Ignatian spirituality is quite practical—it deals with the real world around us while at the same time reminding us that we have a job to do to help bring about the kind of world that God desires. It’s not a spirituality only for people who have dedicated their entire lives to religious vocations—it’s a spirituality that everyone can participate in, whether you’re coaching your child’s soccer team or putting together a budget report for your company.

Renowned author and Jesuit priest, George W. Traub, SJ, offers these core characteristics for Ignatian spirituality:

• It empowers people to become leaders in service and to build a more just and humane world.

• It seeks to find the divine in ALL things—in all peoples and cultures, in all areas of learning, in every human experience, and especially in the person of Jesus.

• It stresses the need for discernment as well as the amazing freedom we find in God.

• It sees life and the whole universe as a gift calling forth wonder and gratefulness.

• It cultivates critical awareness of personal and social evil, but pointing to God’s love as more powerful than any evil.

• It gives ample scope to imagination and emotion as well as intellect.

Although there are other facets of Ignatian spirituality not included here, these are some of the more common points. 

If you’re interested in learning more about Ignatian spirituality, explore any of the other articles in this section. For ideas on how to incorporate the spirituality in your own life, browse our Ignatian titles in our online store.