The Spiritual Exercises of Saint
Ignatius
by David Fleming, S.J.
Completed June 2001
I've only read this edition of Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises, but I would highly recommend it. Fleming provides both his own contemporary reading (not so much a translation as it is his own elaboration and interpretation) alongside a more literal translation of the original Spanish. I found having both the literal and the more interpretative translations to be so helpful. At times, Ignatius' prose is dense and without elaboration, while Fleming's is much more approachable and explanatory. At other times, though, I found the economy and power of the literal translation to be more insightful. The combination was outstanding.
I found the Spiritual Exercises themselves to be outstanding, as well. I read them while on a silent (Ignatian) retreat, so was able to immediately put many of Ignatius' exercises into practice. Although Ignatius developed these Exercises hundreds of years ago, they are remarkably current. I repeatedly found that he anticipated the challenges that I experienced, and more importantly, outlined a method of prayer which was truly productive. I am still very much a neophyte when it comes to the imaginative prayer which the Exercises demand, but even after one reading and a few days of first-hand experience, I can see the power of his method.