Few people today, especially lay people and apostolic religious, can devote lengthy periods of time exclusively to reflection and prayer. While it would certainly be an advantage to be able to devote, say, an hour a day purely to the work of these Exercises, and it would be even better to be able to do them in the atmosphere of a retreat in total seclusion from the business of one's everyday life, nevertheless these Exercises are so designed that they may be done in the midst of one's active daily life.
The plan is to do one exercise a day, and to repeat it every day, if possible, for three or four days. If you are deriving much benefit from the Exercise, continue it daily for as long as it is fruitful. If, on the other hand, you find it difficult to enter into the spirit of a particular exercise, especially after trying it for several days, you may ask yourself whether it is because you are not ready or willing to hear what the Lord is trying to communicate to you through the Exercise. If such is the case, take the necessary action. If not, simply move on to take up the next Exercise.
The following are the steps to be followed for each Exercise. The titles correspond to those given in each Exercise.
Preparation
1. Spend one full minute in total quiet, both interior and exterior. Simply rest perfectly still in the presence of your strong and loving Father. Jesus and Mary are praying at your side, lending you their support. Breathe deeply of the Holy Spirit of God who is praying within you and who directs all your thoughts and feelings and actions through Jesus to the praise of the Father. Or, in the company of the same persons, Jesus and Mary, and in the presence of the Father, and with the breath of the Spirit, slowly pray the Lord's Prayer, again allowing your whole being to be drawn into praise of the Father. Spend a full minute on this.
2. Pray the Hail Mary, calling on Mary's help and allowing her presence to inspire your efforts to ponder the Lord's words to you.
Text
Find the indicated text in your Bible and read it. Read it at a moderate pace, attentive to what happens, what is said, the persons present or speaking, the symbols or objects used.
Setting
Read the Setting and try to catch a glimpse of the scene.
Grace
Very briefly and simply ask God to grant you the grace you are seeking, according to what is suggested.
Reflection
Read the points given. They will give you an idea of how to reflect on the Text in the course of the day.
(Note: You may wish to do the Preparation, Text, Setting, Grace and read the points given for Reflection before retiring for the night. Upon rising the next morning, simply recall to mind the matter to be pondered during the day.)
During the course of the day, especially during brief moments of quiet, or when engaged in routine tasks that require little attention or thought, ponder the Text with the help of the points given for reflection. Let yourself be caught up in the scene or in the spirit of the Text.
Some suggestions:
a) Imagine yourself present in the scene, observing what happens, hearing what is said, perhaps hearing the words addressed to you, or yourself reacting or taking part in the action.
b) Try to feel the personal impact made by the people present, especially Jesus and Mary.
c) Focus your attention on the objects or symbols in the scene: water, wine, the desert, a house, the stable, etc. Try to get a feel for what these things symbolize in the life of Jesus and Mary, and especially in your own life. So, spend the day allowing these thoughts, scenes, persons, words and symbols to flow through your mind and to awaken your personal reactions and ideas.
Conversation
Toward the end of the day, allow your thoughts to turn more in the direction of an actual conversation with Jesus or Mary or the Father or the Holy Spirit. Simply express to them what is in your heart, whatever thoughts or feelings have arisen from your reflections during the day (or speak to them of your frustration if you were, not able to meditate of, if the meditation did not go well). Or, If you cannot find words to say, pray the Lord's Prayer and the Hail Mary and allow these prayers to express your thoughts for you.
Journal
If at all possible, record in a notebook or 'journal' whatever you received for the Exercise -- ideas and inspirations that came to you, feelings you had, actions that the Lord seems to be asking of you personally. Be sure to date your entry for future reference.
Some people find it very helpful to write their Conversation in a journal. Try it. Just sit down and let the words, both your own and those of Jesus or Mary or the Father, flow from your heart through the pen onto the paper.
Spiritual Direction
For those who are making these Exercises with the help of a spiritual director or guide, try to share with your director, openly and honestly, the results of doing the Exercise, the benefits you felt, the obstacles you experienced, the actions you seem called upon to do. It is important that you be as open and frank as you can with your director.
Group Sharing
It could be very helpful to do these Exercises as part of a group. Let each member of the group prepare by doing an Exercise (all do the same Exercise) for several days prior to the group meeting. At the 'meeting, in a spirit of prayer, the members share the fruits of their reflections. It is important to listen carefully to what the others share, because the Lord may have something to say to you through what someone else shares.
(Note well: unlike in spiritual direction, it is not necessary and is sometimes harmful -- to yourself or to others -- to reveal everything to the group. In your group sharing, reveal only those things you feel comfortable and peaceful about sharing, and only those things that may help to enlighten, inspire or encourage others. Remember: you are the one who has the right and obligation to decide what you will share with the group. You ought always to remain in control of what you are sharing. You may even choose to remain silent throughout an entire session.)
Using these Exercises in a group setting might be especially helpful in a parish or a school, especially one entrusted to Marists. Lay people in the parish or school, especially those actively involved in ministry, could be invited by the priests or religious to participate in' a process of going through the Exercises in small groups. The use of part I would help laity and religious share a common vision of the Church and of a Marist apostolic undertaking. Part II could help forge a deeper spiritual bond between laity and religious. Part III provides a process for discerning the needs of parish or school and giving a direction to ministry that tries to meet those needs.
