21 April 2022

Ask Father: Solid Books About Ignatian Spirituality and Jesuit Teaching Without the Crazy Stuff

I am a devotee of the French School of Spirituality which influenced St Louis Marie de Montfort, but for those Trads who prefer St Ignatius, this may be helpful.

From Fr Z's Blog

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Thank you for all you do Father. I’ve always been a big fan of St Ignatius of Loyola and what the Jesuits once were. I’m also equally appalled at what they have become. Growing up the Benedictine nuns were teachers at our school in ___ (in full traditional habit) and our priest was a solid Irish Monsignor who resisted the innovations and gave us solid instructions and always remarked how St Ignatius would tackle a problem sparking my life long interest. My question is do you know where we can find or even titles I should look for on solid book about Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit teaching prior to when they went sideways? Every search I do always leads me to the plaid shirt wushu washy modern Jesuits and for the life of me I can’t seem to find much written prior to their demise as a solid order. I’m positive if anyone knows it’s you and your network. Thanks for everything in advance.

While I had a few ideas of my own, I figured it best to reach out to a Jesuit priest friend who would give reliable counsel.  This is what he responded.

I would probably recommend All My Liberty – Theology of the Spiritual Exercises by John Hardon, S.J. It serves as a good introduction.
I would also recommend The Spiritual Writings of Pierre Favre The Memoriale and Selected Letters and Instructions. Ignatius considered St. Peter to be the best at giving the Exercises.
Finally, the best contemporary writer on Ignatian spirituality is not a Jesuit, but an O.M.V., Timothy Gallagher. I would recommend his books as sound and very worth reading.

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