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Personal Writings
One of the key figures in Christian history, St. Ignatius of Loyola (c. 1491-1556) was a passionate and unique spiritual thinker and visionary. The works gathered here provide a first-hand, personal introduction to this remarkable character: a man who turned away from the Spanish nobility to create the revolutionary Jesuit Order, inspired by the desire to help people follow Christ. His Reminiscences describe his early life, his religious conversion following near-paralysis in battle, and his spiritual and physical ordeals as he struggled to assist those in need, including plague, persecution and imprisonment. The Spiritual Exercises offer guidelines to those seeking the will of God, and the Spiritual Diary shows Ignatius in daily mystical contact with God during a personal strugg;e. The Letters collected here provide an insight into Ignatius' ceaseless campaign to assist those seeking enlightenment and to direct the young Society of Jesus.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Ignatius of Loyola
206 books142 followersSaint Ignatius of Loyola was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius paid particular attention to the spiritual formation of his recruits and recorded his method in the Spiritual Exercises (published in Latin in 1548). In time, the method has become known as Ignatian spirituality. Ignatius was described by Pope Benedict XVI as being above all a man of God, who gave the first place of his life to God, and a man of profound prayer. Together with Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, he founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits), and became its first Superior General, in Paris in 1541. He envisioned the purpose of the Society of Jesus to be missionary work and teaching. In addition to the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty of other religious orders in the church, Loyola instituted a fourth vow for Jesuits of obedience to the Pope, to engage in projects ordained by the pontiff. Jesuits were instrumental in leading the Counter-Reformation. He was beatified and then on March 12, 1622, was canonized. His feast day is July 31. He is the patron saint of the Basque historical territories of Guipúzcoa and Biscay and the Society of Jesus, among other things. He was declared patron saint of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 10, 2015
I have finished the "Reminisces", St Ignatius's autobiography, and it has come to mean more to me than I ever thought it would. I've gotten to know him as a true character: crazy, obsessive, emotional, strong-willed, and the admirable embodiment of persistence. If I had known him in person, I know I would have loved to be around him, being constantly entertained and inspired at the same time. It's as though his life was planned so that others could find hope for themselves in it, regardless of who they are or what they're going through. What a wonderful gift.
November 26, 2017
This anthology is a mixed bag. All of it is of great historical interest, because Ignatius of Loyola had such influence on the Counter-Reformation. His order, the Jesuits, eventually became controversial, developing a reputation for scheming and sectarianism, but these writings reveal the other, beautiful side of the Jesuit legacy. Ignatius was a profound thinker and a great mystic. In many ways, he led a model life, and his writings have a literary as well as historical appeal.
As I say, his writings are a mixed bag. There are two literary masterpieces in this volume, one strange text and a collection of interesting ones.
The Reminiscences are extraordinary. They are a little hard to characterise. They tell the life of Ignatius. They were written down by one of his disciples, so we might prefer to call them a 'biography', but the disciple claimed only to have written exactly what Ignatius told him, so we might prefer to call them an 'autobiography'. In either case, they are a masterpiece of life-writing. They tell a compelling narrative of spiritual rebirth and mystical experience. Ignatius led an exciting life of inner quest, of travel, and of adventure. The Reminiscences tell of his miltary career, his visions, his frequent run-ins with the Inquisition, and of his relationships with the patrons and members of his new order, the Society of Jesus. They present a panoramic view of Catholic Europe in the 16th century. They are crisply and vividly written. You can read them in a single sitting with ease, and enjoy every paragraph.
The Spiritual Exercises, the other masterpiece in the collection, is Ignatius's meditation manual. Meditation is obviously becoming ever more popular in the west, and Ignatius's suggestions about its methods and purpose are compelling. His key techniques are prayer and visualisation. He makes some remarkable suggestions about both, and his overarching doctrine of self-renunciation appeals to me in our egotistical age.
The Spiritual Journal is the weirdest diary I've ever read. It basically just records whether Ignatius cried or not that day. It is worth reading for its simple oddity, but I think only a devoted Jesuit who has undergone the Spiritual Exercises could really appreciate it. The collection of Ignatius's Letters give us a much more vivid picture of his personality than his Journal. They give the impression of a thoughtful, gentle, humble and extremely forceful man. They read like the diary of a great diplomat. Ignatius moved in powerful circles, and he did so skilfully.
If I were reviewing this as a set of historical documents, I'd give it 5/5. Reviewing it as a 'good read', I'm giving it 4. The Reminiscences and the Spiritual Exercises are extraordinary works of literature. If you are a spiritual atheist like me, you will find in them inspiring examples of self-examination and mental growth. If you're anybody else, I would hope that the clarity and force of their ideas would move, provoke or astound you.
