'Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam — for the Greater Glory of God'

‘Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam — For the Greater Glory of God’

A Pastoral Letter Introducing the Ignatian Year May 20, 2021-July 31, 2022

BY BISHOP JOHN O. BARRES A Pastoral Letter Introducingwww.drvc.org the Ignatian Year • May 20, 2021-July 31, 2022 ‘Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam — For the Greater Glory of God’

magine this story: A fame-driven a Catholic priest, Saint Ignatius Dear Brothers soldier is holding his position in founded what is today the largest Ibattle. He is shot and wounded male religious order in the Catholic and Sisters by a cannonball. During his lengthy Church – the Society of Jesus or “the recuperation, he is left to read the Jesuits.” An order with 16,000-plus few books nearby – books that priests, brothers, scholastics, and in Christ: happen to be about the life of Christ novices worldwide.1 and the saints. An order known for sanctity, May 3, 2021 After his recovery, he experiences scholarship in every field and major a deep spiritual conversion and scientific discoveries. decides to lay down his weapons An order known for its worldwide for good. His new life with Christ mission and special fourth vow of profoundly transforms the Church obedience to the Pope, the Successor and world for over 500 years and of Peter. This vow of total availability counting! to the Roman Pontiff disposes the Some might say: “That’s order for its characteristic missionary impossible!” activity, and in the words of Pope Well, that story did happen. That Benedict XVI, calls Jesuits “– in wounded soldier is Saint Ignatius of the most genuine Ignatian spirit of Loyola (1491-1556). ‘feeling with the Church and in the Upon laying down his sword, Church’ – ‘to love and serve’ the Vicar doing an about-face and becoming of Christ on earth.”2

“Saint Ignatius founded what is today the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church – the Society of Jesus or ‘the Jesuits.’”

National Shrine of the North American Martyrs, Auriesville, New York.

2 ‘Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam — For the Greater Glory of God’ An order where more of its priests study that is faithful to the Magisterium and concludes on July 21, 2022, have been martyred for their faith than of the Church. Here in the United the anniversary of Saint Ignatius in any other order. In fact, in upstate States, we think of priests such as passing into eternal life. During the New York, the National Shrine of the Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ, a native Year, the 400-year anniversary of North American Martyrs in Auriesville of Auburn, New York (1918-2008); the canonizations of Saint Ignatius is dedicated to three Jesuits martyred another New Yorker, Father John and his Jesuit confrere Saint Francis at the Mohawk Indian Village of Courtney Murray, SJ (1904-1967), who Xavier (1506-1552) will be celebrated Ossernenon in 1642 and 1646, including played a prominent role in the Second on March 12, 2022. lay brother Saint Rene Goupil (1608- Vatican Council’s 1965 Declaration In our diocese, several of our young 1642), the priest Saint Isaac Jogues on Religious Freedom (Dignitatis priests are working on a series of (1607-1646) and lay brother Saint John Humane); and Father Walter Ciszek, SJ reflections that begin an exploration of Lalande (died 1646). (1904-1984) a native of Shenandoah, the life and legacy of Saint Ignatius. They An order whose priests have quite Pennsylvania who survived 15 years will connect the Ignatian legacy with our possibly influenced you, your children, in a Russian prison camp – including legacy in 2021. Look for reflections by: or grandchildren. Today, in the U.S., five in solitary confinement. Father in addition to numerous Jesuit high Ciszek grippingly tells his story and FATHER MICHAEL BISSEX, schools, there is a network of 28 Jesuit how faith gave him courage to endure associate pastor of Saint Patrick’s colleges and universities with over one the Gulag in With God in Russia (1964) Parish, Huntington, who looks at million living graduates. Local Jesuit and in He Leadeth Me (1973). Saint Ignatius’ conversion following colleges include: Fordham University, The Church has designated the Battle of Pamplona. Canisius College, College of the Holy a special time of celebration in Cross, Fairfield University, Boston recognition of Saint Ignatius. Called an College, Georgetown University, Le “Ignatian Year,” it will mark significant Moyne College, Loyola University, anniversaries associated with this Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Peter’s great Spanish saint. FATHER JOHN WACHOWICZ, University, and The University of The Ignatian Year begins on May associate pastor of Saint Rosalie’s Scranton. 20, 2021, the 500-year anniversary Parish, Hampton Bays, who will An order whose priests have of Ignatius’ wounding and spiritual explore Ignatian Spirituality in contributed so much to theological conversion in Pamplona, Spain, World and Church History.

