What Is Ignatian Spirituality?

Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. It is a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment, and an active life of service to others.

Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality
Beyond the Basics of Ignatian Spirituality
For the Ignatian Expert
The Ignatian Year 2021–2022

Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality

Where Can I Find God?
Ignatian spirituality is rooted in the conviction that God is active, personal, and—above all—present to us.

How Can I Pray?
Overview of the Examen, a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day.

10 Elements of Ignatian Spirituality
An overview of its unique insights, attributes, and history.

The Ignatian Way
A series of online presentations that introduce the main ideas of Ignatian spirituality, based on materials written by Brian Grogan, SJ.

31 Days with St. Ignatius
A month-long celebration that serves as a good introduction to the riches of Ignatian spirituality.

God Calls, We Respond
By David L. Fleming, SJ
God calls. We respond. It is the fundamental dynamic of the spiritual life.

God in All Things Video
“The key insight of Ignatius Loyola is that we can find God in all things.”

6 Characteristics of Ignatian Spirituality
By George W. Traub, SJ
A career Jesuit educator lists the highlights of Ignatian spirituality for students and colleagues.

St. Ignatius Loyola
Biographies and other resources for learning about Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits and the namesake for Ignatian spirituality.

Beyond the Basics of Ignatian Spirituality

A Spirituality of Action
By Monika K. Hellwig
A focus on action is an important characteristic of Ignatian spirituality.

Do You Speak Ignatian?
By George W. Traub, SJ
From “A.M.D.G.” to “Xavier, Francis”—a glossary of terms used in Ignatian and Jesuit circles.

4 Ways of Helping People
By Howard Gray, SJ
Educator, writer, and popular speaker Howard Gray describes how Ignatius came upon the central insight of his spiritual way.

Ignatius’ 3-Part Vision
By David L. Fleming, SJ
Spiritual director David Fleming describes Ignatius Loyola’s vision of life, work, and love.

 Magis Video
“Magis,” Latin for “more,” is a key concept in Ignatian spirituality.

Why Young Adults Need Ignatian Spirituality (PDF)
By Tim Muldoon
Five elements of Ignatian spirituality that especially appeal to young people seeking to grow in faith.

AMDG Video
This short video features students from Jesuit high schools explaining what “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” means to them.

For the Ignatian Expert

Ignatius Challenges Young People (PDF; 80 KB)
By Christine Rossi
A young adult’s account of her spiritual awakening through an encounter with Ignatian spirituality on a university campus.

“Here I Am”: Ignatian Ways of Serving (PDF; 70 KB)
By David L. Fleming, SJ
The richness of Ignatian service: “To follow is to serve, to be available is to serve, to believe and to trust is to serve, to accompany is to serve, to forgive and to be compassionate is to serve, and to celebrate the Eucharist is to serve.”

Searching for Meaning Today: An Ignatian Contribution (PDF)
By Brian O’Leary, SJ
In this 2005 article from the Review of Ignatian Spirituality, O’Leary brings the 16th century Ignatian experience and insight into dialogue with our postmodern search for meaning. The article is best suited to those already at an advanced level of knowledge about Ignatian spirituality.

The Jesuit/Ignatian Charism: A Personal Synthesis and Tribute to Fr. P. Arrupe (PDF)
By Herbert Alphonso, SJ
Alphonso summarizes Ignatius’s insights of what it means to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ and others as found in the Spiritual Exercises and the Constitutions. He then shows that the experience of God as God for Jesus, Ignatius, and Pedro Arrupe is that “inner freedom” characterized by “freedom from” all forms of selfishness, in order to be “free for” God and in God, for others.