Jesuit (Ignatian) Spirituality: Eight Traits to Practice Today

Ignatian (Jesuit) spirituality, rooted in the Society of Jesus and the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, emphasizes discernment, cura personalis, and active love. This updated guide explains eight practical traits - forgiveness, loving action, all-encompassing respect, generosity, compassion, a steady holiness, attractive integrity, and the charisma of truth - and suggests simple daily habits (like the examen) for cultivating them.

Introduction

Jesuit spirituality - more commonly called Ignatian spirituality - originates with St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Society of Jesus (founded 1540). It emphasizes discernment, contemplative action, and care for the whole person (cura personalis). These practices shape a way of life rooted in prayer, service, and an active love for others.

Below are eight practical traits that reflect that heritage and are accessible for daily practice.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness stands at the heart of Christian witness. Jesus' plea, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), exemplifies a forgiving stance toward harm and offense. Ignatian practice encourages regular reflection (the examen) to notice where we hold grudges and to invite God's mercy to reshape our responses.

Loving

Love is both foundation and motivation. Jesuit spirituality urges love ordered toward service - love that seeks the good of others without calculation. Small daily acts of attentiveness and kindness become expressions of this unconditional regard.

All-Encompassing Respect

Cura personalis calls us to value each person - regardless of social status, occupation, or ability. Treating a garbage collector, a neighbor, or a stranger with equal dignity reflects an all-encompassing ethic of respect and solidarity.

Generosity

Ignatian teaching sees everything as gift: our bodies, our senses, the air and water that sustain us. Practically, generosity shows up in sharing time, attention, and resources. A generous spirit responds to need without keeping score.

Compassion

Compassion here means engaged love that bears witness through action. It's empathy made concrete - listening, accompanying, and supporting others in suffering. Ignatian companions often speak of joining another's journey rather than fixing it from afar.

A Transcendent, Simple Goodness

Living these traits can create a calm, steady presence that others notice. That "halo" is not supernatural show but the quiet consistency of a life ordered to truth, mercy, and service.

Attractiveness of Integrity

A life lived with humility and integrity naturally attracts others. This is not a pursuit of followers but a byproduct of authenticity: people are drawn to coherence between belief and action.

The Charisma of Truth

Finally, speaking and living the truth with love disarms falsehood and invites transformation. The Jesuit tradition values candid, compassionate truth-telling that frees rather than shames.

Conclusion

Ignatian spirituality offers practical habits - examination, prayer, and apostolic action - that help cultivate these eight traits. They are not a checklist to earn favor but habits that form a life of service, mercy, and honest encounter with others.