Loyola University’s Office of Mission Integration is pleased to provide an opportunity for prayer for the Baltimore community. Mental Training It will begin in the fall of 2024 at St. Ignatius Church.
background
In many parts of the world, the Society of Jesus is best known for its universities and high schools. But at a time when many are searching for greater meaning, another aspect of Jesuit life is garnering widespread interest: the distinctive spirituality introduced by the Society’s founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, nearly 500 years ago.
Ignatius was a Spanish soldier and nobleman who realized his mission after being mortally wounded in battle. He founded the Society of Jesus in 1540 and instructed its early Jesuits to “find God in all things,” a spirituality that is representative of the Jesuit order.
Ignatian spirituality is based on the conviction that God is active in our world. As the great Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote, “God is not far from us; he is at the end of my pen, my pickaxe, my paintbrush, my needle, my heart and my thoughts.” The spiritual path Ignatian shows us is a way to recognize God’s presence in our daily lives. And then to take action about it.
The Jesuits have a handbook for this quest. Spiritual TrainingThe Exercises were composed by the Saint before he became a priest. Often described as Ignatius’ greatest gift to the world, these exercises unfold a dynamic process of prayer, meditation and self-knowledge. Their fundamental aim is to help us become more attentive to God’s activity in the world and more sensitive to what He asks of us.
Spiritual Training in Everyday Life
Our approach is one that Ignatius himself proposed for busy people: creating a prayerful and potentially transformative retreat. In daily life.
Through a nine-month process of daily prayer, journaling, and regular conversations with a spiritual director while reading the Bible, you can experience the same gracious acts and discoveries that a privileged few have during 30 days of secluded silence (yes, that includes Jesuits!).
This particular Ignatian retreat is a demanding experience that requires nine months of dedication of time and discipline.
Those attending this retreat must commit to the following:
- Pray and journal for an hour each day
- Weekly 1-hour meeting with your spiritual guide
- Orientation Session
- Optional large gatherings during Advent, Lent and Easter
Long-term seclusion is undoubtedly a commitment of time and determination that may or may not be right for everyone at this time. It’s a kind of mental marathon.Fortunately, Ignatius offers many other practical tools for spiritual growth that we can all enjoy.
Information Session:
We are thrilled to announce that Loyola University’s Office of Mission Integration will again offer the Baltimore community the opportunity to pray the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 2024-2025 academic year. Over the past eight years, nearly 250 people from all walks of life in and around Baltimore have taken advantage of this opportunity.
Our approach is based on what Ignatius himself proposed for busy people: prayer and potentially transformative retreats. Everyday life. Over a nine-month period of daily prayer, journaling, and regular conversation with your guides while reading the Bible, you can experience the same graceful movement and discovery that a select few experience during 30 days of seclusion. While a retreat while immersed in the world is obviously difficult, those who persevere find that both their prayers and their daily habits are gracefully enriched. Long-term retreats are undoubtedly a large commitment of time and commitment, which may not be right for everyone or may not be right for you at this time.
If you are interested, Zoom Information Session (Thursday, June 20th or August 8th, 2024, 7-8:30pm).
In addition to participating in the Zoom information session, all retreat participants will Online Self-Assessment Application.
If you would like more information or to speak to a member of the retreat team, please contact us (and feel free to share these emails with friends and colleagues who might be interested).
sue-cesare@dexterco.com or sspahn@loyola.edu or LUMspiritualexercises@gmail.com
Zoom recording of explanatory session of the 19th commentary explaining the Spiritual Exercises.
