The Spiritual Exercises is a little book written by St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, in the sixteenth century. Since then, it has had an enormous influence on the lives of many people seeking greater intimacy with God and a greater sense of purpose in their lives. The book is the fruit of St. Ignatius’s reflections on his own journey towards God, as well as on his experience of helping others on their journey. It is not an academic treatise on the spiritual life, but rather a practical handbook to help people come to know the God of love, to face the obstacles that distort their relationship with God and with others, and to follow Christ in the concrete choices of their lives. For this reason, The Spiritual Exercises is not a book to be read from cover to cover: it is more like a guidebook or map for helping people negotiate the journey of life.

In their complete form, The Spiritual Exercises may be made in either of two ways. The first way is to set aside a period of some thirty days of silent withdrawal for a concentrated experience of prayer and reflection under the direction of an experienced guide. In Manresa, we offer the Spiritual Exercises in this form in July of each year. Alternatively, for those who are unable to put aside so much time, the full Exercises can be made in daily life over an extended period of time, again under the direction of an experienced guide. The Exercises in Daily Life require a commitment to daily spiritual practice of about one hour as well as a weekly or fortnightly meeting with a spiritual director. This spiritual adventure can last from eight months to two years, depending on the pace at which a person moves through the experience under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In Manresa, we are happy to make arrangements for those who wish to make the Spiritual Exercises in this form.

Following the lead of St. Ignatius himself, who suggested that the Spiritual Exercises should be adapted to the circumstances in which people find themselves, Manresa also offers other kinds of retreat: eight days, four days, three days, weekends, single days and even a few hours. These retreats are not condensed versions of the Spiritual Exercises, of course, but they are based on the insights and dynamic which are at the heart of Ignatian spirituality. We hope that you will find something to satisfy your hunger for the Lord among the variety of retreats we offer.