What Is Ignatian Spirituality, and What Are Its Main Ideas?

Ignatian spirituality is a way of Christian prayer and discernment rooted in the experience of St. Ignatius Loyola and the Jesuit tradition. Its best-known idea is “finding God in all things,” and its most characteristic practices are the Spiritual Exercises, the Daily Examen, and discernment of spirits. IgnatianSpirituality.com® presents these as practical paths for prayer, decision-making, and everyday reflection rather than as abstract theory.

The basic definition and Jesuit background

The site organizes its material around “What Is Ignatian Spirituality?” and “The Ignatian Way,” alongside sections on Jesuit organizations, education, social justice, and theology. This structure reflects the tradition’s origin: Ignatian spirituality comes from the 16th-century experience of St. Ignatius Loyola and is carried today by Jesuit ministries and lay communities. The site also traces later “Ignatian Voices” across the 16th through 20th centuries, showing that the tradition is not a single founder’s private method but a living stream of interpretation and practice.

Core themes

Finding God in all things

The phrase “Finding God in All Things” is treated on the site as a central Ignatian idea. In the featured article by Jim Manney, it is compared to St. Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians). The practical point is that prayer is not confined to formal settings: ordinary work, relationships, and daily events can become places of attention to God’s presence.

The Ignatian Way

“The Ignatian Way” is presented through introductory videos that explain the main ideas of the spirituality. This is the most direct starting point for a newcomer who wants an overview before choosing a practice.

Main practices

The Spiritual Exercises

The Spiritual Exercises are the foundational retreat framework in the Ignatian tradition. The site gives them their own section and also offers “An Ignatian Prayer Adventure,” described as a retreat you can make online. This suits someone who wants a structured, guided experience rather than isolated reading.

The Daily Examen

The Examen is a short reflective prayer on God’s presence in your day. The site’s “Exploring the Examen Step-by-Step” series breaks it into stages, including “Give Thanks” and “Ask God for Light.” A step-by-step format is useful if you want to begin tonight and need concrete prompts rather than a general description.

Discernment and good decisions

The site groups “Making Good Decisions,” “An Approach to Good Choices,” “Spiritual Direction,” and “Discernment of Spirits” together. These pages address how to weigh options and notice interior movements in the context of faith. They are explanatory and formational, not a substitute for personal guidance; the inclusion of spiritual direction signals that accompaniment is part of the tradition.

Prayer resources

Under “Ignatian Prayer” the site lists prayers by St. Ignatius and others, online prayer, and “The What-How-Why of Prayer.” These are entry points for someone who wants to pray in an Ignatian style without committing to a full retreat.

Where to start on the site

The site also has a “NEW? START HERE” entry for first-time visitors, which is the simplest route if you are unsure which section fits.

A reasonable expectation

Ignatian spirituality as described here is a practice-centered tradition: you learn it by praying the Examen, entering the Exercises, and reflecting on experience, not only by reading definitions. A practical first step is to read the “What Is Ignatian Spirituality?” overview, then try the Examen step-by-step for a week and note what you observe. If you want more structure afterward, move to the online retreat or the Spiritual Exercises section.