Looking for a great book for growing in your spiritual life?  I heartily recommend this book by James Martin, SJ.  You might know his name from another of his books My life With the Saints or from a blog tour he did last June with Sr. Julie on A Nuns Life, www.anunslife.org.

Fr. Martin draws on the wisdom of St. Ignatius who literally wrote the book on spiritual growth, The Spiritual Exercises. Martin says, “The Ignatian goal of  ‘finding God in all things’ means that every part of our lives can lead us to God.”   The way of Ignatius is about finding freedom: the freedom to become the person you’re meant to be, to love and accept love, to make good decisions, to experience the beauty of creation and the mystery of God’s love.”

I admit I’m passionate about St. Ignatius. My own spirituality, influenced by internships at the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville, PA and degree work in spirituality and spiritual direction is grounded in his wisdom. That grounding provided a firm foundation for my decision ten years ago to travel six hundred miles across the country, leave friends and family, and transfer to the IHM Sisters of Monroe, MI. For years I had  prayed the daily Examen prescribed by Ignatius, looking back on my day, observing where I had or had not been moving with God.  When it came time to make a big decision I had already learned what led me to God and away from God, so I knew I could trust that God was truly leading me to join the Monroe IHMs.

Ignatius’s words were not meant for the spiritually elite, but for every person seeking to come closer to God. Fr. Martin’s writing style makes Ignatius’s wisdom accessible to all.