Ignatian Spirituality Resources

Ignatian Spirituality Resources for the Easter Season

Make an Ignatian Retreat

Holy Trinity offers Ignatian retreats in daily life, but if you'd like to go away for retreat -- for a weekend, 5-8 days, or even the full 30-day Exercises, one of these retreat houses may be a good fit for you. Register early!

Longer silent retreats may have a requirement or recommendation that you make a shorter silent retreat first. In addition to Jesuit retreat houses, houses run by women's religious orders which are based in Ignatian spirituality (including the Sisters/Congregation of St. Joseph) have some Ignatian-trained directors on staff.

Loyola on the Potomac
Faulkner, Maryland (Jesuit)

Loyola Jesuit Center
Morristown, NJ (Jesuit)

Ignatius Jesuit Center
Guelph, Ontario (Jesuit)

More Jesuit Retreat Centers

St. Joseph Retreat Center
Wheeling, WV (Congregation of St. Joseph)

St. Joseph by the Sea
Sea Isle City, NJ (Sisters of St. Joseph)

 

Ignatian Basics

What is Ignatian Spirituality?
Through his own experience of exploring the big questions of life (of meaning, connection, and how to live), St. Ignatius of Loyola formulated the Spiritual Exercises and their guiding principles in order to help people orient their lives toward God and therefore toward greater freedom to love and fullness of life. Ignatian spirituality finds God in all people and all aspects of life. It emphasizes Spirit-led discernment, a deepening relationship with God through prayer, and service to and solidarity with others.

The Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola
George Traub, S.J., and Debra Mooney, Ph.D.

Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality
IgnatianSpirituality.com

25 Ignatian Terms to Know
IgnatianSpirituality.com

Ignatian Resources for LGBTQIA+ Catholics And Allies

Spiritual Insights for LGBTQ Catholics
James Martin, SJ

An Examen for LGBTQ+ Catholics and Allies
St. Ignatius Church, Chestnut Hill, MA

Ignatian Resources for Racial Justice

An Examen for White Allies
From the Ignatian Solidarity Network

Praying the Examen on a Lenten Journey for Racial Justice
Not exclusive to Lent!

How the Church Can Combat Racism
Video interview with Fr. Bryan Massingale

Discernment in Times of Injustice
by Marina McCoy

The Ignatian Presupposition

"… it should be presupposed that every good Christian ought to be more eager to put a good interpretation on a neighbor’s statement than to condemn it. Further, if one cannot interpret it favorably, one should ask how the other means it. If the meaning is wrong, one should correct the person with love; if this is not enough, one should search out every  appropriate means through which, by understanding the statement in a good way, it may be saved."

Adapted from the Spiritual Exercises [22] by Katherine Dyckman, Mary Garvin, and Elizabeth Liebert in The Spiritual Exercises Reclaimed

Read more about the Presupposition here.

Prayer Apps and Websites

Click on these images to explore these Ignatian websites dedicated to helping you pray. Each site includes links to that ministry's apps on Google Play (Android) and Apple App (iOS) stores. Each app guides you in a slightly different Ignatian way of praying. Some of the guided meditations last about 12 minutes, while others invite you to go at your own pace.

A daily podcast guided meditation lasting between ten and thirteen minutes. It combines music, scripture and some questions for reflection. Click "About" to find similar podcasts in other languages.

sacred-space

A daily guided session of prayer, in six stages, including preparing your body and mind, and culminating in reflection on a scripture passage chosen specially for the day. Available in 26 languages.

3minuteretreat

A peaceful daily prayer experience that helps you re-connect with God, re-center your day, and relax, wherever you are. Also find it on Google Play and the App Store. Available in English and Spanish.

reimaging-the-examen

Reimagining the Examen offers various versions of the Examen, based on St. Ignatius’s 500-year-old prayer. Each one guides you through a stimulating reflection on your day, helping you invite God into your nitty-gritty. 

2020-2021 Ignatian Guided Prayer Archive
Guided audio prayers by Catherine Heinhold

Jesuit Universal Apostolic Preferences 2019

Universal Apostolic Preferences are the fruit of a process of discernment lasting almost two years. All Jesuits were invited to take part and in addition our mission partners. It concluded with a confirmation from Pope Francis in a special meeting with Fr General Arturo Sosa. The Preferences give a horizon, a point of reference to the whole Society of Jesus. They capture our imaginations and awaken our desires. They unite us in our mission. The new Preferences are four areas vital for our world today. The Society of Jesus will pay special attention to them in the next ten years. To read more about the Universal Apostolic Preferences, please visit the Jesuits' global website.

  1. Showing the way to God
    Show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment
  2. Walking with the Excluded
    Walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice
  3. Journeying with Youth
    Accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future
  4. Caring for our Common Home
    Collaborate, with Gospel depth, for the protection and renewal of God’s Creation

Learn more about Ignatian Spirituality