Regnum Christi

Main Menu
Menu
Menu
Search

For the Greater Glory of God: A Retreat Guide on St. Ignatius of Loyola

Fr. John Pietropaoli, LC

St. John Paul II observed that for people of faith there are no coincidences, only aspects of God’s providence that we have not yet fully understood. Another way of putting it is to say that there are no coincidences, only God-incidences. Among these God-incidences, one of the most remarkable is the story of St. Ignatius Loyola. For the world would be very different indeed if a cannonball had not struck him at the Battle of Pamplona in 1521, shattering his leg and confining him to bed for the next 6 months. During his convalescence, the young Spaniard had ample time to reflect about the meaning of his life, about time and eternity, and, above all, about God. And more than his leg was healed. By the time he recovered he had decided to live no longer for himself, but for God, and the echoes of his choice appear in the motto forever associated with his name: “For the Greater Glory of God.” In this Retreat Guide we’ll explore what those words meant for his life, and what they can mean for ours.

  • In the First Meditation we’ll reflect on St. Ignatius as a pilgrim seeking the greater glory of God and draw out several virtues necessary for our own pilgrimage through life.
  • In the Second Meditation we’ll look at how St. John the Baptist, a kindred spirit of St. Ignatius, taught his followers to seek the greater glory of God.
  • And finally, the Conference will delve into the examen prayer, a practical tool St. Ignatius warmly recommended in order to see God’s action in our lives, and respond with faith, with hope, and with love.

The Personal Questionnaire/Group discussion questions are available in the Companion Guide Book or Small Group Companion Guide or for purchase via Amazon. Pause the video at any moment to go to the Companion Guide Book or continue to the next meditation.

Print Guides

Video

Audio

How to Use a Retreat Guide
How to Use a Retreat Guide in a Small Group

Retreat Guides can be used alone – as a springboard for personal meditation – or with a group.

SEARCH GUIDES
Scroll to Top

How to Use A Retreat Guide

How to Use A Retreat Guide

Gather together, start with prayer, and then watch the Intro and First Meditation together. At the end of the First Meditation, spend 5 – 10 minutes in silent meditation/prayer with the reflection questions. Then watch the Second Meditation and have 5 – 10 minutes of silent time. Lastly, watch the Conference and use the meditation questions as the springboard for personal prayer or group discussion.

You can use this format to gather in person or virtually. If virtual, someone could run the videos (sharing their screen, e.g., using Zoom or any other video conference platform), pausing for silent reflection.

The Conferences (the last video of each Retreat Guide) are designed as stand-alone videos offering practical applications for living out the Retreat Guide theme. They always work well with the Meditations, but you could use the Conference separately for a shorter gathering to kick off a topic for discussion.

Seasonally, you may want to use a Retreat Guide at home or with a closer group of friends. For Advent or Lent, you could select one Retreat Guide a week, watch one video each night, and discuss it as a family.

These are just some suggestions. Feel free to experiment with a format that works best for your group. With almost 60 Retreat Guides, you have a great library of retreats to pick from. 

Menu
Menu
Menu
Menu

Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!