Spirtual ExcercisesA gift from St. Ignatius

Week 1 The first week deals with the reconciling love of God. Consider

the blessings of creation and redemption, how God has called me into being and how Christ has suffered and died, so I might be reconciled to the Father. When I reflect upon the gifts of creation and then redemption, what sort of offering should I make? Consider how God dwells in all creatures, in plants and in animals and in humans. Indeed, He makes a temple of me, since I have been created in His image and likeness. When I reflect upon this marvelous honor bestowed upon me, what sort of offering should I make?

Consider how God is laboring for me in all the creatures on the earth. He is not content simply to set things in motion, but toils for my benefit. He makes trees bear fruit for us, He makes the sun shine upon us, and never ceases to work on my behalf. When I see the Lord laboring without rest for my good,  what sort of offering should I make?

How can I

become more

like God?

Week 2 The Biblical passage around this time era explains the

calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be fishers of men. It symbolizes when God calls us to Him, we do as told in order to seek the benefits of Him.

How are we to train ourselves for godly living? What are the exercises in which we are to engage in order to produce and maintain spiritual fitness? We are to exercise ourselves privately and corporately, that is, alone and in fellowship with others. Both are equally important, though some Christians can only exercise themselves privately because they are denied the privilege of corporate exercise, due perhaps to infirmity or age or circumstances.

When the time

comes, will I be

there when God

needs me?

Week 3 The third week sums up our religion: The passion and

death of Jesus. How can I sacrifice something for someone I’ve never

met? Can I stand up to the class bully, even if it results in

losing friends? How dedicated are you to your faith? This week in particular has a big impact on Christianity.

What Christ has done for us, can we do anything in return?

To love one another as Jesus did is one of the main attributes of this week. It doesn’t take a coward to give up your life for someone else, it takes a true, humane person, just as Jesus did.

How will we sacrifice ourselves in order to honor God?

Week 4 The Biblical passage for this week expresses the mustard

seed, a symbol that everything starts from a speck of dust, but develops in to something extraordinary.

When we see a colored person, do we assume that he/she is a thief or a murderer? When we see an Asian, do we make fun of his facial features or the way he speaks? Better yet, can we stand up to those who are making fun of them?

We as Christians are called to help those in need, and to act as we would want to be treated.

If you were there when Jesus was being crucified, would you shout profane words just to go along with the crowd?

Do as Jesus created us in His image and likeness.

In what way we will bring others closer to God?