St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, was a Spanish nobleman and priest in the 16th century. St. Ignatius developed and wrote a set of prayers, meditations and contemplations known as the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This guide was created with the intention of helping those on religious retreats and aid them on their journey to grow closer with God. These “exercises” are divided into four themes designed to follow over a 28 or 30 day period as the individual on a religious retreat further discerns the will of God in their life. Each theme [...]

In the most basic sense of the word, a retreat is a time in which one steps back from the noise and stress of day to day life to reflect and connect with oneself.  A spiritual retreat builds upon this concept by not only allowing one to better connect with themselves, but to allow them to take the time to connect with God on a more intimate level. The definition of a spiritual retreat can help answer the question as to why we go on a retreat. We all need time to take a step back, relax, meditate and see ourselves [...]

What is spiritual direction and who can benefit from it? Anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God can certainly benefit from spiritual direction. When you are able to better connect with God, you also obtain a better understanding of yourself. Spiritual direction is the process where someone guides the person seeking direction in their reflection and growth. First, this process allows someone to understand their relationship with God with the help of a spiritual director. The spiritual director helps the person open their ears, eyes, heart and mind to the voice of God.  Growing closer with God with the help [...]