Saint Ignatius of Loyola This Traditional History Resources Can Be Obtained by Contacting Us at Standard Is Especially Appropriate

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Saint Ignatius of Loyola This Traditional History Resources Can Be Obtained by Contacting Us at Standard Is Especially Appropriate Conditions and Terms of Use TO THE READER Copyright © Heritage History 2010 I am attempting to sketch a large subject on a small Some rights reserved canvas, and such a proceeding needs some justification. My This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an explanation is, that I think many readers will prefer a organization dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history conciseness commensurable with their restricted leisure. In books, and to the promotion of the works of traditional history authors. this work-a-day world many people have time for rest in The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public snatches only, for short alternations of reading with their work. domain and are no longer protected by the original copyright. They may Extensive views must therefore be represented on postcard therefore be reproduced within the United States without paying a royalty pictures, and intricate movements of the thoughts of millions to the author. must be summarized in short paragraphs, even though it would The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, be really more interesting to go into detail, to describe the however, are the property of Heritage History and are subject to certain restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting the charming intercourse of great souls, to portray the grand integrity of the work, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to assure features of heroes. that compromised versions of the work are not widely disseminated. Considerable sacrifices must therefore be made, and, to In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this text, a bring out better the features I wish to depict, I have resolved to copyright by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date are reduce my portrait to a mere silhouette. I am thus compelled to included at the foot of every page of text. We require all electronic and printed versions of this text include these markings and that users adhere to choose my position so that you will recognize at a glance the the following restrictions. feature which I here wish to make paramount, and that is Saintship. 1. You may reproduce this text for personal or educational purposes as But this too needs consideration, for different people long as the copyright and Heritage History version are included. see saintliness in different features. Some admire entire 2. You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your detachment from the world, some entire devotion to God's own work. cause among men. Some think most of one virtue, some of another. There are many virtues, and eminence in any of them 3. You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes. eventually means holiness in all. Still, some virtues are more 4. This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original fundamental than others and I do not think that any one will document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have quarrel with me if, in this case, I take Christlikeness as the occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a great virtue to be outlined. The imitation of Christ is a topic perfectly reliable reproduction. familiar to all, and everyone in his measure knows something, or even much, about the ideals which the word recalls. Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of Moreover, in the case of Saint Ignatius of Loyola this traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at standard is especially appropriate. For although he had a [email protected] thousand bright facets in his character, the imitation of Christ was with him a master-passion. The Sacred Name is the greeting formula of every letter, it reappears in almost every Original Copyright 1922 by John Hungerford Pollen 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 paragraph written by him. Christ-study was the kernel of plentiful. In regard to the religious side of his life, the Ignatian spirituality, the imitation of Him was the motive of illustrative matter, though sufficiently bulky, is not unwieldy. His follower's life. Ignatius's life, therefore, when studied in Further particulars will be found in the epilogue. the light of this virtue, ought to appear natural and consistent, and its different parts ought to hang together and to make up a lively, veracious whole. Nevertheless I must not sound one string exclusively. ABLE OF ONTENTS The true picture of life always shows change and variation, T C and my first duty is to write the history of one whose life was notably full and active. He was a great organizer who sent his FAMILY AND YOUTH ........................................................... 4 followers all over the world and ever kept in contact with PAMPELUNA AND CONVERSION ......................................... 7 them. Always interested in their reports, he never ceased to arrange for reinforcements and to send out messages of MANRESA AND THE SPIRITUAL NOVITIATE ....................... 9 encouragement. It is not for me, therefore, to devote my book exclusively to the interior life of the Saint. On the contrary, THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND ........................... 12 after I have set forth his ideals, his methods, his characteristics, my object must be to show the labours, the STUDIES AND COMPANIONS .............................................. 13 organized efforts, the successes (and sometimes the want of THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES .............................................. 18 success) to which his energies, guided sometimes by human, sometimes by divine, aspirations, led him. The major part of THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOCIETY ................................ 