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.

What is Prayer?

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. The subject of prayer may seem to be a very common place topic. But it is not. With all the interesting subjects to write about, why, of all the prosaic things to still say more about prayer? We might consider that not everything interesting […]

Why Should We Pray?

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. In reflecting on the subject of prayer, what has been said so far was mainly directed to the mind, which answers the question of “what” something is. But we know that prayer is not something that we merely think about or speculate on; it […]

The Corporate Witness of Religious Life

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. These reflections are based on statements by Pope Paul VI in his “Apostolic Exhortation to Religious”, which as you recall was published on the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the two greatest witnesses to Christ after Christ’s own Mother. It is not […]

Faith: The Foundation of the Christian Life

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. In the Church today there is a crisis of faith. By crisis, we mean a time of decision when all in the Church – members of the hierarchy, priests, religious, and laity – are called upon to decide what we believe and why, and […]

Sacred Scripture As Nourishment for the Christian Faith

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. It is an open secret to all of us that although the Bible has always had an honored position in the Catholic Church nevertheless, since the Second Vatican Council, there has begun what can only be described as a Biblical renaissance in Catholic Christianity; […]

Jesus Christ – The Master Theme of the Bible

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Developments Since Vatican II As a preparation for the main subject of this chapter, let us scan a few of the new and very welcome developments in the appreciation and wide-spread use of the Bible in our post-Councilor age. The Second Vatican Council told […]

The Eucharist as the Living Christ

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. In large measure the crisis of faith within Catholic ranks today is particularly a crisis of faith regarding the Eucharist. Although there are many reasons, perhaps the most dramatic is doubt in the reality of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament. We know what […]

The Lord’s Prayer: A Synthesis of Christianity

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. We live in an age when people are looking for digests to condense large amounts of knowledge into a small span of print. If we wish to capsulize all that Christ taught, all that He stood for, and all that He wants us to […]

Generosity and Happiness – The Eight Beatitudes

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. There are two sides to the Gospel ethic. On the one hand, there are many obstacles to remove and temptations we must overcome. On the other hand, while constantly warring against our native impulses, the evil spirit and the machinations of the world, we […]

The Evil Spirit in Conflict with Christ and His Followers

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. A balanced understanding of Christ and His Church includes the realization of the conflict with the evil spirit or, as Saint John calls him, the spirit of darkness. Until not so long ago it was not acceptable to even talk about the devil; but […]

Discernment of Spirits

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Notice that the subject of “Discernment of Spirits” implies a plurality and especially a distinction between one kind of spirit and another. We know from both the teaching of the Church and our own experience that serving God and following Christ is not just […]

Holy Communion and the Practice of Charity

Ignatian Retreat (July 1974) Conference by Father John A. Hardon, S.J. It is common knowledge that the Holy Eucharist is the center, not only of our faith but of our spiritual life. What may not be so evident, however, is that the cardinal virtue of Christianity, the practice of charity, is intimately tied in with […]

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