Yesterday was the feast day of Ignatius of Loyola, famed founder of the Jesuit order within the Catholic Church. For some daily devotions, I normally follow the lectionary. A lectionary is a selected group of biblical readings for the day. As I have often commented, the various orders of monks and nuns around the world follow a lectionary. Each time they gather for worship, there will be a reading from the Old Testament, a piece from the Psalms and a New Testament reading. I like following the lectionary because if provides a pre-selected group of texts. It keeps me from reading my favorites all the time!
Within the Catholic tradition, there is also designated certain days that celebrate various people within the biblical tradition and beyond. There are famous historical figures, like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and others. Among this group is Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius was a native Spaniard---born in the Basque country in northern Spain. His early adult years was spent in the military. However, he was seriously wounded in a battle in 1521 and during his convalescence, he experienced a religious conversion.
Later he decided he wanted to learn Latin and study for the ministry, so he went to Paris to enroll in the university. During this time, he attracted others who were fellow pilgrims in the spirit. A bond developed among them and they called themselves “companions of Jesus.” This group eventually would become known as the Society of Jesus, from which we get our descriptive word for them---Jesuits. They were formally recognized in 1540.
In effect, the Jesuits became soldiers of Christ. The Jesuits made a vow to serve the Pope as missionaries. They were willing to go anywhere in the world to serve. Rather than continue to recount the history of this interesting man, I would like to share a few quotations that give us a sense of his spirit. I admit in the early part of my own spirituality, I did not find Ignatian spirituality spoke much to me. But as I have grown, I find it does help me in my journey.
One of the more famous sayings from the founder of the Jesuits is his admonishment to “go forth and set the world on fire.” I think this is exactly what he expected of all those guys who would become Jesuits. In effect to become a Jesuit was to become a serious disciple of Jesus. Ignatius was sure that he and his band of followers were nothing more than sixteenth versions of Jesus’ disciples. And maybe that is where Ignatius is still relevant. His writings and encouragement helps us in the 21st century become disciples in our own way.
A second one-liner from Ignatius encourages us to “act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.” This one sounds a bit like the admonition from John F. Kennedy when he said, “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” I wish we had more of that spirit in our land today. I like to join with the Jesuits in re-capturing a way to invite God into that mix.
A third saying I like from the Spanish saint is simple: “love is shown more in deeds than in words.” To this there is needed nothing more than “Amen!” But then that is only one word. We need to move toward deeds. Words are ok, but actions are more expressive and powerful. Simply compare saying the word, love, to an action, such as a hug or an embrace. Even more powerfully, if we move love into the social justice arena, such as the immigration context, we can ask what deeds of love would look like? I am sure the Jesuits and all of us would agree that words are ok, but deeds are needed. Love is an action. Love is a daily call to action. Go and set the world on fire with love.
Another sentence from Ignatius gives us the reason for our being. He assures us that “God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever.” I like the dual focus of this. Some might argue it is the end result that is more important, namely, our eternal felicity with God. But I am confident Ignatius and his band of Jesuits see the former as first and foremost.
The reason for our being is that we do three things. First, we are called to know God. This is not a call for us to become theologians. We are not called to know “about” God; we are called to know God. This is a petition for experience. We are called to experience God. And then with this experience, we will already begin the process of knowing love---God’s love for us and our emerging commitment to love God and all of God’s creatures. In effect, we were created to become lovers! And finally, we were created to serve. Service prevents us to be hung up on ourselves. Service spares us from being selfish and self-serving. It is through loving service that we will glorify the God who created us.
The purpose of a feast day in the lectionary is to teach us and to remind us. Even though I am not Catholic, I appreciate this opportunity. It is an opportunity to be reminded that we were created to love and to serve. That surely is a bigger mission than for Catholics alone. That is a mission we all can share. Let’s go and set the world on fire.
Within the Catholic tradition, there is also designated certain days that celebrate various people within the biblical tradition and beyond. There are famous historical figures, like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and others. Among this group is Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius was a native Spaniard---born in the Basque country in northern Spain. His early adult years was spent in the military. However, he was seriously wounded in a battle in 1521 and during his convalescence, he experienced a religious conversion.
Later he decided he wanted to learn Latin and study for the ministry, so he went to Paris to enroll in the university. During this time, he attracted others who were fellow pilgrims in the spirit. A bond developed among them and they called themselves “companions of Jesus.” This group eventually would become known as the Society of Jesus, from which we get our descriptive word for them---Jesuits. They were formally recognized in 1540.
In effect, the Jesuits became soldiers of Christ. The Jesuits made a vow to serve the Pope as missionaries. They were willing to go anywhere in the world to serve. Rather than continue to recount the history of this interesting man, I would like to share a few quotations that give us a sense of his spirit. I admit in the early part of my own spirituality, I did not find Ignatian spirituality spoke much to me. But as I have grown, I find it does help me in my journey.
One of the more famous sayings from the founder of the Jesuits is his admonishment to “go forth and set the world on fire.” I think this is exactly what he expected of all those guys who would become Jesuits. In effect to become a Jesuit was to become a serious disciple of Jesus. Ignatius was sure that he and his band of followers were nothing more than sixteenth versions of Jesus’ disciples. And maybe that is where Ignatius is still relevant. His writings and encouragement helps us in the 21st century become disciples in our own way.
A second one-liner from Ignatius encourages us to “act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.” This one sounds a bit like the admonition from John F. Kennedy when he said, “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” I wish we had more of that spirit in our land today. I like to join with the Jesuits in re-capturing a way to invite God into that mix.
A third saying I like from the Spanish saint is simple: “love is shown more in deeds than in words.” To this there is needed nothing more than “Amen!” But then that is only one word. We need to move toward deeds. Words are ok, but actions are more expressive and powerful. Simply compare saying the word, love, to an action, such as a hug or an embrace. Even more powerfully, if we move love into the social justice arena, such as the immigration context, we can ask what deeds of love would look like? I am sure the Jesuits and all of us would agree that words are ok, but deeds are needed. Love is an action. Love is a daily call to action. Go and set the world on fire with love.
Another sentence from Ignatius gives us the reason for our being. He assures us that “God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever.” I like the dual focus of this. Some might argue it is the end result that is more important, namely, our eternal felicity with God. But I am confident Ignatius and his band of Jesuits see the former as first and foremost.
The reason for our being is that we do three things. First, we are called to know God. This is not a call for us to become theologians. We are not called to know “about” God; we are called to know God. This is a petition for experience. We are called to experience God. And then with this experience, we will already begin the process of knowing love---God’s love for us and our emerging commitment to love God and all of God’s creatures. In effect, we were created to become lovers! And finally, we were created to serve. Service prevents us to be hung up on ourselves. Service spares us from being selfish and self-serving. It is through loving service that we will glorify the God who created us.
The purpose of a feast day in the lectionary is to teach us and to remind us. Even though I am not Catholic, I appreciate this opportunity. It is an opportunity to be reminded that we were created to love and to serve. That surely is a bigger mission than for Catholics alone. That is a mission we all can share. Let’s go and set the world on fire.
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