Ignatian Spirituality
After serving as an Assistant Priest in two parishes, I was appointed to work in catechetics for the Diocese, and later became a University Chaplain. It was during this period that I was given the opportunity to take a sabbatical. I travelled to Boston in the United States to make the Thirty-Day Spiritual Exercises at a Jesuit retreat centre. Looking back, I can honestly say that those thirty days were a defining moment in my priesthood and in my life. They transformed the way I prayed. I came to a much deeper awareness of God’s loving presence in every aspect of my life and I returned to the United Kingdom with a renewed desire to share this gift with others.
Next week the Church celebrates the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, whose life and spirituality have inspired countless Christians over the centuries.
Born in 1491 into a family of minor nobility in northern Spain, Ignatius was one of thirteen children. As a young man he was captivated by the ideals of knighthood, honour and military glory, dreaming of winning fame through great deeds. Everything changed in 1521 when he was seriously wounded during the Battle of Pamplona. During his long recovery, he had little to read apart from the life of Christ and the lives of the saints. As he read, he noticed something remarkable; thoughts of worldly success left him restless and dissatisfied, while imagining himself following Christ and the saints filled him with a lasting joy and peace. Gradually, he recognised that these movements of the heart were God’s way of leading him.
Over the following years, Ignatius developed a profound understanding of prayer and the discernment of spirits. He gathered his insights into what became The Spiritual Exercises, one of the most influential works on the Christian spiritual life. More than simply a book, the Exercises are a practical guide to encountering Christ, discerning God’s will, and growing in freedom to love and serve Him. Together with a small group of companions, Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus — the Jesuits. He envisioned them as ‘contemplatives in action’ — men whose deep prayer would lead naturally to generous service in the world. This vision has shaped not only the Jesuits but also generations of Christians who have embraced Ignatian spirituality.
At the heart of Ignatian spirituality is the conviction that God can be found in all things. Prayer is not confined to church or moments of silence. God is present in our relationships, our work, our joys and disappointments, our successes and failures. Everything can become a place of encounter with the Lord if we learn to notice His presence and respond to His grace.
That was the gift I received during my retreat in Boston. St Ignatius taught me that God is always at work in our lives, inviting us to know Him more deeply, love Him more generously and follow Him more faithfully. It is a gift I continue to treasure and one I hope I share with others.