As I say, his writings are a mixed bag. There are two literary masterpieces in this volume, one strange text and a collection of interesting ones.
The Reminiscences are extraordinary. They are a little hard to characterise. They tell the life of Ignatius. They were written down by one of his disciples, so we might prefer to call them a 'biography', but the disciple claimed only to have written exactly what Ignatius told him, so we might prefer to call them an 'autobiography'. In either case, they are a masterpiece of life-writing. They tell a compelling narrative of spiritual rebirth and mystical experience. Ignatius led an exciting life of inner quest, of travel, and of adventure. The Reminiscences tell of his miltary career, his visions, his frequent run-ins with the Inquisition, and of his relationships with the patrons and members of his new order, the Society of Jesus. They present a panoramic view of Catholic Europe in the 16th century. They are crisply and vividly written. You can read them in a single sitting with ease, and enjoy every paragraph.
The Spiritual Exercises, the other masterpiece in the collection, is Ignatius's meditation manual. Meditation is obviously becoming ever more popular in the west, and Ignatius's suggestions about its methods and purpose are compelling. His key techniques are prayer and visualisation. He makes some remarkable suggestions about both, and his overarching doctrine of self-renunciation appeals to me in our egotistical age.
The Spiritual Journal is the weirdest diary I've ever read. It basically just records whether Ignatius cried or not that day. It is worth reading for its simple oddity, but I think only a devoted Jesuit who has undergone the Spiritual Exercises could really appreciate it. The collection of Ignatius's Letters give us a much more vivid picture of his personality than his Journal. They give the impression of a thoughtful, gentle, humble and extremely forceful man. They read like the diary of a great diplomat. Ignatius moved in powerful circles, and he did so skilfully.
If I were reviewing this as a set of historical documents, I'd give it 5/5. Reviewing it as a 'good read', I'm giving it 4. The Reminiscences and the Spiritual Exercises are extraordinary works of literature. If you are a spiritual atheist like me, you will find in them inspiring examples of self-examination and mental growth. If you're anybody else, I would hope that the clarity and force of their ideas would move, provoke or astound you.
December 21, 2023
This is made up of three sections - an early journal, letters from throughout Ignatius' leadership of the Jesuits, and the famous Spiritual Exercises.
The journal shows Ignatius to be a very intense young man, weeping and feeling spiritual "events" as he tries to reach a breakthrough and feel himself close to Christ. The letters are more pragmatic, full of advice to those under his helm or those considering spiritual matters. The most striking things about the letters are the unflinching commitment to hierarchy, discipline and obedience towards those placed over one. This is perhaps the most alien thing for a contemporary Western reader, accustomed as we are to challenging hierarchy and following our own dreams, hopes and aspirations. The Exercises show that Ignatius was clear that the "human person is created to praise, reverence and serve God Our Lord, and by so doing to save his or her soul."
The exercises take place over 4 weeks: in the first, the person who is exercising contemplates his or her sins; in the second, the birth and ministry of Christ; the third, the passion; the fourth, the resurrection. The exercises are not meant to be read as a book, and don't make for good reading as one - they are proposed to be given to one exercising by a facilitator.
This collection offers a good overview and insight into the Jesuit movement founder's thinking and counter-reformation consciousness. In this translation, at least, it doesn't have a huge amount of literary value, but I left the book feeling that Ignatius was a serious voice and thoughtful leader, and that it would probably do one a great deal of good to undertake the exercises.
The journal shows Ignatius to be a very intense young man, weeping and feeling spiritual "events" as he tries to reach a breakthrough and feel himself close to Christ. The letters are more pragmatic, full of advice to those under his helm or those considering spiritual matters. The most striking things about the letters are the unflinching commitment to hierarchy, discipline and obedience towards those placed over one. This is perhaps the most alien thing for a contemporary Western reader, accustomed as we are to challenging hierarchy and following our own dreams, hopes and aspirations. The Exercises show that Ignatius was clear that the "human person is created to praise, reverence and serve God Our Lord, and by so doing to save his or her soul."
The exercises take place over 4 weeks: in the first, the person who is exercising contemplates his or her sins; in the second, the birth and ministry of Christ; the third, the passion; the fourth, the resurrection. The exercises are not meant to be read as a book, and don't make for good reading as one - they are proposed to be given to one exercising by a facilitator.
This collection offers a good overview and insight into the Jesuit movement founder's thinking and counter-reformation consciousness. In this translation, at least, it doesn't have a huge amount of literary value, but I left the book feeling that Ignatius was a serious voice and thoughtful leader, and that it would probably do one a great deal of good to undertake the exercises.
October 2, 2025
"The human person is created to praise, reverence and serve God Our Lord..."
