St Beuno's Jesuit Spirituality Centre: Prayer from Ignatius' Exercises

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PRAYERS IN THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

Anima Christi - Eternal Lord of All - Take and Receive - Ways of Praying - Praying by Numbers?
Although the Spiritual Exercises consist for the most part in meditations on Scripture passages as well as reflections on life and committment to Christ, St Ignatius does suggest a few well known prayers, often to end a meditation session. He frequently suggests one of three prayers, the Lord's Prayer (Our Father), the Hail Mary (Ave Maria) and the Anima Christi. The first of these two are still well known and used, the last is not as well known. It is probably best known in its versified form as the hymn, "Soul of My Saviour".

Anima Christi - Soul of Christ

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strenthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within your wounds, hide me.
Never permit me to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me
At the hour of my death, call me
And bid me come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever, Amen.

There are two other prayers, apparently written by Ignatius, that he suggest the retreatant undertaking the Full Spiritual Exercises might want to pray: Eternal Lord of all things, which comes as an offering to Christ, the King at the end of the First Week of the Exercises - number 98. and Take and Receive.

Eternal Lord of all things

Eternal Lord of all things,
I come before your infinite goodness,
and before your glorious mother and all saints of the heavenly court,
to make my offering, with your help and favour:
it is my wish, desire and determination,
provided that it would be for your greater service and praise,
to imitate you in suffering injury, insults and poverty,
actual as well as spiritual;
It is my wish that your most holy majesty would choose to receive me in such a way of life.

Perhaps the most famous of Ignatius prayers is the Sucipe or Take and Receive which comes right at then end of the Spiritual Exercises - number 234. In this prayer there is a total giving of self back to God. The Memory, Understanding and Will were seen to encompass the person's learning, mental ability and judgment, and freedom to act - the totality of human qualities known as the three powers of the soul.

At this stage of the Exercises there is no need to spell out the spiritual determination to go against the usual human desires for pleasure, riches and being well thought of, as in the prayer above - Eternal Lord of All things. By now, at the end of the Spiritual Exercises, the only desire is for a self-emptying and handing of self over to Christ.

Take and Receive

Take Lord, and receive
all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding and my entire will,
All I have and possess.
You have given me everything Lord, I return it.
All is yours, dispose of it according to your will.
Give me only your love and your grace
that is enough for me.


		Home Guided Retreats Themed Retreats Courses Prayer Information Online Bookshop Contacts and Links



		PRAYERS IN THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

		Anima Christi - Eternal Lord of All - Take and Receive - Ways of Praying - Praying by Numbers? Although the Spiritual Exercises consist for the most part in meditations on Scripture passages as well as reflections on life and committment to Christ, St Ignatius does suggest a few well known prayers, often to end a meditation session. He frequently suggests one of three prayers, the Lord's Prayer (Our Father), the Hail Mary (Ave Maria) and the Anima Christi. The first of these two are still well known and used, the last is not as well known. It is probably best known in its versified form as the hymn, "Soul of My Saviour". Anima Christi - Soul of Christ Soul of Christ, sanctify me Body of Christ, save me Blood of Christ, inebriate me Water from the side of Christ, wash me Passion of Christ, strenthen me O good Jesus, hear me Within your wounds, hide me. Never permit me to be separated from you. From the wicked foe, defend me At the hour of my death, call me And bid me come to you That with your saints I may praise you For ever and ever, Amen. There are two other prayers, apparently written by Ignatius, that he suggest the retreatant undertaking the Full Spiritual Exercises might want to pray: Eternal Lord of all things, which comes as an offering to Christ, the King at the end of the First Week of the Exercises - number 98. and Take and Receive. Eternal Lord of all things Eternal Lord of all things, I come before your infinite goodness, and before your glorious mother and all saints of the heavenly court, to make my offering, with your help and favour: it is my wish, desire and determination, provided that it would be for your greater service and praise, to imitate you in suffering injury, insults and poverty, actual as well as spiritual; It is my wish that your most holy majesty would choose to receive me in such a way of life. Perhaps the most famous of Ignatius prayers is the Sucipe or Take and Receive which comes right at then end of the Spiritual Exercises - number 234. In this prayer there is a total giving of self back to God. The Memory, Understanding and Will were seen to encompass the person's learning, mental ability and judgment, and freedom to act - the totality of human qualities known as the three powers of the soul. At this stage of the Exercises there is no need to spell out the spiritual determination to go against the usual human desires for pleasure, riches and being well thought of, as in the prayer above - Eternal Lord of All things. By now, at the end of the Spiritual Exercises, the only desire is for a self-emptying and handing of self over to Christ. Take and Receive Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, All I have and possess. You have given me everything Lord, I return it. All is yours, dispose of it according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace that is enough for me.

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