Jesuit Spirituality

Each of the major religious families in the Catholic Church, like the Benedictines, Franciscans, and Dominicans, has a distinctive way of following the Risen Christ and responding to the Holy Spirit. The items below should introduce one to Jesuit spirituality and give a sense of its contours or distinguishing characteristics, as well as some ways of living it out in daily life.

A Guide to the Contents:
Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits
The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius
Jesuit Spirituality - Resources in Spanish
Prayer in general and related items
Spirituality as expressed in Art, Poetry and Science
Bibliographic and Other Resources


Ignatius Loyola Founder of the Jesuits


The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius and Contemporary Adaptations
  • The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises for the Corporate Person: is a joint Canadian-American project. ISECP is a group of seven lay and religious (including two Jesuits) persons who write and facilitate groups using Ignatian insights. We are interested in the interface of Ignatian Spirituality with modern business practice and communal decision-making.
  • Creighton University's Collaborative Ministry Office have produced a 34 Week Retreat in Everyday Life. People can begin it at any time. It features photos, a central "guide" for the week, with several resources provided each week. There will be a weekly "helps" resource. A variety of readings and prayers and a weekly "guidepost for the journey". There is an invitation to people to "share" with others the fruits and graces of their reflection. And, there is a page for people to read the sharing.


Jesuit Spirituality - Resources in Spanish
  • Padre Jorge Loring, S.I. has published a book (in Spanish) entitled Para Salvarte which has sold over a million copies! He has a home page which describes him and his work.


Prayer in General and Related Items

  • Sacred Space is a page which leads you through a daily prayer for Lent. It is produced by the Irish Jesuits.
  • Vision 2000, a site devoted to prayer, based on the lectionary used by many Christian groups, as suggested by Mark Link, SJ, who writes extensively in this area.
  • Fr Robert Kennedy, SJ has been recognized as as Zen master ( and provides retreats and conferences which mediate between the wisdom of the Zen tradition and Christianity.
  • Madonna: A magazine of prayer and spirituality published by the Australian Jesuits.


Spirituality as Expressed in Art, Poetry and Science

  • A Jesuit Iconographer:An interview originally published in America Magazine with Rev. McNichols, S.J. by Andrew J Krivak, S.J.


Bibliographic and Other Resources

  • Ignatian Bibliography: Philip Sheldrake's "The Way of Ignatius Loyola," a comprehensive bibliography on Ignatian spirituality.