Your experience of receiving the First Spiritual Exercises is your best teacher in giving it. In turn, your giving the First Spiritual Exercises to others is your next best teacher. This Manual sits between these two teachers as the third guide. You need all three experiences to learn how to best give the FSE. The Manual teaches you through commentary on the different exercises, the retreat structures and dynamics.

To keep step with what your receiver is experiencing, it will, at times, closely replicate the text in book The First Spiritual Exercises.

Though Catholic in origin, the First Spiritual Exercises is inclusive of all Christian traditions, searchers and unchurched. It is for all people— the disadvantaged, youth, workers, professionals, the influential, the middle class, the poor, leaders, parishioners, teachers, prisoners, the sick, the confused, the lost . . . anyone looking for inner peace.