The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life

by James Martin

But God often gives us such consoling memories as a way of saying, Remember what I have done.

Feelings are also important. Besides recognizable emotions— like joy and sorrow—more indistinct feelings, like a sense of peace or communion with God, can be signs of God’s voice.

Pay attention to physical feelings as well.

There is the desire for God, which makes itself known in the ways we’ve discussed: the desire for holiness, the desire for change and growth in life, and all the desires we described in the past few chapters. Prayer is a key time for holy desires to arise.

In such “still small” ways as emotions, insights, memories, feelings, and desires, God speaks to us in prayer.

On the day you cease to change you cease to live. —Anthony de Mello, S.J. (1931–1987)

Likewise, the Greek word Sophia, or Wisdom, is a traditionally female image of God.

“If you feel distant from God, guess who’s moved away from whom!”

Though intended by Ignatius to help one enter into events from the life of Christ, Ignatian contemplation can be used by all religious traditions

But often the insight might lead to an insight about your own life. It might prompt you to ask yourself, Where am I afraid of God? Are there places where you’ve seen signs of God’s presence but have been afraid to admit this—because you’re afraid of God’s power?

Repetition is an important part of the Ignatian tradition of prayer. Ignatius thought it important to gain all the fruit you could from a particular prayer.

these contemplative prayers move beyond the outlines of the Gospel stories and bring you to unexpected places. Obviously