Less well known that the imaginative gospel contemplations or the 'examen', the Spiritual Exercises contain 3 other methods of prayer.

1. The first method is a meditation on life and on what, certainly in the day of Ignatius, were well-known lists that people would easily be able to call to mind;

The Ten Commandments
The Seven Deadly Sins
Three Powers of the Soul
The Five Senses

 

2. The second method consist of taking a common prayer a word or phrase at a time much like lectio divina.

3. The third method involves the taking of a word at a time from a common prayer and hold each word for the space of a deep breath.

Ten Commandments

1. I begin by quietening down, perhaps using a stilling exercise and dedicating the time to God.
(Interestingly Ignatius in the Exercises suggest this prayer could be made seated or walking. Maybe it could be used in the gym, jogging or on the train to work.)

2. I ask for what I desire: this could be the grace to know my failings with regards the 10 commandments and the grace to better live them in the future.

3. I begin by considering each Commandment in turn and how I have managed to fulfill it. I then consider how I might have failed.

For a time I go through each of the ten Commandments. However if a particular commandment doesn't trouble me, then I can move on.

4. When I come across any faults, I ask for forgiveness from God and say the 'Our Father'.

5. At the end of the consideration of the 10 commandments I have an conversation with the Lord about what I have just pondered.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

10. You shall not covert your neighbour's house, wife, slave, ox or donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

I consider the five bodily senses and how they can all be used for good.

I ponder on how I can imitate Christ or perhaps his mother Mary in the use of the senses.

The final conversation could be with Mary or Jesus.

Sight

Hearing

Touch

Smell

Taste

The three powers of the soul are not well known today but were in the 16th Century. They are 'memory, understanding and will'.

I begin the prayer with the same preparations as with the 10 commandments.

I ponder on how I have used my memory, my power of understanding and my will-power to do good, to follow more closely the Lord.

I end the prayer with the same familar conversation with the Lord as with the 10 Commandments prayer.

Memory in the sense of 'bringing to mind' or awareness of what is; The human quality is that we can remember things, we can learn from the past.

 

Understanding: once we have become of aware of what is, we can judge what is good and healthy, what is right and consoling for us. We can understand ourselves and others better.

 

Will: Finally, we can decide what to do. After having brought to mind what has gone on around us, and within us, after having understood motivations, what is good and what is not, I can then decide to act upon what I have learned using my will.

Three Prayers from the Exercises, including the Take and Receive which refers to the three powers of the soul.