Two Jesuit priests from the Glasgow Jesuit community, Fr Gerard Mitchell SJ and Fr Roger Dawson SJ, recently shared their reflections on Ignatian spirituality on BBC Radio Scotland’s New Every Sunday programme, a half-hour act of worship broadcast every Sunday morning.

They introduced listeners to a way of prayer that helps people recognise their struggles and discover a deeper sense of spiritual freedom.

On this episode, Fr Gerard Mitchell SJ said:

“Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish saint who in the sixteenth century founded the religious order called the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. His wisdom is the guiding light in the lives of Jesuits like me. The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius are the little book he wrote after he discovered how he was heading for destruction, and how he diverted because of the guidance of God’s grace. And he calls that ‘freedom’ – freedom for living, which is freedom from dying, dying in spirit and life."

On this programme, Fr Roger Dawson SJ offered a complementary perspective, reflecting on how Ignatian spirituality speaks to the challenges of daily life:

“Too often when we think about spirituality or the spiritual life, we think of peace and calm. We see pictures of sunset on the beach, candles or mountain meadows, but the reality of many people’s life is that it is anything but calm. Many of us live challenging lives in difficult situations, and the speed of life means that the idea of peace can seem a long way off, or just laughable. Struggle is the reality for many people, and so I think we need a spiritualty for strugglers – those who are wrestling with either angels or demons and trying to find God in the struggle.”

The Glasgow Jesuit community includes St Aloysius’ Church, St Aloysius’ College, and the Ignatian Spirituality Centre. Together, they serve the local community through worship, education, and opportunities for prayer and reflection inspired by Ignatian spirituality.

For those who wish to explore Ignatian spirituality further, the Jesuit Institute offers a range of online courses and retreats. The Ignatian Spirituality Centre in Glasgow also offers retreats and courses to help people grow in Ignatian spirituality and faith. St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in North Wales offers a variety of online and residential retreats, which you can explore here. Fr Roger will also be leading a residential weekend focused on mindfulness, psychology, and the Christian life, which you can book here.