In general, the retreat that St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, developed out of his own experience of religious conversion is known as the "Spiritual Exercises." Various exercises of prayer, contemplation, and reflection dispose a retreatant for a series of graces or gifts of the Spirit, which inspire personal change of outlook, ideals, and ways of behaving. People so inspired naturally form community together, and at the heart of their experience is the call to serve others in companionship with Christ in order to contribute to the building of God's Kingdom on earth, a Kingdom of peace and justice, love and truth.

What, more specifically, are The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius? Where can I find the text of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius? What is a “retreat” and how many kinds are there? Where and when are the various types of retreats given in the Maryland Province? How and where can one be trained to give the Spiritual Exercises? What groups have already been formed promoting Jesuit and Lay collaboration? What are some links to other websites dealing with The Spiritual Exercises?

Ignatius' conversion took him from soldier of a Spanish king to a companion of Christ the King.

The Spiritual Exercises are the foundation of Jesuit mission, as stated in General Congregation 32, D 4, #38, "Our Mission Today:"

The well spring of our apostolate. We are led back to our experience of the Spiritual Exercises. In them we are able continually to renew our faith and apostolic hope by experiencing again the love of God in Christ Jesus. We strengthen our commitment to be companions of Jesus in His mission, to labor like Him in solidarity with the poor and with Him for the establishment of the Kingdom. Thereby we gradually make our own that apostolic pedagogy of St. Ignatius which should characterize our every action.

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