Guidelines
Spiritual Exercises (7x7x7 mode)
1. Those doing the spiritual exercises are asked to enter into the daily seven minutes with great courage and generosity, freely inviting God to make total use of their person and abilities.
2. The person guiding you will introduce each week simply and without great explanation. What matters is the biblical reading. It is best when you come to realize a truth or an insight. In this way, you will gain more spiritual benefit than if the guide provides the insights.
3. Typically, each seven-minute period begins with using the intellect or the imagination, and is concluded with a "colloquy” (a personal prayerful encounter with God). You are given seven seconds, so that you just share with the divinity what matters. The colloquy is at the same time the end of your exercise and the beginning of a day-long conversation with God or Christ.
4. Your guide will help you when you feel no "spiritual movements,” such as experiencing consolation or desolation, inner peace or disturbance. The guide will check the way you do your exercises and will suggest minor changes.
5. If your guide sees that you are discouraged or finding the process upsetting, difficult, or burdensome, your guide will treat you gently and indulgently. Your guide will help you to get ready for future consolations and inner peace.
6. When you need instruction on recognizing the different movement of the human spirit, your guide will explain to you these spiritual dynamics as needed.
7. You should be careful not to make any rash decision, promises, or vows based on what you have experienced during your spiritual exercises.
8. Remember also that your guide should not influence a major decision in a way or the other. Your guide will however invite you to pray that your motive for making a major decision be primarily the service of God.
9. You should not speak to your guide about your personal life, only speak about the various “inner movements” happening day by day. By knowing these movements, your guide can suggest spiritual exercises appropriate to you.
10. You should keep a handwritten journal of your Exercises experiences. Note the date and time of day for each entry. You do not need to write long sentences, just keywords. Was it long or short, focused or distracted, frustrating or joyful . . . At the end of the week, write a summary of the main “movements” of your week. What you have written serves as the base for your conversation with your guide.
11. There is no good or bad “movement” during a spiritual exercise. Just take what comes. Do not feel ashamed because you experience boredom or discouragement. Focus on what comes knowing that God does not reject a part of you. God does not love only the pure and good side of you. God loves you.