The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life

Martin begins his book by asking “Who is St. Ignatius Loyola, and why should you care?” (1). St. Ignatius was the 16th-century founder of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order whose “way of proceeding” has led people to build a relationship with God. He suggests that this philosophy is about freedom, whether it's freedom to express yourself, to love, to choose wisely, etc. It has also been passed down for generations and St. Ignatius encouraged the Jesuits to spread this set of beliefs as widely as possible.

Next, Martin suggests that it is important to define spirituality, defining it as “a way of living in relationship with God” (2). He notes that spirituality can differ based on its emphasis. He notes that many of the different spiritualities have flowed from religious orders such as the Jesuits, Franciscans, Benedictines, and others. The Jesuits’ particularity spirituality is that of the chapter’s title: Ignatian Spirituality. Outside of this spirituality, Jesuits are also well-known for their commitment to education, running colleges and universities around the United States.

He then introduces four ways of understanding Ignatian spirituality. The first is via the phrase “finding God in all things.