How does imaginative contemplation use scenes from the Gospels in Ignatian spirituality?

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Engraving by Lucas Vorsterman after Peter Paul Rubens showing St. Ignatius of Loyola with a halo, hands clasped in prayer before a crucifix and open book. — St. Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish theologian who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1534. The Jesuit order received official papal approval in 1540 and became a key player in the Counter-Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries.

In Ignatian spirituality, imaginative contemplation is a meditative practice derived from The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Rather than merely reading or analyzing a passage, the practitioner uses their imagination to enter fully into a specific scene from the Gospels.1

By engaging the senses—focusing on the sights, sounds, and other sensory details of the event—the individual seeks to immerse themselves in the narrative. The primary intention of this practice is to move the experience from the head to the heart, thereby fostering a more intimate and personal relationship with Jesus. This method is central to the Ignatian tradition, encouraging a deep, experiential connection to the life and ministry of Christ.1