1. St Pauls Cathedral August 15, 2012Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary

2. The Catechism Q. What are the principle kinds of prayer? A.The principle kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition. The Book of Common Prayer, p.856 3. St. Ignatius ofLoyola 1491-1556 Conversion experience in1521 Spiritual Exercises, 1524 Ordained priest, 1537 Founded Society of Jesus in1539 Constitutions, 1540 4. Ignatian sources Spiritual Exercises Meditations intended to be followed during a 4-week retreat (19th annotation) Covers sin, the life of Christ, the Passion, and the Resurrection Discernment The examen is used after the Exercises Constitutions Structure of the Society of Jesus Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam The Autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola Provides details on Ignatius life Gives insight into the Spiritual Exercises 5. The Jesuits Currently 20, 000 priests Founded to be fiercely loyal to papacy Militaristic hierarchicalstructure Counter Reformation focus Highly political and divisive Multiculturalism History of martyrdom, education, scholarship Important missionaries in Far East, India, New World, Holland Suppressed between 1773-1814 Changes since mid 20th century include liberation theology and papal intervention in 1981 6. Hallmarks of Ignatian spirituality Incarnational Adoring Penitential Corporate and personal Scriptural Magis Intercessory and grateful Structured and goal-oriented 7. Ignatian piety AMDG The Holy Name Devotion to the SacredHeart and theEucharist Devotion to the BlessedMother 8. Ignatian approaches Discernment Deciding between options; magis The human person is created to praise, reverence, and serve GodOur Lord, and by so doing to save his or her soul We shoulddesire and choose only what helps us more towards the end forwhich we are created. Exercises Spiritual direction Ongoing relationship with a director to calibrate, share insights Critically important during the Exercises Aids in discernment Sometimes can be in a group setting 9. Ignatian approaches,continued Meditation Composition of place Imagination Fruits Spiritual Exercises Use of emotion Goal is union with Christ and perfection of discernment Use of meditation, examen, and spiritual direction Four weeks: sin, the life of Christ, the Passion, and the Resurrection Satan and Christ 10. Ignatian approaches, continued Examens General examen, to be performed twice daily, and acts as an examination of conscience Particular examen, often tied into meditations, and reviews a specific theme or virtue to be developed Acts of love All Ignatian approaches should lead to acts of service and love for others Often, discernment happens through these acts 11. After the meditation Impressions? Things to share? Questions? 12. Next steps Take action! Examens