3 FATHER MICHAEL DUFFY, rector, Saint Agnes Cathedral Parish, Rockville Centre, who will explore the Theological contributions of Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ.

Pontifical North American College SEMINARIAN LOUIS CONA, currently in his Pastoral Year at Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Campus of Fordham University, Bronx, Center Moriches, who will look at New York the Theological contributions of Father John Courtney Murray, SJ.

FATHER ROBERT KETCHAM, pastor of Christ the King Parish, Commack, will explore the Spiritual Theology of Father Walter Ciszek, SJ.

Cardinal Avery Fr. John Courtney Fr. Walter J. 4 5 6 Dulles, SJ Murray, SJ Ciszek, SJ

A Pastoral Letter Introducing the Ignatian Year • May 20, 2021-July 31, 2022 3 Additionally, during the Ignatian If this were to happen, Saint Ignatius Year, Sean Dolan, Director of would join saints like Saint Ambrose Communications and The Long Island (340-397), Saint John Chrysostom Catholic staff, looks at the Jesuit (347-407), Saint Jerome (347-420), presence and history on Long Island, Saint Augustine (354-430), Saint especially at Saint Ignatius Retreat Gregory the Great (540-604), Saint House – Innisfada. Bonaventure (1221-1274), Saint Thomas Finally, Monsignor James Vlaun, Aquinas (1225-1274), Saint Catherine of REFERENCES: CEO and president of the Catholic Siena (1347-1380), Saint Teresa of Avila 1. https://www.jesuits.org/about-us/ Faith Network, and I will develop a (1515-1582), Saint John of the Cross the-jesuits/ series of my Encounter shows with (1542-1591), Saint Robert Bellarmine 2. Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Jesuit theologians and historians that (1542-1621), Saint Francis de Sales Fathers of the General Congregation explores the life, mysticism, missionary (1567-1622), Saint Alphonsus Liguori of the Society of Jesus, February 21, spirit and centuries-long influence and (1696-1787), and Saint Therese of 2008. inspiration of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Lisieux (1873-1897). As we will see over the course of Like Saint Ignatius, we Catholics this Ignatian Year, Saint Ignatius stands have been experiencing cannonball- among the great saints in the breadth like wounds from the suffering brought and depth of his contributions as well about by COVID-19. It is my prayer that PHOTOS AND ARTWORK CREDITS: as his witness and effects upon the life through these reflections, like Saint 1. Saint Ignatius of Loyola painting by of the Catholic Church that continue Ignatius, whose life was Fransisco Zubaran centuries after his death. transformed upon reading 2. Interior of the Coliseum at the In walking with me and my brother those books about Jesus National Shrine of the North priests on this journey to explore the and the saints, the Lord American Martyrs, New York. This life and legacy of Saint Ignatius, I will heal our wounds and work has been released into the invite you to pray with me that the lead us all to conversion public domain by its author, LotR Church recognizes these contributions experiences that focus at English Wikipedia. and names Saint Ignatius of Loyola a our lives and the mission 3. Fordham University in the Bronx “Doctor of the Church.” A Doctor of of the Church for the is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and the Church is someone recognized for greater glory of God. Universities in the U.S. with over making an outstanding theological, one million living graduates. https:// spiritual, mystical contribution Faithfully in the Lord, commons.wikimedia.org illustrated in their writings and by their 4. Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ in 2004. holiness in life and creative influence (CNS file photo/Bob Roller) in and on the mission of the Church, 5. Father John Courtney Murray, SJ. an influence that endures centuries Most Reverend John O. Barres This undated photo from CNS files. after their death. Bishop of Rockville Centre 6. Father Walter J. Ciszek, SJ in an undated photo. (CNS photo/A.D. Times) St. Francis St. Isaac Joques 7. St. Isaac Jogues. Source: Repertoire Xavier du patrimoine culturel de Quebec. This work is in the public domain in the United States. 8. St. Francis Xavier. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/4.0/deed.en)

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