Election: The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises

Abstract

The text of the Spiritual Exercises evolved from the personal experience of Ignatius Loyola and the experience he had in directing others. In the course of the evolution, he kept redacting his spiritual diary till he finally left us with an eternal apostolic tool for life, discernment and ministry. As a tool for life, it inspires and moves us to seek God and find God in all things. As a tool for discernment, we are invited to employ it to make sound decisions. And as a tool for ministry, it helps us lead others to God by making them more focused in terms of their relationship to God and living out the will of God.