The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Brian McDermott, S.J.

• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781974916108
• Topic: Theologie & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblische Studien

""""The Spiritual Exercises" are a series of Christian meditations, thought experiments, and prayers written by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius, a 16th-century Spanish priest and theologian, was the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), whose aim is to serve the Pope as missionaries. Designed to be executed over a period of four weeks, the exercises are intended to help participants learn the will of God, and prepare them for a lifelong commitment to Jesus. A classic cornerstone of western Christian thought, the Exercises has been widely shared and re-published."""

THE MYSTERIES OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST OUR LORD

Note. It is to be noted in all the following Mysteries, that all the words which are inclosed in parentheses²³ are from the Gospel itself and not those which are outside.

And in each Mystery, for the most part, three Points will be found to meditate and contemplate on with greater ease.

²³ For the parentheses of the Mss. quotation marks have been substituted.

OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LADY

St. Luke writes in the first Chapter [26-39].

First Point. The first Point is that the Angel St. Gabriel, saluting Our Lady, announced to her the Conception of Christ our Lord. “The Angel entering where Mary was, saluted her saying: ‘Hail full of grace. Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son.’”

Second Point. The second, the Angel confirms what he said to Our Lady, telling of the conception of St. John Baptist, saying to her: “‘And behold thy cousin Elizabeth hath conceived a son in her old age.’”

Third Point. The third, Our Lady answered the Angel: “‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word!’”

OF THE VISITATION OF OUR LADY TO ELIZABETH

St. Luke speaks in the first Chapter [39-57].

First Point. First: As Our Lady visited Elizabeth, St. John Baptist, being in his mother’s womb, felt the visitation which Our Lady made. “And when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Our Lady, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth, full of the Holy Ghost, cried out with a loud voice, and said: ‘Blessed be thou among women and blessed be the fruit of thy womb!’”

Second Point. Second: Our Lady sings the canticle, saying: “‘My soul doth magnify the Lord!’”

Third Point. Third: “Mary abode with Elizabeth about three months: and then she returned to her house.”

OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST OUR LORD

St. Luke speaks in the second Chapter [1-15].

First Point. First: Our Lady and her husband Joseph go from Nazareth to Bethlehem. “Joseph went up from Galilee to Bethlehem, to acknowledge subjection to Caesar, with Mary his spouse and wife, already with child.”

Second Point. Second: “She brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped Him up with swaddling clothes and laid Him in the manger.”

Third Point. Third: “There came a multitude of the heavenly army, which said: ‘Glory be to God in the heavens.’”

OF THE SHEPHERDS

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [8-21].

First Point. First: The birth of Christ our Lord is manifested to the Shepherds by the Angel. “‘I manifest to you great Joy, for this day is born the Saviour of the world.”‘

Second Point. Second: The Shepherds go to Bethlehem. “They came with haste and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant put in the manger.”

Third Point. Third: “The Shepherds returned glorifying and praising the Lord.”

OF THE CIRCUMCISION

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [21].

First Point. First: They circumcised the Child Jesus.

Second Point. Second: “His Name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel, before He was conceived in the womb.”

Third Point. Third: They gave back the Child to His Mother, who had compassion for the Blood which came from her Son.

OF THE THREE MAGI KINGS

St. Matthew writes in the second Chapter [1-13].

First Point. First: The three Magi Kings, guiding themselves by the star, came to adore Jesus, saying: “‘We have seen His star in the East and are come to adore Him.’”

Second Point. Second: They adored Him and offered gifts to Him. “Falling down on the earth, they adored Him, and they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

Third Point. Third: “They received answer while sleeping that they should not return to Herod, and went back by another way to their country.”

OF THE PURIFICATION OF OUR LADY AND PRESENTATION OF THE CHILD JESUS

St. Luke writes, Chapter 2 [23-39].

First Point. First: They bring the Child Jesus to the Temple, that He may be presented to the Lord as first-born; and they offer for Him “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

Second Point. Second: Simeon coming to the Temple “took Him into his arms” saying: “‘Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, in peace!’”

Third Point. Third: Anna “coming afterwards confessed to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all that were hoping for the redemption of Israel.”

OF THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT

St. Matthew writes in the second Chapter [13-16].

First Point. First: Herod wanted to kill the Child Jesus, and so killed the Innocents, and before their death the Angel warned Joseph to fly into Egypt: “‘Arise and take the Child and His Mother, and fly to Egypt.’”

Second Point. Second: He departed for Egypt. “Who arising by night departed to Egypt.”

Third Point. Third: He was there until the death of Herod.

OF HOW CHRIST OUR LORD RETURNED FROM EGYPT

St. Matthew writes in the second Chapter [19-23].

First Point. First: The Angel warns Joseph to return to Israel. “‘Arise and take the Child and His Mother and go to the land of Israel.’”

Second Point. Second: Rising, he came to the land of Israel.

Third Point. Third: Because Archelaus, son of Herod, was reigning in Judea, he withdrew into Nazareth.

OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST OUR LORD FROM TWELVE TO THIRTY YEARS

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [51, 52].

First Point. First: He was obedient to His parents: “He advanced in wisdom, age and grace.”

Second Point. Second: It appears that²⁴ He exercised the trade of carpenter, as St. Mark shows he means²⁵ in the sixth chapter. “‘Perhaps this is that carpenter? ‘“

²⁴ It appears that is in the Saint’s handwriting, inserted before He exercised.

²⁵ Shows he means is in the Saint’s hand, correcting says.

OF THE COMING OF CHRIST TO THE TEMPLE

WHEN HE WAS OF THE AGE OF

TWELVE YEARS

St. Luke writes in the second Chapter [42-51].

First Point. First: Christ our Lord, of the age of twelve years, went up from Nazareth to Jerusalem.

Second Point. Second: Christ our Lord remained in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know it.

Third Point. Third: The three days passed, they found Him disputing in the Temple, and seated in the midst of the doctors, and His parents asking Him where He had been, He answered: “‘Did you not know that it behooves Me to be in the things which are My Father’s?’”

OF HOW CHRIST WAS BAPTIZED

St. Matthew writes in the third Chapter [13-17].

First Point. First: Christ our Lord, after having taken leave of His Blessed Mother, came from Nazareth to the River Jordan, where St. John Baptist was.

Second Point. Second: St. John baptized Christ our Lord, and wanting to excuse himself, thinking himself unworthy of baptizing Him, Christ said to him: “Do this for the present, for so it is necessary that we fulfill all justice.’”

Third Point. Third: “The Holy Spirit came and the voice of the Father from heaven affirming: ‘This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.’”

OF HOW CHRIST WAS TEMPTED

St. Luke writes in the fourth Chapter [1-14] and St. Matthew fourth Chapter [1-12].

First Point. First: After being baptized, He went to the Desert, where He fasted forty days and forty nights.

Second Point. Second: He was tempted by the enemy three times. “The tempter coming to Him said to Him: ‘If Thou be the Son of God, say that these stones be turned into bread.’ ‘Cast Thyself down from here.’ ‘If prostrate on the earth Thou...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Paul III, Pope for A Perpetual Remembrance
• Contents
• General Note
• Prayer
• Annotations
• Spiritual Exercises
• Presupposition
• First Week
• Second Week
• Third Week
• Fourth Week
• Contemplation To Gain Love
• Three Methods Of Prayer
• The Mysteries of The Life of Christ Our Lord
• Rules
• General Index