More on Ignatian Spirituality

So ... what's Ignatian spirituality? And what on earth does it have to do with birthdays?

First of all, Ignatian spirituality is based on the life and ministry of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Simple enough, right? St. Ignatius lived a high-flying life of ambition, intrigue, and romance before a battle wound sent him into a damp and, frankly, boring convalescence in the family castle in Spain. Much to his disappointment, the only books around were of a religious nature. But the time Ignatius spent reading them lit a fire in his heart. He began to see that a life of faith and of service took just as much valor and honor as the military lifestyle that he had wanted so badly. He still sought glory; but God's, not his own.

St. Ignatius' experiences during his convalescence, recovery, and conversion, both in his family home and on his subsequent travels, inspired him to write the Spiritual Exercises, a 30-day guidebook for others who wanted to know just how much God loved them and to discern where God called them. He also met and led a handful of like-minded guys; together they formed the Society of Jesus. Both the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Spiritual Exercises are still around.

My Birthday Exercises are inspired by the Spiritual Exercises. I hope that this 30-day journey will lead me to rejoice in love and continue to discover where God is calling me. And it will be imbued with Ignatian principles, as well, especially:

 - Finding God in All Things: God is present in the world that surrounds us and all of our experiences can lead us to recognize, know, and understand God more fully.
 - Magis, or The More: God calls each of us to strive for excellence and ask what more we can be and give.
 - Discernment: Each of us has unique gifts, strengths, and needs, and each of us has a vocation. God invites us to discern our vocation and put our unique gifts to work. The result is a win-win situation of joy for us and glory for God.




For more on Ignatian Spirituality, the Spiritual Exercises, and the life of St. Ignatius, read on! Here are my recommendations:

Because there's no better way to learn than from a talking preserved vegetable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSvOPtq30Xw

This super awesome blog is "Jesuits thinking and writing about the intersection of faith and culture."
http://www.thejesuitpost.org