22 my pages must be devoted to explaining the external works of the Saint and of his followers, in which, when rightly THE GENERALATE ............................................................ 25 analyzed, the Founder's aims are rightly recognized. IGNATIUS AND THE BRITISH ISLES ................................... 29 So much for the general principles by which I have been guided. As for the materials from which I have made my THE COUNCIL OF TRENT .................................................. 34 selection, they are now exceedingly numerous. To say nothing of many scores of biographies, several of which are excellent, INDIA, AFRICA AND AMERICA .......................................... 37 there has lately appeared at Madrid a series which throws all earlier publications into the shade. In the Monumenta THE WORK OF EDUCATION ............................................. 41 Historica Societatis Jesu, no less than thirteen stout volumes THE CONSTITUTIONS ........................................................ 44 concerning Ignatius have appeared, comprising under "letters from Ignatius" well nigh 7,000 pieces; the letters and reports AGE AND DEATH ............................................................... 49 addressed to him being equally numerous. This great abundance of matter, however, does not illustrate the whole EPILOGUE ......................................................................... 52 life equally. It is only in regard to his quasi-public, or official work as General, that the material is now so extremely Original Copyright 1922 by John Hungerford Pollen 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 CHAPTER I Isabella. In the suite of this noble and wealthy lord, he presumably visited the Spanish court from time to time, though it is not accurate to say that he was ever in the royal FAMILY AND YOUTH service. St. Paul warns us against "vain genealogies." No little This time of service in the retinue of a great noble, snobbery and worldliness may blossom on genealogical trees. which lasted till about 1517, when he was twenty-five years of The gospel, indeed, is careful to outline one in Christ's case, age, covers the period of his education. True, the amount of but for reasons peculiar to His birth—to show a prophecy learning considered necessary in that age for the profession of fulfilled. Suffice it for us to refer those who wish for fuller arms, to which Inigo aspired, was very small indeed; still it accounts of Ignatius's descent, to Perez, Astrain and others, claims our notice, because of what will follow. At the close of and to say that he was the youngest son of Don Beltran Yanez the fifteenth century, before schools were common, boys at de Onaz y Loyola, and Marina Saenz de Licona y Balda, and home and pages at court were placed under some gentleman that he was born in I491 in the still standing castle of Loyola, tutor, who would see to it that they learned to read and write, above Aspeitia in the Biscayan town of Guipuscoa. The family and knew such hymns and Latin prayers as would enable them belonged to the local nobility, of the rank called "parientes to attend becomingly the longish services then in fashion. So maiores." Their heraldic arms were—or, seven bends gules, much at least of letters the boy Inigo acquired in youth, and for Onaz; argent, pot and chain sable between two grey wolves learned it well. He loved to read the Romanceros of his day, rampant, for Loyola. By convention Onaz here appears before which, in a way, correspond with the novels of ours. Loyola, though the right to carry their arms was only acquired Especially was he fond of Amadis de Gaula, The Chronicle of by marriage. De Loyola is the true family name, but by a the Cid, and the books of Caballeria. From these he learned To strange copyist's error (unfortunately accepted by the learned love the code of chivalry with enthusiasm, "to dread a stain Bollandist Pien in the eighteenth century, and from him also more than a wound." To win glory as a knight became to him by the British Museum Catalogue) it sometimes appears as the only object worth living for. Lopez de Recalde. The origin of this mistake is explained in a In 1517 his feudal patron Velasquez died, and he note at the end of this chapter.
Recommended publications
  • The Fourth Vow in Its Ignatian Context
    in the Spirituality of Jesuits The Fourth Vow in Its Ignatian Context A Historical Study ^ ^ by John W. O'Malley, S.J. Published by the American Assistancy Seminar on Jesuit Spirituality, especially for American Jesuits working out their aggiornamento in the spirit of Vatican II To/ Council THE AMERICAN ASSISTANCY SEMINAR ON JESUIT SPIRITUALITY consists of a group of Jesuits from various provinces who are listed below. The members were appointed by the Fathers Provincial of the United States. The Purpose of the Seminar is to study topics pertaining to the spir- itual doctrine and practice of Jesuits, especially American Jesuits, and to communicate the results to the members of the Assistancy. The hope is that this will lead to further discussion among all American Jesuits--in private, or in small groups, or in community meetings. All this is done in the spirit of Vatican Council II f s recommendation to religious institutes to recapture the original charismatic inspiration of their founders and to adapt it to the changed circumstances of modern times. The members of the Seminar wel- come reactions or comments in regard to the topics they publish. To achieve these purposes, especially amid today's pluralistic cul- tures, the Seminar must focus its direct attention sharply, frankly, and specifically on the problems, interests, and opportunities of the Jesuits of the United States. However, many of these interests are common also to Jes- uits of other regions, or to other priests, religious men or women, or lay men or women. Hence the studies of the Seminar, while meant especially for American Jesuits, are not exclusively for them.
