare to make this retreat
Please note: The Ignatian Spirituality & Prayer Ministry is offering a number of prayer opportunities this Lent to deepen your relationship with God. We invite you to prayerfully consider which spiritual practice the Holy Spirit is inviting you to engage in this Lent. The Lenten Retreat, in particular, requires committed engagement, and we recommend avoiding a commitment to other faith-related programming while participating in this retreat.
To enter fully into the grace of this Ignatian retreat, we encourage you to prayerfully consider whether your are able to make space for the following commitments:
- Attend the opening session in person on Sunday, February 15th, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Ignatius. Parking will be available at Visitation School. (A zoom option is available for those who live outside the DC metro area.)
- Set aside one hour per day for personal, uninterrupted prayer.
- Meet weekly with a spiritual director for approximately one hour. Spiritual direction is offered in person on the Holy Trinity campus or virtually. If meeting virtually, please ensure that you are in a private, quiet, and prayerful environment.
- Attend the closing session in person on Saturday, March 28, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. in McKenna Hall. Parking will be available at Visitation School. (A zoom option is available for those who live outside the DC metro area.)
Making these commitments will help foster a retreat experience that is focused, prayerful, and open to the movements of the Spirit.