Inspiring Ignatian Quote #26

I remember while in training for becoming a Spiritual Director, a big discussion arose around the notion of ‘detachment’. How detached can we really become from life as we must live it while on earth, still be responsible, but still be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit guiding us to a deeper spiritual life. What I think underlies this quote, is what eventually became the ‘retreating aspect’ of the Spiritual Exercises. In today’s Ignatian practices, many different retreat options are offered to those seeking a deepening experience: 30 days, 90 days, 6 months, 1 year, any arrangement you and your director can manage.

These, ideally, can be done in residence at an Ignatian retreat center, where you can enter into a more solitary and detached experience. You can also do programs at home, but it obviously is much harder to become solitary in a family situation, or detach from certain responsibilities and distractions. I think the point of this message is to be intentional about retreating from your daily life and get into a space where you can seek and find your Creator.