    [Show full text]
  • Roman Catholic Church in Ireland 1990-2010
    The Paschal Dimension of the 40 Days as an interpretive key to a reading of the new and serious challenges to faith in the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland 1990-2010 Kevin Doherty Doctor of Philosophy 2011 MATER DEI INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION A College of Dublin City University The Paschal Dimension of the 40 Days as an interpretive key to a reading of the new and serious challenges to faith in the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland 1990-2010 Kevin Doherty M.A. (Spirituality) Moderator: Dr Brendan Leahy, DD Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2011 DECLARATION I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment on the programme of study leading to the award of Ph.D. is entirely my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work. ID No: 53155831 Date: ' M l 2 - 0 1 DEDICATION To my parents Betty and Donal Doherty. The very first tellers of the Easter Story to me, and always the most faithful tellers of that Story. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A special thanks to all in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York who gave generously of their time and experience to facilitate this research: to Msgr Bob Brennan (Vicar General), Sr Mary Alice Piil (Director of Faith Formation), Marguerite Goglia (Associate Director, Children and Youth Formation), Lee Hlavecek, Carol Tannehill, Fr Jim Mannion, Msgr Bill Hanson. Also, to Fr Neil Carlin of the Columba Community in Donegal and Derry, a prophet of the contemporary Irish Church.
    [Show full text]
  • Quest for Identity: the Ideals of Jesuit Education in the Sixteenth Century
    Quest for Identity: The Ideals of Jesuit Education in the Sixteenth Century FRANCESCO C. CESAREO The place, role, and identity of Jesuit education in society has been a constant source of debate and inquiry. In the final years of this century, this search for meaning seems to have taken on a greater urgency as the influ­ ences of the secular world have become more apparent, Today, Jesuit col­ leges and universities are trying to delineate clearly who they are and what they stand for vis-a-vis other institutions of higher learning. If one looks back to the earliest foundationsof Jesuit schools, one is struck by the similarity of the situation. The era of Saint Ignatius was the age of the new humanist schools of the Renaissance. The Latin schools and vernacular schools that emerged sought to teach practical skills. The former taught the Latin that allowed students to advance to university studies in preparation forcareers in civil service or the church. Those who attended the vernacular schools were taught skills necessary in commerce. Despite the difference in purpose, both schools shared a pedagogical approach. "The subject matter, whether beginning reading, Latin grammar, advanced rhetoric, or abbaco, had to be divided into very small individual bits of knowledge, Teachers and textbooks taught by breaking a skill down into its smallest components, drilling them intensively, and then assembling the bits to make the whole. "1 It is against this background that one must examine early Jesuit education. When Ignatius died in 1556 he had personally approved the opening of thirty­ nine colleges and universities.
