Have you ever wondered what moves the Jesuits at their core? This innovative animated documentary about the founder of the Jesuits reveals his inner quest for God, and invites you to become a spiritual seeker yourself.

Much has been written about “The Power and Secret of the Jesuits.” But perhaps not everything is secret, because what constitutes the Jesuits above all is their common spiritual foundation, the Exercises of Saint Ignatius (1491-1556), who founded the Jesuit order. Every Jesuit makes the so-called “Full Spiritual Exercises” twice in his life, at the beginning and end of his formation. He spends thirty days in silence and prayer, centered on his relation to God and Jesus. He ponders the decisive question: what is God’s will for me and my life? Am I called to be a Jesuit, a companion of Jesus? Silence is more than mere not-speaking: it opens a man to a new dimension in his life.

Extended silence enables one to hear. Forty days before his public appearance, Jesus himself was led into stillness and solitude in the desert. His desert experience with the three temptations is certainly a key event in his life. All three temptations concern the first commandment: “I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods beside me! You shall not make for yourself an idol to worship.” For Jesus God alone counts, not the apotheosis of earthly power and whatever accompanies it. A human who can turn stone into bread can also rule the world with “bread and circuses.” Jesus had the ability to do so, but he refused to use it, even for his own hunger. True bread, true security, comes from God alone. Knowing this, Jesus proclaims: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the good news.” People who heed this call and reorient themselves accordingly feel an inner freedom, liberated from every dependence and compulsion.