This is Week 1 of Desires of the Heart, a 10-week series on Ignatian spirituality and prayer. The text below is meant to companion the audio teaching and meditation. Click play and feel free to follow along. You may also download a PDF this week’s “handout” here.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored’” – Matthew 6:9 (GNT)
BACKGROUND
St Ignatius Loyola was considered minor nobility, but that didn’t stop him from leading a life of vanity, sin, and pride—being “of the world” he might say—indulging in gambling, duelling, and affairs. After a conversion while recovering from a battle wound, Ignatius began living a life of poverty and asceticism. He didn’t cut his hair or nails and wore shoes with no soles. His attachment now was not to vanity but to harsh penances.
Through prayer Ignatius learned that God’s love and grace is a free gift. As a love response, he says, we must be detached from all the things of this world, “not wanting health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honour rather than dishonour, long rather than short life.” This is freedom and it leads to our purpose:
Principle and Foundation
“Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord… And the other things on the face of the earth are created for man and that they may help him in prosecuting the end for which he is created… For this it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things…” – [23] Spiritual Exercises
PREPARING FOR PRAYER
- Environment. Be in a place and position that’s comfortable for you where you can remain focused. Light a candle? Darkness? Soft music? Quiet? Sitting? Lying?
- Presence. Acknowledge God’s presence. We must approach a time of prayer as a privileged time spent with the Lord. Prayer is about relationship with the God of our life.
- Orientation. The Principle and Foundation orients us toward God. Our prayer should be, too. Ignatius says we should ask God that our actions, thoughts, and prayer be directed toward God’s praise and service.
RESOURCES
- Contemporary version of the Principle and Foundation
- Commentary on the Principle and Foundation
- Prayer resources
- Material Things
| If you would like to offer this 10-week series to your group or parish you can download a full PDF of the programme here. Contributions are requested if you offer it in active ministry setting. |
Listen to the audio teaching and meditation…
Music by Kevin MacLeod
A fantastic post, with great resources. An absolute treat!
I loved this……great prayer time meditations. I look forward to coming back each week. SE
Reblogged this on FCJ Sisters' Blog.
How do I download the 10 weeks.
How do I download the 10 weeks in audio.
Therese – You can download each week’s file from here: https://soundcloud.com/godinallthings/sets/desires-of-the-heart