Praying Hell, With Ignatian Aikido

In the theme of sin in the Ignatian Exercises, we take on the remarkable task of praying with hell. As an instrument of spiritual growth, we imagine ourselves in hell, try to experience it as fully as we are able to. Why in the world would we want to do that? We’re supposed to be trying to avoid hell, after all, aren’t we? 

Ignatian spirituality has the same movement as Aikido, the Japanese martial art, where instead of pushing back against the attacker, instead you welcome the attack and let it become an advantage for you. And so it is with Hell, we fear hell, and try to avoid it. But in the Exercises, we are invited to welcome it, receive it, experience it, in order to grow our love for God.  

Imagine what it would be like to let your sin consume you, overwhelm you, destroy every good thing in your life, every joy, every relationship, every consolation. Imagine being filled with bitterness, malice, hatred, frustration, despair, lust, fear, dread, etc. Imagine being so consumed that you were cut completely off from God, who loves you and created you in love, so cut off that you could never praise and only curse him forever.

Then ask yourself is that good? Do I like that? Or do I like being close to, united with God? Let the absence of God and his consolation stir in your heart a longing, a longing for union with the Lord. Let this experience of hell lead you to cry out to the Lord your Savior, “I need you, have mercy, save me from the sin that only brings death.”

And as we approach Jesus on the cross, we are invited to open our hearts in conversation. “Jesus, you are my life, my hope, and my love. May I never have that taken away from me. Let me love you forever, not curse you forever. May I continue to open myself to your love and receive it. Make me grateful and joyful in the good gifts you give me. I am poor and weak and needy. Save me, Jesus.”

And Jesus responds to us with words of grace, restoration, and hope.  He says, “I am at work, leading you deep into your sin and will use it for good. Hold my hand and walk with me. I will cross every chasm, I will bring you to me. I will release you from your bondage and make you new.

Jesus takes us deep into sin, even into hell, and uses that to deepen our love, to free us from bondage and allow us to find new life and hope in him.

© Dale Gish 2019. All Rights Reserved.

This reflection was inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. If you are interested in praying the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius with me starting in September, please contact me.