Giving the Retreat in Everyday Life: A Handbook for Spiritual Directors

The resurgence of interest in the Spiritual Exercises compiled by Saint Ignatius of Loyola and in use by the religious for more than 500 years suggests that something new is happening. Not only are more people giving and making the Exercises, but the places and ways they are being offered are expanding more today than at any other time in history.

This is due to a large extent to a maturing understanding of the Exercises arising from Ignatius' own spiritual experience rather than simply analyzing the text itself. A transformative process of drawing persons closer to the heart of Christ is embedded in the Exercises. Communicating and shepherding this process with the retreatant requires the director to draw from their own contemplative posture in relating to the Exercises. This manual is very practical, and its use is intended for spiritual directors who themselves have experienced the Exercises and are familiar with the overall dynamics of the Exercises and now feel called to direct others.

This handbook is designed to support the director's work in the retreat. In addition to the exercises, the director will find preparatory and supplemental material.

Based on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. By Maureen Conroy, RSM, D.Min., and Lisa Taylor Keuhlen, Ph.D.(c).