Spiritual Exercises

Father Hardon’s writings on the Spiritual Exercises explore the Ignatian tradition of prayer, discernment, and spiritual transformation. These articles examine meditation, examination of conscience, detachment, and the pursuit of deeper union with God through disciplined spiritual practice.

The Resurrection of Christ

Spiritual Exercises of St. IgnatiusConference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Jesus appeared to His mother first, the Fathers of the Church tell us, to Mary Magdalen, then to the holy women, next to Peter, to the disciples of Emmaus, then through barred doors, to the apostles, where He instituted the Sacrament of Confession. What […]

Sanctity Through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Let me be as clear as I can. Why speak on this subject of Sanctity through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius? Because, as one modern pope after another tells us, our century is the most sin-laden century in human history. Ordinary Catholics will not survive. Ordinary bishops will […]

A Meditation on Liberty – Choice, Love and Sacrifice

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. I suggest that we reflect on the subject of liberty in the religious life-the last thing I think you would expect for a meditation. I doubt if there is any single subject on which more has been written in recent years than the subject of freedom. It is, so […]

How to Make a Thirty Day Private Retreat, Following the Spiritual Exercises

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Already in the lifetime of St. Ignatius, the Spiritual Exercises were made by people in the privacy of their homes. In order to make the Exercises in their entirety, thirty full days should be given for the retreat. This means beginning the night before the first full day, and […]

Prospectus for a 30-Day Retreat According to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Themes for 3 Meditations # corresponding to Bk. (Puhl) First Day “Faith in God” 1. As our Creator 23 2. As our Guide 3. As our Destiny Second Day “Sin of the World” 1. The Fallen Angels 49 […]

The Call of Christians to the Apostolate

Spiritual Exercise of St. Ignatius Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. The Call of Christians to the Lay Apostolate. The Call of Christ the King starts the second week of the Exercises. Don’t fail to supplement the powerful talk you will now hear with a prayerful reading from recommended books. We should examine our […]

Following the Spiritual Exercises

The Principle and the Foundation

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. When the director of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is a Jesuit who has written a book on the Exercises has given many spiritual exercise retreats during his 47 years in the priesthood, is an outstanding author, scholar and catechist; practices what […]

Contemplation for Obtaining Divine Love

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Here St. Ignatius provides a practical method of living out the exercises until the dawn of eternity. Whatever else we do in life, whatever decisions we have made or resolutions we have reached, the heart of the spiritual life is our responsive love […]

Why Make a Retreat?

Ignatian Retreat (August 1975) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. For the opening conference I thought I would do two things. First, remind ourselves as to why we are making a retreat or, in plainer English, what a retreat is all about. And the more retreats we make, the more I think we’ve got […]

The Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises

Ignatian Retreat (August 1975) (A Model Retreat) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. For the first day of the retreat, we are reflecting on what is called the Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises. We have seen that there are two basic truths which are part of our faith that undergird this so […]

Self-Knowledge as a Sinner

Ignatian Retreat (August 1975) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. The first step on the road to sanctity is a knowledge of God’s plan – His plan for the universe at large and His plan for me. In fact, a good descriptive definition of “vocation” is “God’s plan for me”. But if that is […]

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