Saint Ignatius of Loyola

The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola Saint Ignatius of Loyola

The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola are a set of Christian meditations, prayers and mental exercises, written by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th-century Spanish priest, theologian, and founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Divided into four thematic "weeks" of variable length, they are designed to be carried out over a period of 28 to 30 days. They were composed with the intention of helping participants in religious retreats to discern the will of God in their lives, leading to a personal commitment to follow Jesus whatever the cost. Although their underlying theology is Catholic, the exercises can also be undertaken by non-Catholics.