What to Expect?
A faithful adaptation of St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises
Prayer | Fellowship | Discernment | Asceticism
What to Expect?
A faithful adaptation of St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises
Prayer | Fellowship | Discernment | Asceticism
St. Ignatius created a series “exercises” to find greater freedom in doing God’s will. It was a full 30 day retreat to not only overcome vice, but to have a radical conversion.
Live the same experience without putting work & family obligations on hold. The essential commitments: a full hour of daily prayer and weekly team meeting.
Learn the Ignatian approach to prayer that has been the foundation for the spiritual life of countless saints.
If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Ignatian Discernment
Which Exercises?
The Ignatian approach is NOT one size fits all. Each person is responsible to discern the right exercises for them. It always includes:
Daily mental prayer (meditation) is the non-negotiable center.
Asceticism helps us regain self-mastery, remove attachments, and unite ourselves to Christ.
Silence removes noise to create a space for God.
Required For Everyone
The Essentials
Daily Prayer
Meditation (60 min)
The Examen Prayer (5-10 min)
Keep Brief Notes
Weekly Team Meeting
1 hour each week (usually Sat. Morning)
Asceticism & Silence
Discern the right combination of exercises
Elements For Discernment
Additional Prayer
Recommended Daily
Morning offering (5 min)
Second Examen (5-10 min)
Spiritual reading
Recommended Once
General Confession (Once)
Retreat Day
Asceticism
Recommend Removing
Alcohol, sweets, eating between meals, sweet drinks, unnecessary purchases.
Recommend Adding
Regular exercise, good sleep, fasting
Silence
Recommend Removing
Television, movies, video games, most music, computer, mobile devices, and internet use.
Recommend Adding
Regular time in nature or away from noise that isn’t specifically prayer.
Why We Started Wildfire
The urgency and seriousness of this moment demands that, to the absolute best of our ability, we fan the flames of personal holiness into the renewal our Church so desperately needs.
Men and women saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult circumstances in the Church’s history.
Today we have the greatest need of saints whom we must beg God to raise up. – St. John Paul II
Exercises in Depth
The Required Exercises
Morning Prayer & Examen – Each morning should begin with a simple morning prayer like the Suscipe or Morning Offering. You should also take 3-5 minutes to do the Examen to Prepare The Day (often after your morning meditation). The Examen is not a practical preparation, but looks at the day from the point of view of a single virtue you are working to develop.
Daily Meditation – The absolute center of the Spiritual Exercises is the daily hour of prayer. Usually done first thing in the morning, this is the one element that cannot be lacking. “Prayer is a battle.” CCC 2725
Daily Examen – Usually practiced in the evening, the Examen can be life-changing. It is short, simple, but demanding.
Keep Daily Notes – Tracking insights from your daily meditation and Examen in a short journal connects prayer and life. It also allows you to track your growth and discern what God may be asking of you by identifying repeating patterns.
Asceticism – Taking on voluntary abnegation and acts of generosity is necessary for a healthy spiritual life. We all need ongoing purification from attachments.
Interior Silence – One of the most challenging parts of the Spiritual Exercises, above removing noise externally, is learning to habitually make a place for God in your life.
Weekly Fellowship – We find support and accountability in our team. Shared reflections aren’t the result of spontaneous considerations, but the fruit of hours spent in prayer.
Optional Exercises
Full Retreat Day – At the start of Lent, a full retreat day is dedicated to preparing for the liturgical season and to start the most intense part of the Spiritual Exercises.
General Confession – This sacramental experience of true contrition and God’s mercy is an important part of the Spiritual Exercises. It includes a review of all sins up to that point or since your last general confession.
Examen at Midday – Ignatius actually recommends the Examen twice a day if you can fit it in.
Regular Spiritual Reading – Ignatian prayer focuses heavily on Scripture, and the New Testament specifically. It’s helpful to add additional sources of spiritual reading from things like the Imitation of Christ, or writings of the saints.
Interior Silence
Recommend removing: television, movies, video games, most music, computer, mobile devices, and internet use.
Recommend adding: Regular time in nature or away from noise that isn’t specifically prayer.
Asceticism
Recommend removing: alcohol, sweets, eating between meals, sweet drinks, unnecessary purchases.
Recommend adding: regular exercise, good sleep, fasting.