My life would be very different without St. Ignatius. Ignatian spirituality is where I feel most at home as a young adult Catholic. Ignatian spirituality, its wisdom, and its tools helped me walk the last decade or more of my life—which was full of transitions—without falling flat on my face and without losing hope. More importantly, it is the spirituality that helps me maintain a relationship with Jesus and keeps me rooted in my faith.
If I could stand on top of a mountain and shout my excitement about Ignatian spirituality to all of my young adult peers, I would! Here is what I would tell them.
- Lean on Ignatian discernment wisdom. Do you want some help in making the multiple decisions of your young adult years? This 500-year-old wisdom works, and I can attest to it as this wisdom guided me in my decisions for work, marriage, parenting, and transition.
- Try the Examen. Are you looking for a way to bring your faith into your daily life? This prayer tool helps you pray all aspects of your life. The Examen is THE best decision making tool I know that keeps God as the guide, and it opens your eyes to God’s daily work in your life.
- Spiritual directors exist. There are people trained to journey with us in our spiritual lives. They can help us deepen our prayer lives. They are holy listeners, who provide a space and place for us to share about our relationship with God. They can help us deeply listen to what God is inviting us to do.
- Pray and passionately live your life. Ignatian spirituality invites a person to passionately live life right where he or she is—as a business person, a friend, a spouse, a parent, or a student. The invitation is to daily prayer that feeds the rest of our living out in the world.
- Jesus models the way. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius provide a way to a deep relationship with Christ. These Exercises offer us an intimate look at Jesus’ life that gives us a blueprint for living our lives: stay rooted in God the way Jesus rooted his life in God. This way of being with God provides solid ground no matter what life throws at us!
What would you want to share with a person in your peer group about Ignatian spirituality?
I would like to send this page to our CLC group. How can I do that? Thanks for your good work. I really enjoy this site and get a lot out of it.
Paula, the easiest way is to share the link to this page with your group: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/16906/top-five-things-i-want-my-peers-to-know-about-ignatian-spirituality/. Thank you for your interest!
Thank you for this lovely post!
Late last 2 years back, I was barely living in the light of gray horizon and think I could eventually be spiritually dead or search God in action. But the motive, i thought, had just brought my case to a likend windmill situation. I let go off my feelings and continue the search even in the light of being blown by the wind. I’ve waited God and continued the search.
Thanks Becky, today, i found Him here. Though I know He found me first.
Thank you Lord for the people you brought here. This is your work.