St. Ignatius's Spiritual Exercises

[princessgianna]

I just got a book on St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises.

I really think it would be neat to do them however I am just curious if anybody else has done it and what they thought. And how you are to do them. Also is this something I should have a priest overlook? And as stupid as this is "are lay people allowed to do it"?

Thanks
God Bless
PG

I hope this is in the right thread

[Jesuita]

Well I'm no priest but even the back of my copy says that "countless religious and lay people" have benefited from the practice of the Exercises.

I know Jesuit theology can often be controversial and I've met many a trad Catholic who wants nothing to do with St. Ignatius and his Exercises. That said, Iggy is one of my favorite saints ever and I love his writing. (It was my friendship with a lay Jesuit Volunteer that brought me into the Faith a few years ago! Right now the Suscipe Domine is on my profile page.) I'm pleased to read that an orthodox gal such as yourself is interested in the Exercises.

I did this First Week as part of my preparation for Lent this year. I intended to do the entire Four Weeks over Lent, but as I progressed I realized that it really is an experience much better suited to a true retreat atmosphere. If you're going to do it strictly by the book, there are many expectations that are more difficult to fulfill doing it by one's self (e.g. midnight prayers and Daily Mass/frequent confession, frequent conference with priests). I decided to save the meat of the exercises for a really radical experience sometime when I'm older and can do it more fully. Of course, you're probably much more mature and independent than myself so doing the exercises with greater faithfulness is prob much easier for you.

Peace

[Slappo]

I did a 30 day silent retreat with the exercises this summer. My advice is try to do the exercises during some period of silence, even if it be taking a weekend to do a retreat and have a priest to meet with 2-4 times throughout the two days to guide your prayer. The typical format is 30 days with around 6 holy hours a day. For me doing the 30 days was way too much. I think it has a lot to offer, but have a good priest to advise you and really make a commitment to do them well.

Another format is to do it over a period of several weeks, I think 19 weeks. This format is meant for people who cannot sacrifice the time to do the full retreat.