Transformation of the Heart

AUTHOR: Fr PT Joseph, SJ

The goal of the Spiritual Exercises is a response of the heart leading to a firm decision to follow Jesus Christ. “Heart” refers to our inner orientation, the core of our being. This kind of “heart” is what Jesus was referring to when he told us to store up treasures in heaven instead of storing up on earth, “for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”. Heart in this sense – the totality of our response – is the concern of the Spiritual Exercises. This “heart” is what Ignatius is concerned with. We might think about Ignatian Spirituality as a way of getting our hearts in the right place. This heart response is the cornerstone of the Spiritual Exercises. St Ignatius of Loyola devised a spiritual transformative process through the practice of the Spiritual Exercises. Experiencing it from the standpoint of Emotional Intelligence studies gives a new perspective about the role of emotions in the Spiritual Exercises. Recent neuro-biology studies have revealed how emotions play a major role in our decision making. The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius is about discernment and decision making for a greater commitment in the following of Jesus Christ. This book will give new insights in the role of emotions in the spiritual journey.

2015

Paperback

330pp