Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola
![Exercitia spiritualia 1548, First Edition by Antonio Bladio (Rome) (158x108 mm)](/Images/godic/202501/12/Exercitia_Spiritualia_1ed24853.jpg")
![Upon his recovery from battle wounds, St. Ignatius of Loyola hung his military accoutrements before the image of the Virgin of Montserrat.](/Images/godic/202501/12/LaMorenetaVirginOfMontserrat4853.jpg")
![Manresa, Chapel in the Cave of Saint Ignatius where Ignatius practised asceticism and conceived his Spiritual Exercises in 1522](/Images/godic/202501/12/Manresa,_Cova_de_Sant_Ignasi-PM_585104853.jpg")
![Verschiedene Ausgaben des Exerzitienbuches](/Images/godic/202501/12/Exerzitienbuecher4853.jpg")
The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola (Latin original: Exercitia spiritualia) (composed 1522–1524) are a set of Christian meditations, prayers and mental exercises, written by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th-century Spanish priest, theologian, and founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Divided into four thematic "weeks" of variable length, it is designed to be carried out over a period of 28 to 30 days. They were composed with the intention of helping the retreatant to discern Jesus in his life, leading him to a personal commitment to follow him. Though the underlying spiritual outlook is Catholic, the exercises can also be undertaken by non-Catholics. The "Spiritual Exercises" booklet was formally approved in 1548 by Paul III.