Garcias de Cisneros (also Garcia de Cisneros) was the abbot at the abbey of Montserrat in Spain.

As one of the early Spanish mystics, he was a pioneer in the use of meditative techniques, having been influenced both by the methodical prayers of the Devotio Moderna

Devotio Moderna

Devotio Moderna, or Modern Devotion, was a 14th century new religious movement, with Gerard Groote as a key founder. Other well known members included Thomas à Kempis who was the likely author of the book The Imitation of Christ which proved to be highly influential for centuries.Groote's initial...

 group, and the writings of Louis Barbo

Louis Barbo

Louis Barbo , also referred to as Luigi Barbo or Ludovico Barbo, was a Roman Catholic Bishop and a canon regular of the Benedictine abbey at San Giorgio in Alga, in Venice, Italy.He joined the Benedictine order in 1409...

.

His book Ejercitatorio de la vida espiritual, i.e. "exercises for the spiritual life" was published at Montserrat in 1500 and was an important book on formal prayer and Christian meditation which influenced Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...

, becoming one of the primary sources for his Spiritual exercises

Spiritual Exercises

Spiritual exercises may refer to:* Any spiritual practice dedicated towards increasing one's personal spirituality* Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, a book of spiritual practices of the Roman Catholic Jesuit order...

.