Facing East, Praying West: Poetic Reflections on the Spiritual Exercises

Facing East, Praying West is a collection of poetic reflections based on Ignatius s Spiritual Exercises. The prayer poems in this book are arranged according to the four-week structure of the Exercises. They convey the reader through the four movements of Christ s story: creation, living, dying, and rising to new life. The poems in this volume are not merely literary pieces, but have a practical spiritual purpose. They draw on the reader s imaginative and intellectual response to God s grace. They sustain and encourage the reader through the consolations and desolations of the soul s journey. The flow of words and metaphors creates a holistic way of praying, one that develops body, mind, and spirit. Like the Psalms, these prayer poems will enhance the reader s ability to see transcendent beauty in the darkness of life. This book not only offers a new way of experiencing the essence of the Exercises, but it will also inspire readers to compose their own prayer poems and express the deepest longings of their souls.