Ignatian Spirituality
Ignatian spirituality denotes a group of practices recommended by St. Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th Century Spanish theologian and founder of the Jesuit order of Catholicism. Many Jesuit practices can be found in his Spiritual Exercises. Two of the more distinct practices in Ignatian spirituality are Imaginative Prayer and The Examen.
Imaginative Prayer
The most defining feature of Ignatian spirituality is use of the imagination. Ignatius consistently recommends the use of the imagination during prayer, especially the visualization of scenes from the Christian Scriptures. During Ignatian visualization practice, one reads a passage of Scripture, plants themselves in the scene, and then gives attention to each of the senses. What does the scene look like? What does it sound like? What does is smell and taste like? How does it feel? By placing oneself in Gospel scenes, one hopes to experience God (usually in the form of Jesus, the central character of the Gospels) through the imagination. Like Lectio Divina, Ignatian Imaginative Prayer in some ways rests on seeing Scripture as "sacred" – a unique window though which one may experience God.
The Examen
Another well-known Ignatian spiritual practice is The Examen. In The Examen, one prayerfully reviews their past day in the presence of God, examining their conscience and opening themselves to the direction of the Spirit – or the experience of a deeper, more authoritative, leading voice. By reviewing one’s actions from the day, a practitioner hopes to become consciously present to correct their way of living the next time the situation is presented.