Grace: An intimate knowledge of the many blessings received, that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty. Text for Prayer: Spiritual Exercises no. 230-237 Reflection: In the meditation upon sin, we made reference to Dante’s vision of hell, a cold, desolate place where the fire of… Read more »
Posts By: Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J.
The Resurrection
| XXXVIII.Grace: to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord Text for Prayer: Spiritual Exercises no. 218-225, and 299. Reflection: We enter the Resurrection through the eyes of Mary. Is it not fitting that the woman who has trusted more than any other person should be… Read more »
The Agony in the Garden
| XXXIV.Grace: sorrow, compassion, and sham because the Lord is going to His suffering for my sins. Text for Prayer: Matthew 26:30-46 Reflection:“Let this cup pass from me.” In the Old Testament, the cup symbolized one’s lot in life. The cup could be filled with the wine that makes men’s hearts glad; but it could also… Read more »
The Sermon on the Mount
| XXVII.Grace: An intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely. Text for Prayer: Mt. 5 Reflection: Jesus taught not only by words but also through symbolic actions. The cleansing of the temple is the most famous. In the Sermon on the… Read more »
Call of the Disciples
| XXVI.Grace: an intimate knowledge of our Lord, Who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely. Texts for Prayer: Matthew 4.18-22, Mark 1.16-20, Luke 5.1-11, or John 1.35-51 Reflection: During the “First Week” of the Exercises, we heard Christ’s call to repentance and reformation of life. In… Read more »
The Two Standards
| XX.Grace: a knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them, a knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him. Text for Prayer: Spiritual Exercises 136-147 Reflection: St. Ignatius—the former soldier—was particularly sensitive to the constant battle being waged… Read more »
The Exercises and the Liturgical Year
As we enter into the second half of Lent, the readings we hear at daily Mass begin to shift focus. Until now we have mainly heard readings from the synoptic gospels which have emphasized our relationship to God, particularly our need to acknowledge our sinfulness and repent. Beginning Monday, the Gospel of John will take… Read more »
The Flight Into Egypt
| XVII.Grace: an intimate knowledge of our Lord, Who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely. Text for Prayer: Mt. 2:13-23 Reflection: We were visited by our king, but did we know him? Today we pray with Mt 2:13-23, the flight into Egypt. Upon first encountering the… Read more »
Entering Contemplation
Perhaps as you have prayed with the meditations of the past two and a half weeks (the “first week” of the Spiritual Exercises), you have begun to feel a desire to go deeper in your prayer. If so, you are probably experiencing exactly what St. Ignatius thought would happen. You are starting to experience… Read more »
Discovering Jesus Again
We are now entering into what is called the “second week” of the Spiritual Exercises. During the first week, we focus our attention upon how the dynamics of creation, fall, and redemption apply to our own lives. We experience how the love of Christ can overcome our human rebellion. True repentance and contrition awakens… Read more »