Ignatian Direction

An Ancient Path. A Living Encounter.
For nearly five hundred years, Christians have used the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola to pay closer attention to God — to notice where he is moving, what he is saying, and where he is gently inviting them to go. This is that tradition, offered with warmth and care for the evangelical soul.
What Is Ignatian Direction?
Writer Mary Yerkes in her library writing

Ignatian direction is a form of companioned prayer rooted in the Spiritual Exercises, a retreat framework developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the sixteenth century. At its heart, the Exercises are not a curriculum to complete — they are a structured invitation to encounter God personally, through Scripture, prayer, imagination, and careful attention to the movements of the soul.

If you have ever sensed that God might be saying something to you through a passage of Scripture, a persistent longing, a season of dryness, or a moment of unexpected peace — Ignatian direction gives you the tools and the companionship to listen more deeply.

Many evangelical Christians are surprised to discover how thoroughly biblical this tradition is. The Exercises draw heavily from the Gospels, invite extended time in God’s word, and center on one animating question: Where is God at work in my life, and how do I respond?

Who Offers These Exercises
Mary Yerkes is a trained Ignatian director, equipped to offer the Exercises in several forms — each shaped to different seasons of life, levels of availability, and readiness for the journey. Whether you are drawn to a structured solo retreat or would find it meaningful to walk alongside others, there is a path here for you.
Individual Ignatian Direction
In individual Ignatian direction, you meet one-on-one with Mary on a regular basis — typically weekly during an intensive retreat, or monthly in a longer, more spacious form — to pray through the movements of the Exercises at your own pace.

This is deeply personal work. Each session begins with what has been happening in your prayer: what stirred you, what fell flat, where you sensed God’s presence or absence. Mary listens carefully alongside the Holy Spirit, asks questions that help you hear more clearly, and offers suggestions for your continued prayer between sessions.

Individual direction is well-suited for those who:

  • Are drawn to a structured, intentional season of prayer and self-examination
  • Have some experience with contemplative or meditative prayer
  • Are navigating a significant life transition, decision, or call
  • Simply want a dedicated, unhurried space to seek God more deeply
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The 19th Annotation: A Retreat in Daily Life
The full Spiritual Exercises were originally designed as a thirty-day silent retreat — a form that remains deeply powerful but is simply not accessible to most people within the ordinary rhythms of work, family, and ministry.

St. Ignatius anticipated this. In the nineteenth annotation of the Exercises, he describes a way to make the full retreat within daily life — extending the experience over several months rather than weeks, usually nine or ten months, with weekly meetings and prayer integrated into the fabric of an ordinary schedule.

This is the form most commonly offered today, and it is every bit as transformative as the enclosed retreat. Participants commit to about an hour of prayer each day and meet with Mary weekly throughout the process. The Exercises unfold in four movements, or “weeks,” each with its own character, invitations, and graces.

The 19th Annotation may be right for you if:
  • You long for a sustained, structured season of deep prayer
  • Your life does not allow for an extended silent retreat
  • You are ready for a serious commitment — in time, attention, and openness
  • You sense God may be inviting you into something new and want to discern it well
The 18th Annotation: Adapted for Everyday Life
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For those who are newer to contemplative prayer, or who are in a season that calls for a gentler pace, the 18th Annotation—a 10-week program—offers a beautiful alternative. This adaptation draws from the spirit and movements of the full Exercises without requiring the same level of intensity or duration.

Think of it as an on-ramp — not a lesser version of the journey, but a different road to the same destination. The 18th Annotation is especially well-suited for those who are just beginning to explore prayer as a listening practice, those navigating a particularly demanding season of life, or those who simply want to taste the tradition before committing to the full Exercises.

Mary offers the 18th Annotation with the same care and attentiveness she brings to any direction relationship — unhurried, responsive to where you are, and always oriented toward the one thing that matters: your growing intimacy with God.

The 18th Annotation may be right for you if:
  • You are newer to contemplative or meditative prayer
  • Your current season calls for a gentler, more flexible rhythm
  • You want to explore Ignatian prayer before committing to the full Exercises
  • You are looking for a meaningful but sustainable practice of daily prayer
Group Ignatian Direction
The Ignatian tradition has always understood that we grow in God not only in solitude, but in community. Group Ignatian direction brings together a small number of participants who journey through the 18th Annotation of the Exercises together — each praying individually between sessions, then gathering to share what God has been doing in their prayer.

This is not group therapy, nor is it a Bible study. It is a shared pilgrimage — each person attending to their own interior journey while being quietly encouraged by the presence of others doing the same. There is something profoundly strengthening about knowing you are not walking alone.

Group direction is well-suited for those who:

  • Find community to be a source of spiritual sustenance
  • Would benefit from the gentle accountability of a shared rhythm
  • Are curious about the Exercises but feel less certain about beginning alone
  • Are part of a church community or ministry team seeking deeper formation together

Groups are offered periodically. Contact Mary to be notified of upcoming openings.

A Note for Evangelical Christians
You may be wondering whether a tradition rooted in Catholic spirituality has a place in your faith. It is a fair question, and Mary hears it often.

The Spiritual Exercises are, at their foundation, an extended encounter with Scripture and with the person of Jesus. They are not a sacramental program or a doctrinal curriculum — they are a school of prayer, built on the conviction that God speaks personally to each soul and that learning to hear that voice is one of the great works of the Christian life.

Many evangelical believers have found the Ignatian tradition not foreign to their faith but deeply resonant with it — a structured way of doing what they have always longed to do: slow down, open the Word, and actually listen.

If you are curious, the best first step is simply a conversation.

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Begin the Journey

Whether you are drawn to individual direction, a group retreat, or simply want to understand which form of the Exercises might be right for your season, Mary would be glad to talk.
Schedule a Conversation

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