How long does the full Spiritual Exercises retreat usually take?

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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.

The full Spiritual Exercises retreat is traditionally designed to take about 30 days to complete.1

While the program is divided into four distinct "weeks," these are structured as stages of prayer and contemplation rather than strict seven-day periods. The retreat is typically undertaken in silence under the guidance of a spiritual director.1