A NEW LOOK AT THE EXERCISES, DESTINED TO BECOME A CLASSIC
The wisdom of St. Ignatius spoken of in the title is, of course, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and this book is Dean Brackley's interpretation of them. Jesuits have been writing this kind of book for centuries. Many are pious, run-of-the-mill productions. A few are exceptional; and I believe this is one of them. The "Foreword for Skeptics" alone is worth the price of the book. Ellen Calmus, a friend of Brackley and the copyeditor of the book, was not what you would call a believer and took the job with no real interest in religion. But the text chipped away at her unbelief, and one Christmas eve, when having nothing in particular to celebrate she was working on the copy, the light dawned and her life changed. A year later she was baptized by the author. This will probably not be the average reaction to the book, but it is worth reading. The author is a man of intelligence, learning and insight steeped in Ignatian spirituality and he speaks from a depth far beyond mere words with a new and fresh voice in a way that might be heard by the post-modern seeker. As Professor of Theology and Ethics at the University of Central America since 1990 and a successor of the Jesuits martyred there the previous year, he might be expected to stress the social justice dimension of the Exercises. And he does, but in so gentle a fashion that he opens up possibilities without imposing guilt trips on the reader. Brackley is faithful to the teaching of Ignatius, but offers even those familiar with the Exercises new insights and perspectives. The book will be particularly useful for those giving or making or studying the Spiritual Exercises.