The Nature and gradual composition of the Book

Ignatian Spirituality has continually gained influence around the world for almost five centuries now. The wide range of ministries and apostolate that the Jesuits have like the putting up of universities and schools in every part of the world, doing missionary works across the seas, and involvement through various fields or professions for the development of communities (Jesuit scientists, Jesuit lawyers, medical doctors, artists, musicians, university professors, engineers, and the like).

Behind all these is a book—the little book of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This book has been the most influential and best known among Ignatius’ books. Through it, most of those who have become followers of his spirituality have been initiated into its chief principles and inspirational force. Among all his works, this small book contains the core and marrow of his spiritual outlook.

It can be noted in the life of the saint that he first made the Exercises before he wrote them. The writing of the notes sprang from his desire to share such a beautiful experience with others and in order to guide them through spiritual conversations. He enticed them to perform exercises of prayer (meditation and contemplation), confession, and other activities of a more intense spiritual life.

I would like to assert that the spiritual formation of every Jesuit depends largely on this little but powerful book. Every Jesuit makes the Exercises twice during his entire life as a Jesuit. The first one is when he is a novice and the second will come only after twelve to fifteen years when he reaches tertianship.

From Ignatius’ day until the present, virtually all Jesuit priests and brothers have carried on the apostolate of giving the Exercises in various forms and adaptations. Not only do they cater to fellow Jesuits but also to other members of religious orders, to lay people, to their students, and others who have the desire to encounter God. Thus, if you look back to your many experiences of retreats and recollections directed by Jesuit scholastics, priests and brothers, all those prayer points that they have been giving you were derived from the little book of the Spiritual Exercises.