1. A journey with the spiritual exercises

2. Guidebook leading to a destination To the heart of God Which fills the hearts of all people Leads our own life narrative into the story of the life of Jesus Christ Both become more vivid and interconnected

3. Increase awareness How God guided me in the past How God labors in my life in the present How God calls me in the future Awareness is gained as the Exercises help free me of the interior clutter that gets in the way

4. Demands much from us Intellectually Emotionally Memory Will Two forms of praying Meditation Contemplation

5. Use intellect to wrestle with basic principles that guide our lives Think through scenarios Wrestle with concepts Challenge past assumptions

6. Combines feeling and thinking Stirs emotions and inspires deep, God-given desires Use our imaginations to place ourselves in gospel events

7. Not a book for reading – a guidebook for a director to lead one through a retreat Four weeks – four movements that Spirit leads one through

8. Twentieth annotation – Exercises over a 30-day retreat Nineteenth annotation – Exercises over an extended period of time (once a week) Eighteenth annotation – Parts of exercises on a weekend retreat, weeklong retreat, or day of prayer

9. Begin slowly and gently (like marathon) Consider Gods gift of creation Pray for spirit of awe and gratitude Hope for deeply felt sense of Gods unconditional love

10. Face our own limited response Let God reveal our sinfulness and need for conversion Do so with understanding of Gods deep love that God wants to free us from hurdles to loving God, others, and ourselves Gaze becomes fixed on Gods mercy

11. Desire to love and serve God and others more Pray through life of Jesus as presented in the gospels Learn to appreciate Jesus values and vision of this world Manifests in desire to follow with action in this world

12. Deepening personal identification with Jesus Want to join him in his suffering and his death Spend time contemplating the Lords passion Recognize it is consummate expression of Gods faithfulness and love for us

13. Walk with risen Lord in the joy of the resurrected life Learn from him as he consoles others Pray for a generous heart to find God in all things Pray to love and serve God and others in concrete ways and with great enthusiasm (contemplation to attain divine love)

14. Major aspect of exercises Notice interior movements of the heart Where are they coming from? Where are they leading us? Purpose is to act in a way that leads us to greater faith, hope, and love Can help with decisions, but primarily a way of being

15. Not a linear process God deals with each of us in a unique manner Important to work with a trusted spiritual director Not for the faint of heart – Exercises demand much from us!