The Spiritual Exercises

The Spiritual Exercises of
St Ignatius of Loyola.

'The purpose of the Exercises is very practical: to grow in union with God, who frees us to make good decisions about our lives.' Kevin O'Brien, The Ignatian Adventure

The Spiritual Exercises is a transformative "retreat in daily life" for anyone desiring to deepen their relationship with God, develop reflective prayer habits, and discover a sense of personal mission and vocation.

Located within the Christian tradition and written by Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century, this extraordinary journey invites us to experience contemplative ways of praying with scripture, alongside meditations, reflections, and insights that Ignatius found helpful in his formation and union with God. World-renowned and a timeless spiritual classic, these exercises have enriched the lives of countless people from various denominations and backgrounds.

If you are interested in Ignatian Spirituality, please take a moment to browse through this page. If you are drawn to know more or are considering this retreat, feel free to connect with me for an exploratory conversation.

Sam

For centuries, the most common experience of the Exercises was a 30-day retreat completed in solitude and silence.

30-day retreats are still experienced today; however, Ignatius adapted the Exercises, making them accessible to anyone desiring and able to make the journey.

Known as a "Retreat in Daily Life" and "The 19th Annotation," this 8-month adaptation became the most popular way to experience the daily rhythms of prayer, reflection, and meditation of the Exercises. The 18th Annotation, a 10-week version of the full Exercises, was later made available for those wanting a shorter or more introductory experience.

The Movements of the Exercises

Since Ignatius initially developed the Spiritual Exercises to be completed over four weeks, the retreat is structured with four movements or themed stages.

A Preparatory Week: Six weeks of daily reflections on God’s love, mercy, and grace. A time to consider personal identity, worth, and value in light of the ‘long loving gaze of God.’

First Week. The first movement of the Exercises allows us to reflect on our lives in light of God’s boundless love for us. We are also invited to notice how our response to God’s love has been impacted and hindered. As we face these barriers, we discover a God who desires to set us free from all that gets in the way of our loving response toward God.

Second Week. The second week follows Jesus’ early life and ministry. The reflections and prayers of this movement teach us about discipleship. Immersed in Scriptures related to Christ’s birth, baptism, key teachings, and ministry of healing, we are invited to follow Christ more closely, love Him more intimately, and know Him more clearly.

Third Week. In the third stage, we meditate on Christ’s passion and death. Beginning at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, our focus is on the events leading toward Jesus’ crucifixion. We are invited to walk with Jesus and be a friend during His darkest hours. We come to understand the depth of God’s self-sacrificial love as we journey through His suffering.

Fourth Week. The final week leads us to the resurrection of Jesus and His appearances to His disciples. We now walk with the risen Christ, and as such, this movement invites us to consider God’s love for the world, His presence with us today, and our loving response and service toward others.

The Exercises draw on many Ignatian ways of praying: The Examen, Imaginative Contemplation, and Discernment. They invite you to journal your experiences and meet with a guide or spiritual director weekly.

Who are the Spiritual Exercises for?

The Spiritual Exercises are for anyone desiring to deepen their relationship with God. They are also particularly helpful if you are discerning a life decision or considering a transition.

What's the Commitment?
Anyone considering the exercises needs to consider whether they can meet the commitments of the retreat:

Allocating time for prayer: 30 minutes to 1 hour daily

Be willing to pray the suggested materials of the Exercises

Be prepared to reflect on and journal their experiences of prayer

Be willing to share their experiences of the retreat with their guide in a weekly spiritual direction meeting of up to 45 minutes.

What is the difference between the 18th & 19th Annotation?

The difference between the 18th and 19th Annotation lies in the length of time and content.

The 18th Annotation is a 10-week adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises, which serves as a shorter retreat experience and a great introduction to Ignatian Spirituality.

The 19th Annotation, which is the complete Spiritual Exercises in daily life, is for those who experience a compelling desire to know, love, and pattern their life after Christ. This retreat typically takes approximately 34 weeks. However, the length of time can be influenced by the personal experiences of those making the Exercises. Sometimes, people feel the invitation to linger longer at certain points in the journey. It's important to note that despite its guiding structure, this is a flexible, responsive, and personal retreat.

When do the Exercises begin?

The Spiritual Exercises usually begin around the third week of September. This timing allows the prayers, meditations, and reflections to complement key seasons in the Church calendar, such as Christmas and Easter. Before this, there is a preparatory meeting which takes place in early August and early September. That said, the Exercises can be taken at any time of the year!

What is the cost of the retreat?

The 19th Annotation £1,190
A 34+ week retreat with weekly spiritual direction sessions of up to 45 minutes.

