The Nineteenth Annotation (Retreat)

The 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises 

The Spiritual Exercises are a collection of meditations, contemplations, and practices developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola between 1522–1524 after his own radical conversion, and officially published in 1548 as the foundational handbook for Ignatian spirituality and the training of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). They are designed to help a person discern God’s will and reform their life in freedom from disordered attachments.  Ignatius intended the Exercises to be given by a spiritual director, not self‑guided. They function as a framework for a retreatant’s encounter with God.  The Exercises are structured into four thematic sections, traditionally called "weeks," though their actual duration can vary depending on the retreat format.  These “weeks” are not literal seven‑day periods but movements of the soul.

The Four “Weeks” (Phases)

• First Week (God’s Love and Human Sin): Reflection on the boundless love of God contrasted with human sinfulness and the need for conversion.  This is not to feel shame, but to experience God’s desire to free you. It ends with Christ’s call to follow Him.
• Second Week (The Life of Christ): You contemplate key moments in Jesus’ life: the Incarnation, Nativity, Baptism, Sermon on the Mount, healings, and raising of Lazarus. The goal is to know Christ more intimately, love Him more deeply, and follow Him more closely as a disciple.  This week includes famous meditations such as:
• The Two Standards (Christ vs. the enemy)
• The Three Classes of Persons
• The Three Degrees of Humility 
• Third Week (The Passion): Contemplation of the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and Jesus' suffering as the ultimate expression of divine love.
• Fourth Week (The Resurrection): Reflection on the risen Christ and his apparitions, leading to a "Contemplation to Attain Love" and a commitment to service in the world.

What the 19th Annotation Is

Ignatius added a short note—his 19th annotation—to the Spiritual Exercises explaining that the full retreat could be given to someone who remains in their ordinary responsibilities. This became the basis for the modern “retreat in daily life.”  It preserves the full content of the Exercises but stretches them across months so the retreatant can pray while continuing ministry, work, and family life.  Instead of withdrawing to a retreat house to make a 30‑day retreat, the retreatant prays in daily life, usually over 8–9 months, with the guidance of a spiritual director.

Ignatian Spirituality is fairly dominate in the Church these days, so when I found an opportunity to explore this through a "remote" (aka Zoom) retreat in 2026, I jumped on it (despite my own Dominican orientation). The program was modified to only be 23 weeks (reducing Phase One by 7 weeks or so). As I expected, my primary struggle was with the Imaginative prayer/contemplation component. There was a retreat guide that mapped each week with the liturgical readings for Lent and Easter, using updated language (and mapping) to a translation of Ignatius' "The Spiritual Exercises," that help better interpret the dated language used by Ignatius. Other than that, the program followed the general/standard outline below.

How the 19th Annotation Works

1. Daily Prayer (30–60 minutes) - The retreatant commits to a daily prayer period using Ignatian methods [This is the heart of the retreat]:
• Meditation
• Imaginative contemplation
• Colloquy
• Review of prayer
2. Weekly Spiritual Direction - A director accompanies the retreatant, helping them [This weekly rhythm is essential]:
• Notice movements of consolation and desolation
• Discern God’s invitations
• Adjust prayer material
• Stay grounded in freedom
3. Progress Through the Four Phases - The retreatant moves through the same structure as the 30‑day retreat [But the pacing is gentler, allowing the graces to unfold in daily life]:
• Month 1 — Preparation Phase: Disposition Days & The Principle and Foundation
• Primary Graces
1. Desire for deeper relationship with God
2. Openness to conversion
3. Understanding the purpose of my life in God
• Prayer Content
1. God’s personal love (Ps 139, Is 43)
2. Gifts received in life
3. The Principle and Foundation
4. Freedom from disordered attachments
• Pastoral Integration
1. Preaching on identity, purpose, and God’s initiative
2. Growing awareness of God in daily ministry encounters
• Months 2 & 3 — First Phase: Sin, Mercy, and God’s Relentless Love
• Primary Graces
1. Honest self‑knowledge
2. Deep trust in God’s mercy
3. Desire for interior freedom
• Prayer Content
1. Disorder of sin (personal and structural)
2. The prodigal son
3. The cross as the revelation of mercy
4. The Call of the King (transition to Week 2)
•  Pastoral Integration
1. Rich material for Advent, Lent, reconciliation services
2. Compassion for parishioners’ struggles
3. Greater tenderness in preaching and pastoral care
• Months 4, 5 & 6 — Second Phase: The Life of Christ & Discernment
• Primary Graces
1. Intimacy with Jesus
2. Clarity in vocation and mission
3. Discernment of spirits
• Prayer Content - Ignatian imaginative contemplation on:
1. Annunciation
2. Nativity
3. Baptism
4. Call of the Disciples
5. Sermon on the Mount
6. Healings and Miracles
7. Transfiguration
8. Raising of Lazarus
•  Pastoral Integration
1. Homilies become more Christ‑centered and relational
2. Discernment becomes part of daily ministry decisions
3. Growing freedom from ego, fear, and people‑pleasing
• Month 7 — Third Phase: The Passion
• Primary Graces
1. Compassion with Christ in suffering
2. Deep gratitude
3. Willingness to share in Christ’s self‑giving love
• Prayer Content
1. Last Supper
2. Gethsemane
3. Trial
4. Crucifixion
5. Burial
•  Pastoral Integration
1. Profound preparation for Holy Week
2. Greater patience and gentleness in ministry
3. A heart shaped by sacrificial love
• Month 8 — Fourth Phase: Resurrection, Joy, and Mission
• Primary Graces
1. Joy in the Risen Christ
2. Hope
3. Readiness to be sent
• Prayer Content
1. Jesus’ appearances (Emmaus, Mary Magdalene, Upper Room)
2. Breakfast on the shore
3. The Great Commission
4. Contemplation to Attain Love
•  Pastoral Integration
1. Renewed energy for ministry
2. Easter joy that permeates preaching
3. A clearer sense of mission and identity
• Month 9 — Integration & Election (Discernment of Life Direction)
• Primary Graces
1. Clarity about major life decisions
2. Freedom from disordered attachments
3. A stable, discerning heart
• Prayer Content
1. Review of the whole retreat
2. Patterns of grace
3. Confirmation of decisions
4. Offering one’s life to God
•  Pastoral Integration
1. Renewed clarity in ministry
2. A more grounded, peaceful leadership style
3. A heart aligned with Christ’s mission
4. Integration With Ordinary Life - This is the distinctive gift of the 19th Annotation.  The retreatant learns to [from a school of ongoing discernment]:
• Pray in the midst of ministry
• Discern in real time
• Notice God in relationships, work, and interruptions
• Allow the Exercises to shape daily decisions

Who the 19th Annotation Is For

Ignatius envisioned it for:

• Clergy and religious with active ministries
• Parents with family responsibilities
• Professionals who cannot leave work
• Anyone seeking deep conversion while remaining in their vocation

It’s especially fruitful for deacons, priests, and lay ministers because it forms the heart in the very context where they serve.