    [Show full text]
  • THE JESUIT MISSION to CANADA and the FRENCH WARS of RELIGION, 1540-1635 Dissertation P
    “POOR SAVAGES AND CHURLISH HERETICS”: THE JESUIT MISSION TO CANADA AND THE FRENCH WARS OF RELIGION, 1540-1635 Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Joseph R. Wachtel, M.A. Graduate Program in History The Ohio State University 2013 Dissertation Committee: Professor Alan Gallay, Adviser Professor Dale K. Van Kley Professor John L. Brooke Copyright by Joseph R. Wachtel 2013 Abstract My dissertation connects the Jesuit missions in Canada to the global Jesuit missionary project in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries by exploring the impact of French religious politics on the organizing of the first Canadian mission, established at Port Royal, Acadia, in 1611. After the Wars of Religion, Gallican Catholics blamed the Society for the violence between French Catholics and Protestants, portraying Jesuits as underhanded usurpers of royal authority in the name of the Pope—even accusing the priests of advocating regicide. As a result, both Port Royal’s settlers and its proprietor, Jean de Poutrincourt, never trusted the missionaries, and the mission collapsed within two years. After Virginia pirates destroyed Port Royal, Poutrincourt drew upon popular anti- Jesuit stereotypes to blame the Jesuits for conspiring with the English. Father Pierre Biard, one of the missionaries, responded with his 1616 Relation de la Nouvelle France, which described Port Royal’s Indians and narrated the Jesuits’ adventures in North America, but served primarily as a defense of their enterprise. Religio-political infighting profoundly influenced the interaction between Indians and Europeans in the earliest years of Canadian settlement.
    [Show full text]
  • Papal Documents from the Early Years of the Society of Jesus in English Translation
    Papal Documents from the Early Years of the Society of Jesus in English Translation Translated by Philip R. Amidon, S.J. 52/2 SUMMER 2020 THE SEMINAR ON JESUIT SPIRITUALITY Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits is a publication of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. The Seminar on Jesuit Spirituality is composed of Jesuits appointed from their provinces. The seminar identifies and studies topics pertaining to the spiritual doctrine and practice of Jesuits, especially US and Canadian Jesuits, and gath- ers current scholarly studies pertaining to the history and ministries of Jesuits throughout the world. It then disseminates the results through this journal. The opinions expressed in Studies are those of the individual authors. The subjects treated in Studies may be of interest also to Jesuits of other regions and to other religious, clergy, and laity. All who find this journal helpful are welcome to access previous issues at: [email protected]/jesuits. CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE SEMINAR Note: Parentheses designate year of entry as a seminar member. Casey C. Beaumier, SJ, is director of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Stud - ies, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (2016) Brian B. Frain, SJ, is Assistant Professor of Education and Director of the St. Thomas More Center for the Study of Catholic Thought and Culture at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. (2018) Barton T. Geger, SJ, is chair of the seminar and editor of Studies; he is a research scholar at the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies and assistant professor of the practice at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College.
    [Show full text]
  • The Early Privileges of the Society of Jesus 1537 to 1556
    Concessions, communications, and controversy: the early privileges of the Society of Jesus 1537 to 1556 Author: Robert Morris Persistent link: http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:108457 This work is posted on eScholarship@BC, Boston College University Libraries. Boston College Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, 2019 Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted. Concessions, Communications and Controversy: The Early Privileges of the Society of Jesus 1537 to 1556. Partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Licentiate in Sacred Theology Robert Morris, S.J. Readers Dr. Catherine M. Mooney Dr. Barton Geger, S.J. Boston College 2019 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE: THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES ................ 6 ORIGINS: PRIVILEGES IN ROMAN LAW .................................................................................................................. 6 THE PRIVILEGE IN MEDIEVAL CANON LAW ......................................................................................................... 7 Mendicants ........................................................................................................................................................... 12 Developments in the Canon Law of Privileges in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries ... 13 Further distinctions and principles governing privileges ...............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Common Good and Christian Ethics
    This page intentionally left blank THE COMMON GOOD AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS The Common Good and Christian Ethics rethinks the ancient tra- dition of the common good in a way that addresses con- temporary social divisions, both urban and global. David Hollenbach draws on social analysis, moral philosophy, and theological ethics to chart new directions in both urban life and global society. He argues that the division between the middle class and the poor in major cities and the challenges of globalization require a new commitment to the com- mon good. Both believers and secular people must move to- ward new forms of solidarity if they are to live good lives together. Hollenbach proposes a positive vision of how a reconstructed understanding of the common good can lead to better lives for all today, both in cities and globally. This interdisciplinary study makes both practical and theoretical contributions to the developing shape of social, cultural, and religious life today. , .. is the Margaret O’Brien Flatley Professor of Catholic Theology at Boston College, where he teaches theological ethics and Christian social ethics. His books include Catholicism and Liberalism: Contributions to American Public Philosophy, edited with R. Bruce Douglass (Cambridge University Press, ); Justice, Peace, and Human Rights: American Catholic Social Ethics in a Pluralistic World (, ); Nuclear Ethics: A Christian Moral Argument (); and Claims in Conflict: Retrieving and Renewing the Catholic Human Rights Tradition (). He has also written numerous chapters in books and articles in journals such as Theological Studies, Theology Today, Human Rights Quarterly, The Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics, and America.
