Chapter I: Preface

The Text of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, as translated into English from the Spanish Autograph, and edited for private circulation by Rev. John Morris, S. J., is printed in a small volume of only 125 pages. That little work contains all that the Saint composed in the Grotto of Manresa, and he never afterward wrote any additions to the text. But in explaining his Exercises to his first companions, and to others who made the retreat under his direction, he would adapt the details to their characters and the various circumstances. His followers did the same, without writing further additions or commentaries on the original text; they followed in their practice the traditional method as it had come to them from their saintly founder.

In the course of time, as was natural, considerable departures from the first process took place, some of which induced the danger of gradually losing the very spirit of the original Exercises. Among the learned men of our Society who labored most successfully to check such tendency, one of the most distinguished was the Father General John Roothaan, who in 1834 addressed a circular letter to all his subjects, earnestly warning them against this peril. At the same time he furnished them a masterly work on the original Spanish and Latin texts, which he accompanied with a most valuable commentary.

For those preferring a Latin guide book, whether in making the Exercises themselves, or in explaining them to others, no work is more commendable than that masterpiece of Father Roothaan. Still, both before and since its publication, many other editions of the Exercises and commentaries on the same have been printed, both in Latin and in various modern languages, with full approbation and warm commendations of the Superiors of the Society; and excellent reasons appear to exist why successive generations of Jesuits should continue their efforts to enrich this valuable literature. In particular the eight days retreat, which all our members perform every year, gains additional interest and impressiveness when a wider range is presented, affording a choice among a large number of approved guide books to direct them through this fertile region of spirituality.

The spirit permeating all of these must ever be the same, so too the main outline of the truths proposed and the general plan of the Exercises. Yet experience shows that there remains a wide room for variety in comments, suggestions and practical applications. Therefore, when the time for each one’s annual retreat comes round, there is shown by many Fathers an earnest desire for some late publication on the subject, that will lend new zest to the familiar solid doctrine. To satisfy such reasonable wishes is the chief reason why the present pages are modestly presented to his brethren by

THE AUTHOR.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE RETREAT

Preface iii

Preparatory Consideration 1

FIRST DAY

First Meditation—End of Man 8

Second Meditation—End of Creatures 12

Consideration—End of the Religious Life 14

Third Meditation—Indifference to Creatures 20

SECOND DAY

First Meditation—Sin 26

Second Meditation—One’s Own Sins 30

Consideration—Confession of the Retreat 33

Third Meditation—Eternal Loss 37

THIRD DAY

First Meditation—Preparation for Death 42

Second Meditation—The Particular Judgment 44

Consideration—Purity of Conscience 48

Third Meditation—To Excite Perfect Contrition 53

FOURTH DAY

First Meditation—The Kingdom of Christ 57

Second Meditation—The Incarnation 60

Consideration—The Imitation of Christ 64

Third Meditation—The Birth of Christ 70

FIFTH DAY

First Meditation—The Flight Into Egypt 74

Second Meditation—The Private Life of Christ 77

Consideration—The Imitation of Christ’s Private Life 81

Third Meditation—The Public Life of Christ 87

SIXTH DAY

First Meditation—The Two Standards 91

Second Meditation—The Three Degrees of Humility 94

Consideration—Temptations 97

Third Meditation—Three Classes of Men 102

SEVENTH DAY

First Meditation—The Sufferings of Christ in the Garden 106

Second Meditation—Christ’s Sufferings Before His Judges 109

Consideration—Generosity in the Service of God 112

Third Meditation—The Death of Christ 118

EIGHTH DAY

First Meditation—The Resurrection of Christ 121

Second Meditation—Christ’s Ascension into Heaven 124

Consideration—The Spirit of Love 127

Third Meditation—Divine Love 133

INDEX TO TRIDUUMS

TRIDUUM A.

Meditation I—On the Desire of Perfection 138

Meditation II—In What Perfection Consists 140

Meditation III—Christ the Model of Perfection 143

Meditation IV—The Need of Prayer to Attain Perfection 145

Meditation V—The Power of Prayer to Obtain Perfection 148

Meditation VI—The Aid of Mary to Attain Perfection 150

TRIDUUM B.

Meditation I—On the Vows 153

Meditation II—On Renovation of the Vows 155

Meditation III—What Kind of Men Does Our Vocation Require? 157

Meditation IV—Christ Is Here to Help Us 160

Meditation V—The Holy Ghost Sanctifies Us 163

Meditation VI—Effects Produced by the Holy Ghost 165

TRIDUUM C.

Meditation I—The Need of Frequent Renovations of Spirit 169

Meditation II—Sin the Chief Hindrance to Our Progress 171

Meditation III—Fidelity in Little Things 174

Meditation IV—The Observance of Our Rules 177

Meditation V—Zeal for Souls 179

Meditation VI—Devotion to the Blessed Virgin 181

TRIDUUM D.

Meditation I—The Purpose of this Triduum 185

Meditation II—The Interior Spirit 187

Meditation III—The Interior Spirit Fostered by Faith 190

Meditation IV—The Interior Spirit Fostered by Hope 193

Meditation V—The Interior Spirit Fostered by Charity 195

Meditation VI—The Interior Spirit Fostered by the Holy Ghost 198

TRIDUUM E.

Meditation I—Preparation for the Triduum 201

Meditation II—The Field Ripe for the Harvest 203

Meditation III—Fraternal Charity 205

Meditation IV—The Spirit of Sacrifice 208

Meditation V—Become Men of Prayer 211

Meditation VI—The Vine and the Branches 214

TRIDUUM F.

Meditation I—On the Vows 217

Meditation II—The Vow of Chastity 219

Meditation III—The Vow of Obedience 222

Meditation IV—Strength of Character 225

Meditation V—Co-operation with Grace 227

Meditation VI—The Perfection of Our Actions 230

THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS

PREPARATORY CONSIDERATION