You will also require a copy of The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola in Daily Life by O'Brien

The 18th Annotation £385
A 10-week retreat with an introductory session and weekly spiritual direction sessions of up to 45 minutes. Resources are included.

A £100 deposit will be required to secure your retreat. This will be followed by monthly payments. Full payment at the beginning of the retreat is also possible.

Can this retreat be experienced as a group?

It is possible for people to embark on this retreat as a pair or group of no more than three. If this is something you are considering, please contact me for an initial discussion about how this may be possible..

Practicalities

Taking the journey through the Spiritual Exercises with Sam as my guide has been one of the most impactful experiences of my life. Each day ranged from the humdrum to the ecstatic, but the effect of the whole “Retreat in Daily Life” is a transformed relationship with God, with the world, and with myself. God is somehow larger than ever before, and yet he is also closer than I ever imagined possible.

Despite my protestant imagination, Ignatius himself never seemed far away, and his inspired genius took me to places of encounter with Jesus that had me fall in love with my Lord all over again. As my Spiritual Director, Sam gently asked all the right questions to help me process God’s work in my life throughout the retreat. I’m a deep thinker, but I was repeatedly surprised by what I hadn’t yet considered; as I related my experience to her each week, Sam pointed out pathways I hadn’t even seen, always encouraging me to respond only to where the Holy Spirit wanted to lead me.

I will always be profoundly grateful for Sam’s generosity and for how she has helped me discover greater depths of God’s generosity.

19th Annotation | Jesse Jackson Duley

Sam invited me to share a peaceful, sacred space where I felt safe and held. As a spiritual director, Sam encouraged me to explore my relationship with Jesus as a friend and companion whose love can be found in all things. Her thoughtful questioning skills enabled me to discover the hidden, beautiful and precious treasures of all that is hidden in the mystery of life, love and hope. My Ignatian retreat with Sam is a significant milestone on my journey with Jesus. Full of gratitude and hope, with Jesus by my side, I would like to 'Go and set the world on fire'.(Ignatius of Loyola)

Deborah Ann Cawley

(Poet, Farmer & Shepherdess)

"Completing the Spiritual exercises with Sam was a total game-changer for me. I've been following Jesus since I was a child, and engaging with the Exercises was by far the most refreshing and revolutionary experience with Jesus I have had. I feel like a new Christian again! I have encountered Jesus in new and vibrant ways, learned to connect with him deeper than before and discovered an ease and simplicity to our onward journey together."

19th Annotation | Daniel Smith

The Exercises with Sam have changed my life in the gentlest and most profound way. As I followed this path written hundreds of years ago, I experienced a journey that seemed to be uniquely written for me! Each week I was able to untangle things I had believed about God, or myself, that were simply not true. I knew there was more to know about God and I sensed that there was intimacy available that I had yet to encounter. Following the Ignatian Exercises, I discovered a greater understanding of who God is, and in light of that, who I am. I meet weekly with Sam (online) where I laughed, cried and wondered. Through her thoughtful questions she guided me through the insights, learning and understanding that had unfolded through the retreat. This served as an anchor and made the journey so much richer as I experienced more of God’s unconditional, limitless love.

Sam has a gift of holding this beautiful space as God transformed my heart and mind. What a gift this journey has been!

19th Annotation | L Archer

Church Minister/Pastor

Going through the exercises with Sam has been profound. Most of my life, I have been more aware of the fast work of God: the healings, miracles, dreams, and prophetic words. But learning how to also recognize God in His slow work—His presence in the everyday moments that are sacred—has been utterly transformative. Sam kindly and graciously created a safe space for me to respond to Jesus' invitations as we went through the exercises. Her wise and insightful reflections and questions helped me to pay attention to what was significant. Going through these exercises has helped me to meet Jesus in the gospel stories in new and profound ways. Jesus has shown me that He is with me, always. I don't have to try to get to where He is or perform in any way to be close to Him. He meets me where I am, in the reality of my brokenness, and simply invites me to a deepening daily surrender as I follow Him.

19th Annotation | Helen Hicks

The Ignatian Exercises once felt like a mystery to me, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I approached them with excitement, anticipation, and a bit of worry about whether I could find the time each day. But God gave generously throughout—through challenge, love, kindness, and practical help, guiding me to find the time and, above all, grace.

Sam walked me through the 18th Annotation, meeting with me weekly—ten times in total—to reflect on the previous week’s prayers, the scriptures, and the themes I was contemplating. Sam helped me take the powerful experiences I had in my prayer time and integrate them into my everyday life. This was the greatest struggle for me, and I am so grateful for Sam’s safe and gentle guidance, leading me toward all that God wanted me to experience through this time.

Sally Lloyd | Church Leader

Sam Whiley