St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) was gravely wounded in a battle against the French in 1521. While recovering, Ignatius daydreamed about the lives of the saints and the life he led before his injury. When reflecting on the saints and the inclusion of God in their lives, he felt energy and peace. When reflecting on his life of attention-seeking, he felt hollow and unsatisfied.
From this insight arose the basis of Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, the preeminent book on Ignatian Spirituality that has transformed the lives of many people over the centuries.