    [Show full text]
  • SPIRIT THROUGH TIME a History of the Spirituality of the Society of Jesus José García De Castro Valdés SJ Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid (Spain)
    SPIRIT THROUGH TIME A History of the Spirituality of the Society of Jesus José García de Castro Valdés SJ Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid (Spain) When the Society of Jesus was founded by Pope Paul III1, a new trend in spirituality arose inside the Catholic Church. Even though the followers and the first companions of Ignatius of Loyola were never known or never called “Ignatians”2, this new spirituality is nowadays recognized as “Ignatian Spirituality”, that is, a new path, a new method to search for God proposed by Ignatius and his first Companions3 and mainly fixed in the text of the Spiritual Exercises and the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus. In order to understand the origins and development of this spirituality, and how this movement of the Holy Spirit has reached us, we will try to follow the historical development of the Society of Jesus. It is a long period of 475 years full of life, including a wide variety of experiences all around the world and in many different fields of human culture. The more we approach the history of the Society of Jesus, the more we realize how wide and deep the contribution of the Jesuits was to build the history and culture of Western tradition. Because of the new features of this new congregation founded by Ignatius and his companions, the Jesuits could move around the world and were allowed to preach the Gospel through many different means, which they called “ministries”4. They did not adopt a single specific work (healing, education, preaching…) as their charismatic mission.
    [Show full text]
  • The Jesuits and Globalization
    THE JESUITS AND GLOBALIZATION Historical Legacies and Contemporary Challenges THOMAS BA CHOFF AND JOSE CASANOVA, Editors Georgetown University Press Washington, DC b f 20lb Gt:'O~"C'I()\\ U UPI\ ('''11'1 f)f AU ngbl rC'K'f~d ~o PJrI of Ihl1. ~l: m,lY be rc:p,OfJuu·J Of uUlltC'd In .In) form or by ,n)'IlK'.uu. declroPic or me h.ltu II. IndudlO~ pholU< If''Int: .and I't' cwdll1g. Of b)' an)" In(orm'Cl(m I n~e'~nd R'cnC',1I, 'I('nt, wuhout J"C'fmlcon In \Hllmg from the pub!"hcr. JOles: O~nchofT.ThonuJ F. 19(too$cdllor l ~n(J\.;I.}<Kc.ah(l;)r T1UC'ThCJC'iUlb .1Odg1ob.tJlZ'Jflon hl\umuJ lep In.and CiPmC'mf'Ur.lI")' challenges I [edued by) Tholtw I3mchofT ;and J<hi C;l.\.1J}O\o~ Dcscripoon:W.3 hll1lt't n,l Ce()'lteIO" n UfU'",",If)' Pft-U.201f. I Includes blbllog~phlC;tI referen ., and mdex. ldenufiers: L N 20150242231 I 0 978162bJ62t177 (lunk",,«.ill paper) 1 I ON 9781626162860 (pbk. ,Ik p.lJ'<') II 0 9781626162ll1U (ebook) ubjects: l H:JesulI:S. I)c:5uJb-Edu ucn. I .Jo~huuon. I GlobabZJtlon-Rellgiow.:lspe ($- thchc burch. Iassificarion: L 8X3702.3 .J47 2016 I DO 271 .53-<14:23 LC record available at htrp:/lkcn.loc.govI201 5024223 e This book is printed on acid-free paper meenng the requirement of the American National tandard for Permanence 111 Paper for Pnneed Library Materials. 16 15 98765432 First printing Printed in the United States of America Cover design by Pam Pease The cover image is a combination of rwo public domain images: a quasi-traditional version of the IHS emblem of the Jesuits by Moransk! and the inset map Grbis Terramm NO'I{l et Accuratissima Tabllia by Pierer Goos (17th century).
