Spiritual Exercises

Name: Hickory, NC – Women’s Retreat | Sept. 25-27
Start: 2026-09-25T12:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-09-27T13:00:00-04:00
Location: Catholic Conference Center

The Spiritual Exercises are a type of retreat composed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century, inspired by his own experience of conversion. They are deeply rooted in Catholic Tradition built upon the Gospel and sound Catholic theology. The retreat in its fullness is a 30-day, silent withdrawal from the world in order to know oneself better, grow greatly in the knowledge and love of Christ, and discern God’s will in one’s life. However, from the beginning, St. Ignatius meant for this method to be adapted according to the circumstances of the retreatant. Cor Jesu Apostolate offers a variety of shorter Spiritual Exercises for the laity (typically over a weekend), faithfully following St. Ignatius’ method.

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Common Questions

What to expect on an Ignatian retreat?

This silent retreat consists of a series of spiritual talks following the structure laid out by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Each spiritual talk is followed by a time of personal prayer to reflect and meditate on the topic presented. While you will be silent for much of the weekend, there will be many moments of common prayer, such as the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, recitation of the Holy Rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, opportunity for Confession, and to speak one-on-one with one of the priests leading the retreat. All these “exercises” are ways to prepare the soul to seek and find the will of God, and put it into practice for the salvation of our souls and the glory of God (See Spiritual Exercises, no. 1).

What is the “theme” of this retreat?

The meditations are based on the Gospel, the mysteries of the life of Christ, the truths of our Faith, and the principles of Catholic spirituality. They are systematically organized by St. Ignatius in a masterly way, in order to attain the fruit of the retreat. The priests leading the retreat will guide you through the different stages of the retreat.

Why participate in the Spiritual Exercises?

The Spiritual Exercises provide a unique atmosphere in which the soul becomes fertile ground for the action of divine grace. “St. Charles Borromeo was led by the Exercises ‘to adopt a more perfect form of life’, St. Francis de Sales ‘to serve God with the greatest possible fidelity’, and St. Teresa of Jesus to become ‘the lover of lofty contemplation.’” (John A. Hardon, S.J., All My Liberty: Theology of the Spiritual Exercises) The spiritual value of the Exercises lies in the power they have to lead a person to an intimate relationship with Jesus and the heights of divine love.

How often should I go?

It is recommended to attend the Spiritual Exercises on a yearly basis for the many benefits that arise from them. Even though we faithfully follow the themes of the talks as they appear in the book of the Spiritual Exercises, we change the content every year. If you have attended a retreat in previous years, this year you will be receiving a new set of talks.

What should I expect for the weekend?

This adapted weekend form of the Spiritual Exercises typically begins on Friday early evening and concludes on Sunday late afternoon (longer retreats are possible, please, inquire for more information). At the retreat, we will provide a schedule with the order of the day and the material necessary for your personal prayer. The spiritual talks are distributed throughout the day and last approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Each one is followed by a personal time of prayer. During the day, there will also be Holy Mass, Rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, Confession, spiritual direction, and free time for resting, walking on the grounds, personal reflection and taking notes, reading, etc.

Who should do this retreat?

The Spiritual Exercises are recommended for Catholic faithful in all stages of their spiritual life. Whether you are discerning God’s will for your life now, or simply wanting to deepen your understanding of the mysteries of our Faith and draw closer to Christ, you will surely benefit from them. If you think this retreat may not be the right one for you, please reach out to us and ask.

If these retreats were originally 30 days, are weekend retreats still effective?

Yes, because St. Ignatius himself thought the retreat should be adapted to different situations. We include the core meditations, which make up the essence of the experience of the Spiritual Exercises.

2026 – Summer 2027 Retreat Calendar

We will be adding more 2027 retreat dates soon. Check back often for updates!

September 2026

Hickory, NC – Women’s Retreat | Sept. 25-27

The Spiritual Exercises are a weekend silent retreat for women aged 16 and over, with spiritual talks and time for personal meditation. These retreats are preached by the priests of Cor Jesu Apostolate, according to the method and the principles of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Apart from the spiritual talks and time for prayer, each day […]

Sep 25 - 27

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Catholic Conference Center

1551 Trinity Ln. | Hickory, NC 28602

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October 2026

DeWitt, MI – Men’s Retreat | October 16-18

The Spiritual Exercises are a weekend silent retreat for men aged 16 and over, with spiritual talks and time for personal meditation. These retreats are preached by the priests of Cor Jesu Apostolate, according to the method and the principles of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Apart from the spiritual talks and time for prayer, each day […]

Oct 16 - 18

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

St. Francis Retreat Center

703 E. Main Street | DeWitt, MI 48820

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