Ignatian spirituality is profoundly important for many deacons, especially for his spiritual exercises. Today the church celebrates Ignatius of Loyola.
St. Ignatius Loyola was born in 1491, one of 13 children of a family of minor nobility in northern Spain. As a young man Ignatius Loyola was inflamed by the ideals of courtly love and knighthood and dreamed of doing great deeds.
But in 1521 Ignatius was gravely wounded in a battle with the French. While recuperating, Ignatius Loyola experienced a conversion. Reading the lives of Jesus and the saints made Ignatius happy and aroused desires to do great things. Ignatius realized that these feelings were clues to God’s direction for him.
Over the years, Ignatius became expert in the art of spiritual direction. He collected his insights, prayers, and suggestions in his book the Spiritual Exercises, one of the most influential books on the spiritual life ever written. With a small group of friends, Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. Ignatius conceived the Jesuits as “contemplatives in action.” This also describes the many Christians who have been touched by Ignatian spirituality.
Ignatian spirituality featured largely in this year’s Deacons’ Day of Reflection for Exeter diocese with Deacon Ed Channing: Talk 1: Called and empowered to serve:
https://deaconstories.wordpress.com/2018/05/27/deacons-called-and-empowered-to-serve/
Talk 2: Between altar and marketplace:
https://deaconstories.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/the-praying-heart-of-the-deacon/
3. and Temptations for Deacons:
https://deaconstories.wordpress.com/2018/06/14/temptations-for-deacons/
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 
This was certainly interesting, I would love to read Spiritual Exercises, so will look out for it.xxx
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Some of them are a bit medieval, but the guts of them I find really helpful.
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