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO Fr PETER-HANS KOLVENBACH ON THE OCCASION OF THE 35th GENERAL CONGREGATION OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS To Reverend Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus On the occasion of the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, I fervently wish to offer to you and all who are taking part in the Assembly my most cordial greeting, together with the assurance of my affection and my constant spiritual closeness. I know how important for the life of the Society the event being celebrated is, and furthermore, that it has consequently been prepared with great care. This is a providential opportunity to impress upon the Society of Jesus that renewed ascetic and apostolic thrust which is hoped for by all, so that the Jesuits may fully accomplish their mission and face the challenges of the modern world with that fidelity to Christ and to the Church which marked the prophetic action of St Ignatius of Loyola and his first companions. The Apostle wrote to the faithful of Thessalonica, recalling that he had proclaimed God's Gospel to them: "we... encouraged you", he explained, "to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory" (I Thes 2: 12), and he added: "We also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers" (I Thes 2: 13).
    [Show full text]
  • JESUITS and THEOLOGY: YESTERDAY and TODAY* the Year 1991 Is Par Excellence an Ignatian Year
    Theological Studies 52 (1991) NOTE JESUITS AND THEOLOGY: YESTERDAY AND TODAY* The year 1991 is par excellence an Ignatian year. It marks the half- millennium since the birth of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the 450th year of the establishment of the Society of Jesus. It may be appropriate at this time, in a theological journal published under Jesuit auspices, to reflect on the theological achievements of the sons of St. Ignatius. Has there been, and is there, such a thing as Jesuit theology? If Jesuit theology is taken to mean a brand of theology distinctive and common to all Jesuits, no such thing exists.1 Jesuits do not follow any method proper to their Society, nor do they take any member of their own order as their theological mentor in the way that Augustinians might presumably follow St. Augustine, Dominicans might follow St. Thomas, and Franciscans might follow St. Bonaventure or Duns Scotus. In the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus2 Ignatius called for lectures on Scripture (351, 464), on patristic theology (353, 366, 368), and, in scho­ lastic theology, on the doctrine of Thomas Aquinas (464). In an explan­ atory declaration he further provided for lectures on Peter Lombard and, as circumstances might require, on "some compendium or book of scho­ lastic theology that seems better adapted to these times of ours" (466). In spite of this latitude in the choice of authorities, it appears that there are characteristic Jesuit concerns and themes in theology. These stem principally from the example and writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola.3 Ignatius was not a professional theologian, but he spent nearly ten years of his life studying theology, and he picked able theologians as his first companions.
    [Show full text]
  • The Interior Path Which Leads to the New Frontiers of Our Time
    “THE SAME PATH AS IGNATIUS”,1 THE INTERIOR PATH WHICH LEADS TO THE NEW FRONTIERS OF OUR TIME. François-Xavier Dumortier, S.J. Provincial France ach one of the members of the 35th General Congregation has lived intensively through an event E in which we experienced in the deepest part of ourselves what unites us as Jesuits – Christ and the desire to follow him – and felt to what extent the ‘magis’ was asking of us a renewed openness to go where the Lord calls us to go. This experience, however much it may have been a shared one, was nonetheless radically individual and personal: each one was able to live the same event with his own particular sensitivity, according to his own human and spiritual history, and the way in which the Lord led him to understand and receive these days and weeks which were in many respects unique. I must therefore recognise from the start the personal nature of what I lived as a ‘spiritual experience’, with all that this implies of moments lived through and movements felt. According to this personal experience, it seems to me that the 35th General Congregation led us–”men whose experience of the Spiritual Exercises has bound us to one another and to a particular ‘pathway to God’” 2– to desire to root ourselves more and more in the experience of Ignatius and the first companions, so as to live, with largeness of heart, our vocation of being today “men of the frontiers”. True, each one discovers Ignatius’ path as his own only in proportion to his own experience of God and along the ways by which the Lord leads him to understand how to be ‘pilgrim’ in his turn.
    [Show full text]