We ask that you submit your application, spiritual autobiography and letters of recommendation at least eight weeks before your desired start date.
Please note: It is highly recommended that you make at least one 8-day silent individual directed Ignatian retreat before making the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius 30-day Retreat.
In addition to this form, you must submit a spiritual autobiography and two letters of recommendation, one from your spiritual director and one from your counselor or therapist if you are seeing one, superior, spouse or close friend.
Spiritual Autobiography Guidelines
As a help for your own reflection in preparation for this graced time of retreat, as well as a help to your director, we ask you to write a spiritual autobiography. A spiritual autobiography is simply your story of yourself written in the light of your growing relationship with God.
Please answer the following questions as you write your story:
1. What are the key events in your life of faith that have brought you to where you are now in your relationship with God?
2. What experiences have helped you deepen in or made things more difficult in that relationship?
3. How has your prayer developed and changed over time?
4. What are you and God wanting now in your relationship with one another?
5. What else is important for your director to know about your life of faith as they direct you in the Spiritual Exercises?
Letters of Recommendation Guidelines
One letter must come from your spiritual director. The other letter must come from a counselor or therapist if you are currently in counseling or therapy, superior, spouse or close friend. Please direct your recommenders to answer the following questions in their letter:
1. How long have you known the applicant?
2. Please comment on the applicant’s emotional stability and ability to express feelings.
3. Please comment on the applicant’s spiritual maturity and ability to relate personally with God, including their dedication to prayer, signs of the value of prayer in their life and if the applicant has the ability to notice and articulate what happens in their prayer.
4. Please comment on the applicant’s ability to integrate prayer and life experience, including concrete ways the applicant’s prayer affects their life choices.
5. What else is important for us to know about the applicant as we consider their application?