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Making Choices in Christ: The Foundations of Ignatian Spirituality
An extraordinary spiritual practice with the power to transform the ordinary life Even in our modern society, one of the most effective ways to develop a dynamic relationship with God is through the 450-year-old practice of Ignatian spirituality. Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ, a leading expert on the subject, shows how Ignatian principles and practices can help each of us to discern God’s will for our life and to become a changed person in Christ.
Having overseen the efforts of more than 200 Jesuit retreat houses and centers for spirituality, Fr. Tetlow is uniquely equipped to describe how the ordinary person in the 21st century can live out the extraordinary theology of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
The 40 concise meditations contained in Making Choices in Christ explore what Ignatian spirituality is and isn’t; what it means to live by it; Ignatius’s legacy to all who practice the spirituality; and its important concepts and experiences, most notably the Spiritual Exercises.
An ideal resource to be used before or during a retreat with the Exercises, this book can guide any layperson at any time toward a life-changing encounter with the living God.
Having overseen the efforts of more than 200 Jesuit retreat houses and centers for spirituality, Fr. Tetlow is uniquely equipped to describe how the ordinary person in the 21st century can live out the extraordinary theology of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
The 40 concise meditations contained in Making Choices in Christ explore what Ignatian spirituality is and isn’t; what it means to live by it; Ignatius’s legacy to all who practice the spirituality; and its important concepts and experiences, most notably the Spiritual Exercises.
An ideal resource to be used before or during a retreat with the Exercises, this book can guide any layperson at any time toward a life-changing encounter with the living God.
- GenresCatholic
136 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2008
39 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 7, 2025
A CLC(Christian Life Community) friend gave me this book, "Making Choices in Christ: The Foundations of Ignatian Spirituality," by Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ, in 2009. I stopped reading it some time and never went back to it. But this time, I found it an amazing spiritual book for Ignatian discernment.
"The 40 concise meditations contained in Making Choices in Christ explore what Ignatian spirituality is and isn’t; "
We need to pray, contemplate, and discern God's will and wishes in us. We, Christians, continue the work of Jesus of Nazareth, day by day on earth. Fr. Tetlow shows us how Jesus learned while growing up, how to choose the way of life and his missions.
Followers of Ignatian Spirituality do the Examen of Consciousness which is less about our sin than about our growth in Christlife. Loving the way God loves means doing all things well. Then not only will we share his glory, but we will also be his glory.
Fr. Tetlow says in the 'Prodigal Son' parable, that it is the father who is prodigal because he wastes his love for his sons. He also shows the resemblance between the Father in the parable and Jesus Christ on the cross. The prodigal son wishes his father's death to inherit his fortune.
He also shows our obesity can be a sin and how sloth is similar to workaholics or perfectionism.
I love this book and strongly recommend it to anyone interested in spirituality.
"The 40 concise meditations contained in Making Choices in Christ explore what Ignatian spirituality is and isn’t; "
We need to pray, contemplate, and discern God's will and wishes in us. We, Christians, continue the work of Jesus of Nazareth, day by day on earth. Fr. Tetlow shows us how Jesus learned while growing up, how to choose the way of life and his missions.
Followers of Ignatian Spirituality do the Examen of Consciousness which is less about our sin than about our growth in Christlife. Loving the way God loves means doing all things well. Then not only will we share his glory, but we will also be his glory.
Fr. Tetlow says in the 'Prodigal Son' parable, that it is the father who is prodigal because he wastes his love for his sons. He also shows the resemblance between the Father in the parable and Jesus Christ on the cross. The prodigal son wishes his father's death to inherit his fortune.
He also shows our obesity can be a sin and how sloth is similar to workaholics or perfectionism.
I love this book and strongly recommend it to anyone interested in spirituality.
October 12, 2024
By Scott Robertson not by Jennifer Robertson
A challenging exposition of Ignation spirituality. Any and all Christians would benefit from this book. It will help deepen your prayer life and strengthen the foundation of your life in and for God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
A challenging exposition of Ignation spirituality. Any and all Christians would benefit from this book. It will help deepen your prayer life and strengthen the foundation of your life in and for God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
November 17, 2025
An asset for spiritual directors or students of the Exercises
A well laid out overview of the
Exercises. 'Useful for spiritual directors or for directees to review where the Exercises led them.
A well laid out overview of the
Exercises. 'Useful for spiritual directors or for directees to review where the Exercises led them.
January 9, 2026
Outstanding ! It distills introductory concepts into simple essays - There is no word wasted. I will being going to an introductory Ignatian retreat in two weeks and I feel better prepared by reading this.
