Ignatian Spirituality Center: Ignatian Spirituality

What Is Ignatian Spirituality?
Essence and Experience

By Tim Malone, Co-Director, Ignatian Spirituality Center

Many times we (at the Center) have been asked: What exactly is Ignatian/Jesuit Spirituality? What is the essence and what is the experience that distinguishes this spirituality from another? And concretely, how may I experience this without being a Jesuit, or going on a 30-day silent retreat? Let’s look at the hallmarks of Ignatian Spirituality and then explore ways to live it out in our often hectic, daily lives.

First when we talk about Ignatian spirituality we distinguish it from Jesuit spirituality. Ignatian Spirituality is the broad “umbrella” term; being a Jesuit is one of several ways of living out Ignatian spirituality in a concrete, day-to-day manner. Thus, being single, or living in an intentional community, or raising a family are other arenas in which we can practice “spiritual exercises.” Ignatian spirituality flows out of the Catholic Christian tradition. Yet at its roots it is ecumenical in nature – its origin and its aim is ultimately about encountering the living spirit of God, (whatever one’s tradition). That is what happened 450 years ago to Ignatius of Loyola, a 16 th century Spanish noble warrior. While on a passionate quest to find God the God of love found him – out of these life-changing experiences came the “spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius,” the methods that Ignatius would give to lay and cleric alike so that they might become transformed, freed to love. Only after this experience and seeking a way to serve did Ignatius then choose the path of priesthood and with God’s grace, found a religious order of men. Here are some hallmarks of Ignatian Spirituality as translated for modern day:

This “pathway to God” has endured over the centuries not as a particular prayer style so much as a way of attending to personal experiences. That is, our senses, feelings, even our deepest desires become privileged places to discover God’s dynamic presence leading us – to become whole, to become our authentic “true” self, in short, to grow in relationship to ourselves, God and our community.

The Spirit that totally animated Jesus’ life is available to all who would open their lives to receive. How? By “taking a long, loving look” at Jesus’ life and his particular way of being in the world God reveals to us mysteries of who we are as human beings as well.

Through reflection on his own pattern of life choices Ignatius developed an approach to human decision making based on “discernment of spirits.” As Peter Byrne, SJ notes, “We can detect and discern the movement of spirits (God’s and others competing for our allegiance) and make choices most conducive to the Divine Purpose.” Freed from fear and false attachments we are made more available to offer ourselves, in love, to the source of Love, and to serve from that place within of heart and healed soul.

The Ignatian Spirituality Center sponsors prayer experiences distilled from the essence of Ignatius’ spiritual exercises. It is a tradition here at the Center to present the following opportunities annually as pathways to encounter God in daily life, Ignatian-style:

Ignatian Prayer Experience, a seven-week exploration of prayer styles, a great first experience of spiritual direction, held in fall and winter.

Advent Evening of Reflection celebrating St. Francis Xavier’s feast day. This joint venture with St. Joseph’s church is a mini-retreat with many of the same elements found in Novena of Grace.

The powerfully healing Novena of Grace, nine days in Lent.

Spiritual Direction Referral Service: assisting persons in finding a guide/companion to support them individually in their unfolding walk with God.

Spirituality on Tap: an opportunity for young adults (18–39) to learn a new prayer style for spiritual growth as adults. The event rotates to different parishes on every third Thursday of the month. 6:45 – 8:30pm.

Please visit the programs page for more information.

GOD'S GREATER GLORY