Böcker av Michael Ivens

First published in 1548, the Spritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola have been a seminal influence in Christian spirituality over the succeeding centuries. Their fruits can be seen in the almost incredibel achievements of generation after generation of Jesuit Missionaries, preachers and teachers working in many different cultures across the inhabited world, all of whom had received their formation through the Spiritual Exercises.Today the Spiritual Exercises and the tradition of spirituality that they represent are perhaps more popular than ever. This clasic text of the sixteenth century still has a part to play.This edition of the Spiritual Exercises presents a contemporary translation by Michael Ivens, a noted authority on the text and author of the best-selling commentary 'Understanding the Spiritual Exercises'. Combining scholarly accuracy and a clear attractive style, here is a definitive translation for the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Ever since the Spiritual Exercises were first published in 1548, the need had been felt for explanations to help guide those giving them; hence the so-called Directories. But directors today continue to feel the same need, perhaps more acutely than ever with the spread in popularity of both spiritual direction and retreat work.Michael Ivens draws both on the wealth of published material and on the wisdom of his own long experience to produce a new commentary that attempts to unravel the inner workings of the Spiritual Exercises. He presents a new translation, as faithful as possible to the original, while commenting in detail on words or phrases that call for elucidation. At the same time his longer introductions to each section enable the director to distinguish the wood from the trees, and arrive at a firm and nuanced understanding of a great classic of western spirituality. The Commentary is a master class, as it were. It looks to the art of giving the Exercises. It distils great erudition with reflection on long years of experience. Experience illuminates the text and the early sources and invites the sources to illuminate experience. It is spare, lucid, complete, learned and wise. Joseph Veale, SJA unique, informative, lucid and much needed commentary on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. The book draws on the wisdom and experience of sixteenth-century Jesuit givers of the Exercises, and is written by a twentieth-century Jesuit, whose wisdom and lived experience of the Exercises is manifest. Gerard Hughes, SJ Michael Ivens, SJ was born in England and completed early studies in France and England before taking up writing and teaching in the area of spirituality. He worked for many years with The Way publications, under the guidance of James Walsh, and was then appointed as spiritual director to young Jesuit priests and brothers in their final year of training. This work took him to Australia and the USA. Later he helped establish the new retreat centre, St Beuno's in North Wales, with its specialized work in guided retreats. His wisdom and insight made him one of the best-known English directors of the Spiritual Exercises. Michael Ivens died in 2005.

Both an original work by, and a tribute to, one of the most distinguished English-language experts on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola: this book combines a series of essays exploring key terms used by Ignatius and a collection of reminiscences of Michael Ivens. His earlier commentary, Understanding the Spiritual Exercises, followed by his own translation of the Exercises, had established his reputation, but he was unable to include in his commentary the glossary of distinctive Ignatian terms that many find elusive or recondite. An understanding of such terms provides new avenues of approach and also displays the theological and spiritual substructure of the Exercises. Written during the final years of Michael's life, these essays are poignant in their sensitivity to the death he could see fast approaching. His notes on 'My medical history' are included, along with some candid and revealing memories from his friends. The figure of this great Jesuit comes alive in these pages, and his usual parting words to his visitors, 'Do keep in touch!' take on a new meaning. Michael Ivens (1933-2005) joined the Society of Jesus in 1951, straight from school, and received the usual training at that time (with degrees in Oxford and Lyons), spending fifteen years before ordination to the priesthood in 1966; an exceptional public speaker, gifted with an original mind, he worked mainly in the field of spirituality, writing regularly for The Way and gaining an international reputation as a retreat-giver. Appointed to help train his fellow Jesuits he spent nearly thirty years at St Beuno's (North Wales); for almost half of this time (from 1990) he was plagued with ill health (a brain tumour that eventually turned him blind), but he inspired many by his insight, tenacity and good humour. Joseph A. Munitiz, SJ, was a friend and colleague of Michael Ivens; his professional work has involved him mainly in editorial work (English, Spanish and Greek publications); now retired, he is based at the Jesuit novitiate in Birmingham.