SPIRITUAL EXERCISES 30 DAY RETREAT
THE TEXT OF THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
OF SAINT IGNATIUS
CONTENTS OF THE EXERCISES
Introductory Explanations
1-20
THE FIRST WEEK
The Purpose 21
Presupposition 22
Principle and Foundation 23
Daily Particular Examination of Conscience 24-31
General Examination of Conscience 32-43
General Confession, with Holy Communion 44
The Exercises of the First Week:
1st: Meditation on the First, Second, and Third Sins 45-54
2nd: Meditation on Our Own Sins 55-61
3rd: Repetition of the First and Second Exercises 62-63
4th: Resumé by Making Three Colloquies 64
5th: Meditation on Hell 65-71
Additional Directives 73-90
THE SECOND WEEK
The Contemplation of the Kingdom of Christ 91-99
The Exercises of the First Day:
1st Contemplation: on the Incarnation 101-109
2nd Contemplation: on the Nativity 110-117
3rd Contemplation: Repetition of Contemplations 1 and 2 118-119
4th Contemplation: Repetition of Contemplations 1 and 2 120
5th Contemplation: Application of the Five Senses to Contemplations 1 and 2 121-126
Second Day: The Presentation in the Temple and The Flight into Egypt 132
Third Day: The Hidden Life and the Finding in the Temple 134
Fourth Day:
Preamble to the Consideration of the States of Life Meditation on Two
Standards: of Christ and of Lucifer
Meditation on the Three Classes of Persons
Note on Overcoming Repugnance to Poverty
Fifth Day: Contemplation on Christ’s Departure from Nazareth and His Baptism 158
Sixth Day: The Temptations of Christ in the Desert 161
2
Seventh Day: Christ Calls the Apostles 161
Eighth Day: The Sermon on the Mount: the Beatitudes 161
Ninth Day: Christ Calms the Storm on the Lake 161
Tenth Day: Christ Preaches in the Temple 161
Eleventh Day: The Raising of Lazarus 161
Twelfth Day: Palm Sunday 161
Three Ways of Being Humble 165-168
THE ELECTION
Introduction to the Making of an Election 169
The Matters about Which an Election Should Be Made 170-174
Three Times Suitable for Making a Good Election: 175-178
1. When God Strongly Attracts One’s Will 175
2. When Clarifying Consolations and Desolations Are Experienced 176
3. By Reasoning in a Time of Mental Calm:
The First Method
The Second Method
Toward Amending and Reforming One’s Own Life and State 188
THE THIRD WEEK
First Day:
Contemplation, from Bethany through the Last Supper 190-199
From the Last Supper to the Garden, inclusively 200-203
Notes on Procedures 204-207
Introduction 15
Second Day:
From the Garden to the House of Annas
From the House of Annas to That of Caiaphas
Third Day:
From Caiaphas to Pilate
From Pilate to Herod
Fourth Day: From Herod to Pilate 208
Fifth Day:
From Pilate to the Crucifixion
Christ on the Cross
Sixth Day:
From the Cross to the Sepulcher
From the Sepulcher to Our Lady’s House
Seventh Day: Contemplation of the Passion as a Whole 208
Note 209
Rules to Order Oneself in the Taking of Food 210-217
THE FOURTH WEEK
The First Contemplation: Christ Appears to Our Lady 218-225
Notes on the Contemplations of the Fourth Week 226-229
Contemplation to Attain Love 203-237
SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER
Three Methods of Praying
The First: On the Commandments, Capital Sins, Faculties of the Soul, and Five
Senses of the Body
The Second: Contemplating Each Word of a Prayer
The Third: Praying According to a Rhythmic Measure
228-260
238-247
249-257
258-260
The Mysteries of the Life of Christ 261-312
Rules to Perceive and Somewhat Understand the Motions Caused in the Soul by the
Diverse Spirits
313-327
Rules for a More Probing Discernment of Spirits 328-336
Rules for the Ministry of Distributing Alms 337-344
Notes toward Perceiving and Understanding Scruples 345-351
Rules for Thinking, Judging, and Feeling with the Church 352-370