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Why are the weeks in The Spiritual Exercises not always seven days long?

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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 "weeks" in The Spiritual Exercises are not strictly defined by a seven-day duration because they are intended to function as thematic stages of prayer and contemplation rather than rigid calendar periods.1

While the entire program is traditionally designed to take approximately 30 days to complete, St. Ignatius of Loyola structured these four "weeks" to guide the retreatant through a specific spiritual journey. Each stage focuses on a distinct theme:1

First week: Sin and God’s mercy12
Second week: The life and ministry of Jesus12
Third week: The Passion of Christ12
Fourth week: The Resurrection of Christ and the obligation to love and serve God12

Because the program is viewed as a flexible journey toward spiritual freedom, the duration of each stage is adapted to the needs of the individual retreatant under the guidance of a spiritual director.1