To Whom Do We Belong? An Ignatian Retreat
by David L. Fleming SJ
Contents
Foreword
Entering the Retreat—Being Companions of Jesus
First Day— Our Foundation: The Last Supper
Second Day— Jesus’ Initiative: The Call of the King
Third Day—The Ignatian Three Classes: Choosing to RespondFourth Day— Jesus’ Program Imaged in the Two Standards
Fifth Day— The La Storta Vision as the Icon of Our Belonging
Sixth Day— How Do We Belong to the Risen Christ?
Seventh Day— Belonging Viewed as Three Kinds of Humility
Eighth Day and Final Reflection— Thanks-Living in Paul’s Letter to the Colossians
ResourcesEditors' Foreword
In June 2009, I was invited to lead the annual eight-day retreat for the Jesuits of the Missouri and New Orleans provinces. I chose as the theme for this retreat the question “To whom do we belong?” The retreat format was simple: I would give one presentation a day, with suggestions for three or four prayer periods spread throughout the day. The retreat began with an opening conference in the evening and closed with a presentation, Mass, and a mid-day lunch.
In preparing these presentations for others than my Jesuit brothers, I have adapted what I said to my fellow Jesuits to embrace all those who find their spiritual lives enhanced by Ignatian spirituality. This retreat book does demand a familiarity with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. The reader-retreatant ideally would have made the 30-day Exercises in its concentrated form within 30 days or through some months in everyday life. This person is conversant with the structural elements that Ignatius has created to help in the dynamic movement of the retreat. For example, when I speak of the Three Types of Persons or the Three Degrees of Humility, I expect that the retreatant has some knowledge and experience of these exercises from their previous retreat exposure. I recall and explain these various structural pieces in a way that is meant to enlighten the matter for prayer of that particular day and help in its assimilation.
To introduce the matter for prayer, I began each conference with a prayer focused on the grace that we seek for the day. I have included these prayers at the beginning of each day, and I have repeated them in the text at the end of the retreat-presentation outline and scripture references with which I conclude each presentation. I hope that these prayers might be used throughout the retreat day as a way of imbibing the grace of the day. Besides this book, then, it is necessary to have at hand a copy of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and a Bible.
Let me thank my fellow Jesuits who first experienced these presentations in making their annual retreat. Their own prayer and support encouraged me in preparing this version of a retreat that might be helpful for others. I am also grateful to my staff at the journal Review for Religious who took on the extra work of producing this book. The staff includes Father Philip Fischer SJ, Mary Ann Foppe, Tracy Gramm, and Judy Sharp.
I pray that those who use this book for their retreat and prayer time will find their lives enriched and graced as they respond to the question “To whom do we belong?”David L. Fleming SJ
| RFR Home | About RFR | What's New | Publications | Archives | Ordering Information || Writers' Guides | Contact Information | Your Comments | Related Links | Return to Top |