Category Archives: Ignatian Spirituality

The Hand that Stilled the Storm

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Lately Jesus has been inviting me to hold his hand as we walk through life together. That reminds me of something that happened when Heidi was born. She was delivered as planned by caesarean section a week before the due date. Since I … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mindfulness, Stories | Tagged Christ Calms the Storm, Christian Asuh, David L. Fleming SJ, Fr. Lawrence Lew, Hold On, Luc De Leeuw, Mark 4:39, Pray as you go, Soul of Christ, SoulStream | 4 Comments

Walking with Jesus

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Lately I have been beginning my day with Pray as you go In these short on-line reflections, I am often asked to imagine myself with Jesus and interact with him. One morning I was one of the women who followed Jesus. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged Christian Asuh, Cirque Peak, David L. Fleming SJ, enough has been given, Fred Hizsa, Pray as you go, Soul of Christ, SoulStream, Strolling with My Honey. | Leave a comment

The Voice of Love Loving

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I woke in the night feeling condemned for overeating. A voice kept at me, relentlessly inflicting guilt and shame. It blamed me for using my addiction to food as an excuse to sin. It called me a hypocrite. I repented and vowed … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Overeating, Stories | Tagged Daniel Bonnell, David L. Fleming SJ, discernment, Father Richard Soo, Ignatian Spirituality, Jesus Wept, Overeating, Soul of Christ | 2 Comments

Wasting Money

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Every time I turned around, something was costing more money: a haircut, local produce, a restaurant meal. Then the theatre company called to say that the matinée performance we booked in our subscription was sold out. Should Fred and I change shows or … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged alabaster jar, anointing of Jesus, Fr. Lawrence Lew, Ignatian prayer, Mary Magdalene, Matthew 26:6-14, self-centredness, suscipe, Take and Recieve, wasting money, wasting time | Leave a comment

Me and My Shadow

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

I am hesitant to confess this to you, because when I do, you will find evidence that it’s true. And where that leads, well, that makes me both nervous and hopeful. So here it is: I am pretty self-centred. I often put myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Prayer, Stories | Tagged Daniel Bonnell, David Benner, Glimpse of and Angel, Lolowaro974, Me and My Shadow, Noon Prayer, self-centred, self-centredness, Shadows, snuggling up to God, SoulStream, Surrender to Love | 2 Comments

Buried Treasure

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

It’s all fine to recall those moments for which we are most grateful and treasure them in our hearts. But what about the events in our day for which we are least grateful? Who wants to treasure those? I’d just as soon forget them. But Ignatius … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality | Tagged Adplayers, C.Robin Janning, consolation, Daily Examen, desolation, Ignatius of Loyola, Luke 2:19, Margaret Silf, Mary Treasures All These Words, Prayer of Examen, Psalm 23, Treasure Island Archive 10 | 2 Comments

Something Exciting Is Happening on Your Block

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

Meet Chester Filbert. He lives at 5264 One Hundred and Seventy-Seventh Street. He is frowning because, as the title of the book explains, nothing ever happens on his block. The reader soon discovers, however, that the joke is on him, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Stories | Tagged Consciousness Examen, Ellen Raskin, Ignatius of Loyola, John 1:14, Luke 2:19, Nothing Ever Happens on My Block, Prayer of Examen | 3 Comments

Stay with Me

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

See how tenderly the angels comfort Jesus in his anguish. He longed for such compassion from his friends, but they couldn’t do it. They disappeared into a panacea of sleep. We rely on Jesus to be with us in everything, but will we be with … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged Anthony Falbo, Contemplation of Place, Gethsemane, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, lent, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 26:36-46, Maundy Thursday, praying with the imagination, Stay with me, The Hour is Near | 3 Comments

The Desire to Disappear

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Esther Hizsa

“Sometimes I wish I could disappear,” I told Father Elton once while I was doing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises last year. “Of course you do,” he said. “You want to do as you were told.” “What do you mean?” I … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged being present, desires of our heart, disappear, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, prayer, Psalm 37:4, SIMindy | 3 Comments

The Dead Alternator Speaks

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Esther Hizsa

Frederick Buechner once said that if he were to sum up in a few words the essence of everything he was trying to say both as a novelist and as a preacher, it would be this: Listen to your life. … Continue reading →