Ignatius of Loyola compares the Spiritual Exercises to physical exercises like "taking a walk, journeying on foot, and running." The Spiritual Exercises fortify the soul, enlighten the mind, and move the will to cooperate more fully with God. The Exercises that ignatius wrote in the sixteenth century are as popular and relevant today as they were when they were first introduced. In Retreat With the Lord, Father John Hardon provides an up-to-date guide for anyone who wants to do the Exercises themselves, in touch with a spiritual director by phone, correspondence, or in person.