Having been fascinated and terrified by the depiction of a spiritual retreat in Joyce's PORTRAIT, the SPIRITUAL EXERCISES of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order, were what first attracted me to reading this book, but the rest of its contents are equally worth contemplating. Presented with helpful annotations about the context of Ignatius' letters and their significance in expressing aspects of his thought, his writings reflect a profound theologian with an extraordinarily severe approach to personal abnegation and total obedience to God and one's superiors.
However, there's also a pragmatism to Ignatius' thought which gives it complementary depth. His warnings against counterproductive forms of self-denial and rigidity in worship (it's not necessary to spend whole days in prayer when one can serve God more effectively in other manners, he counsels in one letter: a mere hour of prayer will suffice), the imaginative flexibility with which he conceives of how spiritual exercises and meditations on scriptural passages might affect excitants, and a curious letter where he approvingly tells the story of woman who lived in male disguise as a friar and patiently endured being slandered, all reflect a thinker who was as much a practical leader negotiating amidst external demands as a pious ascetic intent on conquering baser instincts in service of the divine will.
Having been fascinated and terrified by the depiction of a spiritual retreat in Joyce's PORTRAIT, the SPIRITUAL EXERCISES of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order, were what first attracted me to reading this book, but the rest of its contents are equally worth contemplating. Presented with helpful annotations about the context of Ignatius' letters and their significance in expressing aspects of his thought, his writings reflect a profound theologian with an extraordinarily severe approach to personal abnegation and total obedience to God and one's superiors.
However, there's also a pragmatism to Ignatius' thought which gives it complementary depth. His warnings against counterproductive forms of self-denial and rigidity in worship (it's not necessary to spend whole days in prayer when one can serve God more effectively in other manners, he counsels in one letter: a mere hour of prayer will suffice), the imaginative flexibility with which he conceives of how spiritual exercises and meditations on scriptural passages might affect excitants, and a curious letter where he approvingly tells the story of woman who lived in male disguise as a friar and patiently endured being slandered, all reflect a thinker who was as much a practical leader negotiating amidst external demands as a pious ascetic intent on conquering baser instincts in service of the divine will.
June 3, 2018
A must if you're interested in the life of Ignatius. The selection of the letters presented is exquisite and the commentary is well informed and provides facts and context to the situations talked in them. Very grateful for this book.
January 23, 2025
Very devoted Christian who traveled Spain and Italy in order to feel spiritually connected to God. A quite radical voice for the time period (pre-reformation). His Spiritual Exercises are laid out in a manner that is clear, wise, and inspiring.
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January 19, 2022“there were no intuitions but a tendency to security of soul”
April 23, 2015
I have read some of this text before, but as I read them again among other stuff, they have grown to make more sense (the biography and the Exercises, at least).
Spiritual Diary didn't give much, as a lot of it was repetitive yet does give a good glimpse into his mind. His letters show great skill (even those few that are not really written by him completely).
I still have an issue with his opinions on obedience - at least in how there seems to be nothing about how the superiors should conduct themselves and not abuse their position, and how their power over those they rule can be controlled. And the "believe white is black if your superior says so" thing still doesn't sound good to me...
Anyway, this obedience thing isn't the only subject of the book, so this book still makes a good read even if one cannot agree absolutely with everything. Wasn't essential reading/book for me, but worth reading in the end.
Spiritual Diary didn't give much, as a lot of it was repetitive yet does give a good glimpse into his mind. His letters show great skill (even those few that are not really written by him completely).
I still have an issue with his opinions on obedience - at least in how there seems to be nothing about how the superiors should conduct themselves and not abuse their position, and how their power over those they rule can be controlled. And the "believe white is black if your superior says so" thing still doesn't sound good to me...
Anyway, this obedience thing isn't the only subject of the book, so this book still makes a good read even if one cannot agree absolutely with everything. Wasn't essential reading/book for me, but worth reading in the end.
January 10, 2016
The three separate parts of this book are complimentary but could also be read or used separately. The autobiography at the beginning is interesting, although brief and only a snapshot, it does provide an interesting view into the mind of Ignatius. The second section, the letters, is also interesting although some of the individual letters seem to be out of place. The final section - the exercises - might be the most important but is probably best served as a tool for someone ready to dedicate the necessary time to fully absorb and utilize his guidance in order to truly appreciate what he is saying.
June 1, 2008
powerful, particularly after being taught by Jesuits in school for many years
April 26, 2011
Beautiful confessions of renaissance Tridentine Catholic spirituality. Challenging and insightful. I will treasure this book and return to it again.
October 1, 2012
This book contains Ignatius' letters and commentaries on his spiritual exercises. The book was very helpful in giving the reader a sense of Ignatius' theological views.
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December 1, 2008This is the stuff got me right here -right now.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews