The Spiritual Exercises Reclaimed: Uncovering Liberating Possibilities for Women

The Spiritual Exercises often seem irrelevant or even destructive to many women's spirituality. This groundbreaking work reclaims the heart of the Exercises by examining them through the lens of women's experience―both women of the past to understand their presence during the formative years of the Exercises, but primarily women of the present. In doing so the authors have rediscovered the riches of this classic for both genders. The book first reviews the major traditional interpretations of the Exercises and gives a historical view of the women in Ignatius' life and their role in the Exercises. The text itself is examined―how it is entered, its worldview, and its recommended forms of prayer. The four weeks of the Exercises are broken into the problems and possibilities of each; suggestions for each are also given for spiritual and retreat directors. The Exercises are finally examined for those aspects that support moving outward on one's mission. The book ends with a morality play called AnyWoman that gives a dramatic spin to the whole process. The first of its kind, this is deeply meaningful reading for both men and women, particularly those making the Exercises, those giving them, and anyone who has attempted the Exercises but resisted the images, metaphors, or interpretations. Retreat and spiritual directors, other educators, retreatants and directees will also want a copy. †