September 9, 2014
September 9, "The Fuciked Up Dozen" Luke 6:12-19 Blessed Jacques Laval
I have been told literally through the past twenty years, by professionals and "up standing citizens", what a "fuck up" I am. Simply because I did not play by their rules---and frankly their rules are boring, boring. I look around me on the sidewalks and I give food and socks to fifty people each night when I take a lake night walk after I am done with my regular outreach. They are in the door ways of our churches, on the sidewalks, and in our parks. Our leaders tout an upturn in the economy and promote non-plastic bags, legislation to allow dogs in restaurants, and ignore the pain under their feet. They talk of climate change and yet sell the soul of our country's environment for more money.
A twenty two year old tech guy, Sean, takes out sandwiches and feeds a hundred people every two or three nights, and people tell him he is wasting his time. And I told him that if everyone did that there would be no more hunger. He said he is called a "fuck up." And as I look at the disciples of Jesus, they were "fuck ups" and they followed him for the same reason I do--no one else really wanted them, cared about them, or respected them. But he looked up on them with infinite respect. And for me: when I fell from grace some twenty five years ago by coming out, and then becoming a sex worker, he lifted me up, and I am glad to be a part of the "fucked up disciples."
In In Making Choices in Christ Joseph A. Tetlow, shares the Ignatian journey. It is a journey of inclusiveness. He shares the Exercises of Ignatius and how they can shape our lives into being aware of ministry all around us. The beauty of St. Ignatius was that he saw God in everything. The Exercises have shaped my journey, and I practice the Examination of Conscience every day of my life, and I find that I look at life with new eyes each day and see Christ in each person. Tetlow puts into more academic terms what I talked about in the earlier part of this blog--and he presents the Way of Ignatius as the a theological bridge in making the journey with all humanity. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
VegInspiration
We universally condemn supremacism, elitism, and exclusivism for destroying peace and social justice, yet we unquestioningly and even proudly adopt precisely these attitudes when it comes to animals. Dr. Will Tuttle
I have been told literally through the past twenty years, by professionals and "up standing citizens", what a "fuck up" I am. Simply because I did not play by their rules---and frankly their rules are boring, boring. I look around me on the sidewalks and I give food and socks to fifty people each night when I take a lake night walk after I am done with my regular outreach. They are in the door ways of our churches, on the sidewalks, and in our parks. Our leaders tout an upturn in the economy and promote non-plastic bags, legislation to allow dogs in restaurants, and ignore the pain under their feet. They talk of climate change and yet sell the soul of our country's environment for more money.
A twenty two year old tech guy, Sean, takes out sandwiches and feeds a hundred people every two or three nights, and people tell him he is wasting his time. And I told him that if everyone did that there would be no more hunger. He said he is called a "fuck up." And as I look at the disciples of Jesus, they were "fuck ups" and they followed him for the same reason I do--no one else really wanted them, cared about them, or respected them. But he looked up on them with infinite respect. And for me: when I fell from grace some twenty five years ago by coming out, and then becoming a sex worker, he lifted me up, and I am glad to be a part of the "fucked up disciples."
In In Making Choices in Christ Joseph A. Tetlow, shares the Ignatian journey. It is a journey of inclusiveness. He shares the Exercises of Ignatius and how they can shape our lives into being aware of ministry all around us. The beauty of St. Ignatius was that he saw God in everything. The Exercises have shaped my journey, and I practice the Examination of Conscience every day of my life, and I find that I look at life with new eyes each day and see Christ in each person. Tetlow puts into more academic terms what I talked about in the earlier part of this blog--and he presents the Way of Ignatius as the a theological bridge in making the journey with all humanity. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
VegInspiration
We universally condemn supremacism, elitism, and exclusivism for destroying peace and social justice, yet we unquestioningly and even proudly adopt precisely these attitudes when it comes to animals. Dr. Will Tuttle
November 17, 2015
This book is very accessible in terms of exploring the Spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Order of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. When studying and contemplating in prayer and in retreat the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, this easy to read primer brings the original work of Saint Ignatius into our totally different way of living today in the 21st Century. Father Tetlow writes short chapters here that help us get a better handle on how Ignatian spirituality can become part of our everyday life today. I highly recommend this book as a companion to the original writings of Saint Ignatius from over 500 years ago.
September 25, 2016
Concise overview of Ignatian Exercises
Having done much reading and practicing of the exercises I found this small book exactly the right amount of detail to remember how we can be more grateful and lead a fuller life.
Having done much reading and practicing of the exercises I found this small book exactly the right amount of detail to remember how we can be more grateful and lead a fuller life.
March 28, 2010
Great for those who've taken the Spiritual Exercises—a good reinforcer of Ignatian Spirituality in our practical and real lives.
August 4, 2012
Very good overview of Ignatian Spirituality!
Read
December 24, 2014Good reflections and insights!
March 5, 2017
Good introduction to the Spiritual Exercises. Very good one
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews