Ignatian spirituality

The challenge of

discernement

1491 – Spanish Bask Country

The pilgrim’s journey

Ignatius’ dream

« Until the age of twenty-six

he was a man given up tothe vanities of the world,

and his chief delight used to be

in the exercise of arms,with a great and vain desire

to gain honour.» (The pilgrim’s story, nr 1)

Catherine, youngest sister Charles V

Ignatius, the knight

1521 : canon ball in Pamplona

12 long months

Pious books… Great!

Gradual awakening

Different feelingsHeart

“Still there was this difference: that when he was thinking about that worldly stuff he would take much delight, but when he left it aside after getting tired, he felt dry and discontented.

But when about not eating except herbs, and about doing all the other rigours he was seeing the saints had done, not only used he to be consoled while in such thoughts, but he would remain content and happy even after having left them aside.

(The pilgrim’s story, nr 8)

ReflectionBut he wasn’t investigating this, nor stopping to ponder this difference, until one time when his eyes were opened a little, and he began to marvel at this difference in kind

and to reflect on it, picking it up from experience that from some thoughts he would be left sad and from others happy,

and little by little coming to know the difference in kind of spirits that were stirring: the one from the devil, and the other from God.

The pilgrim’s story

Consolation and desolation Lastly, I give the name “consolation” to every increase

of hope, faith and charity, to all interior hapiness that calls and attracts a person towards heavenly things and to the soul’s salvation, leaving the soul quiet and at peace in her Creator and Lord. (S.E. 316)

“Desolation” is the name I give to everything contrary … e.g. darkness and disturbance in the soul, attraction towards what is low and of the earth, anxiety arising from various agitations and temptations. All this tends to a lack of confidence in which the soul is without hope and without love; one finds oneself thouroughly lazy, lukewarm, sad, and as though cut off from one’s Creator and Lord. (S.E. 317)

Conversion of Ignatius Discernment of the spirits

Learning how to listen to the heart als ultimate place where to find God’s voice No emocracy Rather pedagogy of reflection upon the

experience Right proportion between heart , mind and

will

Optimistic image of man Faith in deepest desire

Surrender to God

The pilgrim

« He went off alone on his mule. »

(The pilgrim’s story, nr 13)

Searching for GodFrom personal honour to the honour of God

Life of prayer and ascetism : 1521-1524

I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Even after his conversion his desire for outward heroism remained intact. The difference was that, instead of seducing young women, he now tried to seduce God.

He had read about a saint who prayed six hours a day, so he decided he would pray seven hours a day. If another had fasted for five days and nights, he would fast for seven days and nights.

With his incredibly strong character he managed to do all this flimflam. He had to pay a high price: permanent damage to his stomach and kidneys. He became depressed and almost committed suicide .

20 years along the way (1521-1540)

Compiling the Spiritual Exercices

The Spiritual Exercices

The secret of the Jesuits: the Spiritual Exercices

A pathway of prayer Orientated on the person of Christ Personal guidance

Discovering your deepest desires through discernment of the spirits

Guide: both important and modest Adaptation to the individual Rooted in personal experience: to discover

for oneself

Base of Ignatian pedagogy

Direct encounter of God

 

«He should leave the Creator to work directly with the creature, and the creature with the Creator and Lord. » (S.E. nr 15)

A matter of credibility: Studies: 1524-1535

Heart Mind

To start at the beginning:

Latin in Barcelona33 years old

Heart ánd mind

The universities of Alcalá and Salamanca,

To Paris: the best university

Friends in the Lord:Xavier, Ignatius and Favre

The discernement continues…1534: first vows (Montmartre)

___________________________________________________________________________________

"To seek to bring all men to salvation by one road is very dangerous. He who does so fails to understand how many and various are the gifts of the Holy Ghost.” St. Ignatius

The challenge of discernment!

1) The consolation is the compass

2) To be open to any outcome

3) Magis

1) Using the compass of consolation

Consolation = indicator

Desolation = dead end

1.Consolation as compass2. Result is open3. Magis

“Evangelii gaudium”

2) Place of arrival: open

Result unknown beforehand

Presupposes internal freedom -availability - trust– faith

1. Consolation as compass

2. Result is open3. Magis

There are three things which even God doesn’t know about the Church: 

There are three things which even God doesn’t know about the Church: 1) Exactly how many congregations of religious women there are.

There are three things which even God doesn’t know about the Church: 1) Exactly how many congregations of religious women there are.

2) The amount of money which the Franciscans have stashed away.

There are three things which even God doesn’t know about the Church: 1) Exactly how many congregations of religious women there are.

2) The amount of money which the Franciscans have stashed away.

 3) What the Jesuits really think and what they are going to do next.

‘Ignatius was following the spirit, he was not running ahead of it. And yet he was  being led  gently, whither he didn’t know. Little by little, though, the road was opening up  before him and  he was moving along it, wisely ignorant, with his heart placed very simply in Christ.’

J. Nadal sj

3) Magis

Personal

Depends on desire

Leads towards the other

1. Consolation as compass2. Outcome is open

3. Magis

magis: the struggle is the rule

No discernment without internal movements.

To be sufficiently demanding.

Approval of the Societas Jesu by Paul III

27th of september 1540

Government, for 15 years

Availability

Pilgrim in three small rooms

Course correction of 180 °, why not!1549: college ofMessina

6.641 letters

Letter from Ignatius to Francis Borgia5 June 1552

… In the business of the hat I think it will be best if I give you some account of the process of my feelings, as if I were examining my soul for myself, for the greater glory of God. As soon as I was informed for certain that the Emperor had given your name, and that the Pope was happy to make you a cardinal, I felt a kind of agreement or inspiration that I should prevent it as far as I could. At the same time however, as I was not certain about the divine will – so many reasons occurred to me for and against. 

… During this period of three days, there were times, as I turned over the matter in my mind and debated it, when I felt some sort of fear and I lost that freedom of spirit to speak out and prevent the business. “How do I know what God Our Lord wants me to do?” I thought, and I could not feel sure about preventing it. But at other times, when I began the normal meditations, I could feel these fears vanishing. I continued with this petition on several occasions, occasionally feeling fear, and occasionally the opposite.

At last, on the third day, I felt during the normal meditation, and ever since constantly, that my mind was quite made up and that I was decided – in a way that was gentle and left me feeling quite free – to impede the nomination to the best of my ability before Pope and cardinals. If I did not act thus, I would be (and indeed am) quite certain in myself that I would nog give a good account of myself before God Our Lord, rather a wholly bad one.

Death of Ignatius (1556)

« Wordly» spirituality

« To love and serve God in

all things » (S.E. nr 233)

Contemplative in the action: examen of consciousness

Gábor Hevenesi sj

“Let your first rule of action be

to trust in God as if success depended

entirely on yourself and not on Him;

but use all your efforts as if God alone did

everything, and yourself nothing”.

Loyola Press (USA), 112 p

$ 10.15

www.pray-as-you-go.org

www.biddenonderweg.org