Synopses & Reviews
Ignatius saw the Christian mission, and especially that
of the Jesuit missionary order which he founded, as
being to set fire to the world, igniting a love for Jesus
in the hearts of all. Even today hundreds of years
later the writings of Ignatius of Loyola, one of the
most prolific writers of his time, continue to inspire
Christians in their quest for a meaningful, holy life.
This fascinating introduction to Ignatian spirituality
draws from contemporary translations of original texts
focusing on the practical mysticism of Ignatius of
Loyola. Excerpts from The Spiritual Exercises, his
autobiography, and his collected letters and instructions
provide direct insights from Ignatius about the
spiritual life in general, and also offer context from
Ignatius's life and times. Substantive, facing-page commentary,
presented in a lively and engaging style, illuminates
Ignatius's perspectives on many key aspects of
Christian spirituality:
Sin and self-awareness
Humility and obedience
Trust in God
Discernment
Imitating Jesus and the saints
Love and common good
and more
Synopsis
This sixteenth-century mystic, whose mission was to ignite a love of Jesus in the hearts of all, can be a companion for your own spiritual journey.
Ignatius of Loyola, sixteenth-century mystic, spiritual director, and founder of the Society of Jesus, is considered to be among the greatest educators in the history of western civilization. While the Jesuits went on to establish one of the largest educational networks in the world, Ignatius's initial vision was simply "the help of souls." Even today, his writings continue to inspire Christians in their quest for a meaningful holy life. The Spiritual Exercises alone--Ignatius's most well-known work--has guided the retreat experience of over a million Christians over nearly five centuries.
This fascinating introduction to Ignatian spirituality draws from contemporary translations of original texts focusing on the practical mysticism of Ignatius of Loyola. Excerpts from The Spiritual Exercises, his autobiography, and his collected letters and instructions provide direct insights from Ignatius about the role of humility, obedience, discernment, sin and selfawareness in spiritual life. Substantive facing-page commentary illuminates Ignatius's perspectives on many key aspects of Christian spirituality, including trusting in God, imitating Jesus and the saints, love and the common good, and much more.