St Ignatius of Loyola: A Teacher of Mysticism of Everyday Life

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 31, 2022 - Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Founder of the Society of Jesus

Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21–23; Psalm 90:3–4, 5–6, 12–13, 14, 17; Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11; Luke 12:13–21

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
To listen to the audio-video reflections on YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/62TEyff5DN8

July 31, 2022, in the Jesuit world marks the Feast of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus. In fact, today is the final day of the Ignatian Year, remembering the 500th Anniversary of Ignatius' being struck by a cannonball, and beginning his conversion. A brief bio of St. Ignatius can be found here.

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Jesuits, their collaborators and friends all over the world celebrate on this 18th Sunday of the Year the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus also known as Jesuits. One of the beautiful gifts of the Reformation period to the Church is the person of Ignatius of Loyola. In his own way, Ignatius of Loyola along with the newly formed Society of Jesus contributed immensely not only chiefly towards the propagation of the Christian faith in different nations and continents of the world but also assisted in cleansing the scandal-ridden Church at the Center. 

1. Mysticism of everyday life

Fr Hugo Rahner, SJ, the brother of Jesuit Fr Karl Rahner wrote a book "Ignatius the Theologian" detailing Ignatius' simple yet profound ways of perceiving God in prayer and everyday activities of life. In this book, we see a penetrating analysis which demonstrates the centrality of Christology in Ignatius. It is a theology born out of his direct mystical experience of God. Ignatius had not only a Master's degree in philosophy and theology from Sorbonne University in Paris in 1535, but he also articulated what he had experienced during his 11-month-long intense prayer sessions in the cave of Manresa in 1522. Combined with his intellectual studies, Ignatius’s personal experiences of finding God in everyday life activities from drinking a glass of water to preaching in the streets and squares of cities, he experienced profoundly God's presence and his guiding hand in his life. 

Evagrius Ponticus (c. 346-399), one of the Church Fathers writes: “If you are a theologian you truly pray.  If you truly pray you are a theologian” (from “The 153 Chapters on Prayer”, Chap. 60) These profound words are very true in the life of St Ignatius. The theology of St Ignatius is a very practical one. What is fascinating about Ignatius is that his whole outlook toward God is from a lay perspective. So that one can grow in holiness while living in a secular world. To be in the world means making sure that we are able to find God in the nitty gritty, and messiness of our life. In other words, it is to open ourselves to the impossibilities that often our mind closes its doors. Being a layperson, Ignatius began to share his personal experiences of God with others. Therefore, his understanding of God is simple, straight foward and open to anyone. This can be seen vividly in the book Spiritual Exercises that he wrote.

2. Conquering oneself first before you meet God

The thrust of Ignatian prayer methods like contemplation, application of senses, triple colloquy, review writing, examination of conscience, preparing points for prayer, meditations based on the scriptural passages, etc., all are interlinked and work towards one finest goal that is establishing intimacy with God. For this purpose, Ignatius proposes how best through these various prayer methods and other guidelines would help a person to conquer oneself from self-love, self-will and self-interest. Ignatian believes that if a person is able to motivate and harness all his energies toward God the creator then the creature will have every possibility to reach God without much struggle. Ignatius also gives the rules for discernment, a practical guide which would help in making the right judgments and correct decisions on any aspect of our life from selecting one’s choice of life to choosing the right thing from a supermarket.

The goal of a Christian is not necessarily trying to find the right solutions instead making the right choices to trace that path which would lead to God. Ignatian wants that every person finds joy and peace, satisfaction and sanctification as well as purpose in one’s choice of life. To this end, Ignatius makes use of various methods to get the right answers. He would ask the retreatant three questions to know in what position the person is, in his or her relationship with God: 

1. What have I done for Christ?
2. What am I doing for Christ?
3. What ought I to do for Christ?

By asking such questions, one would be able to see where the person is heading to. In fact, such reflective questions would allow the person to see the working of God in one's life and in the life of others. 

3. Refining one's life to have the vision of God

All through Ignatius' life, we see how mindful and awakened person Ignatius was since he went through the terrible pain of his shattered leg at the war in Pamplona in 1521. All his learning came from his life experiences and his attentive seeing at the things that he was involved in. In fact, learning from life experience is the best teacher. However, all his learning had one goal to achieve, that is, to have the vision of God. He begged for this grace to Mother Mary as well that is to be placed with her Son. It so happens that the grace was granted to him on his way to Rome along with other companions on the journey at La Storta. Here, he had a vision of the Blessed Trinity and was assured of assistance in every way during his stay in Rome. Just as Ignatius would urge the retreatant to pray with an earnest desire so that the graces would be granted, he himself prayed intensely and earnestly. 

Probably, Ignatius' whole thrust of his life was to lead others to God so that they too might have the vision of God. This would move many people to follow him with this method. The kind of path that Ignatius invented could be followed by any person provided a person has an earnest desire to do so. Ignatius who prayed over the Holy Scriptures gave him tremendous courage to plan out his whole outlook of life that is geared toward God. You become what you contemplate is truly felt in Ignatius' life.

The liturgical readings of the Sunday (Luke 12:13–21) invite each one to have a deep trust in God who is the Rock of our salvation. He has chosen us for he is our shepherd and guide. God is the giver of all that we have. We cannot live like that foolish rich man who instead of sharing the gifts that he received, grew in anxiety and pride because of his lack of faith in God's care and concern.  We cannot adore the vanities of life but must treasure the most valuable in life that Christ has given to us and seek what is above, the promised inheritance of heaven. The vanities of the world and greed by its very nature, are ironically self-destructive. In our accumulation of wealth and security, our relationship with God and concern and care towards our brothers and sisters is very essential which leads to happiness and God's promised inheritance. 

Questions for reflections:

1. What is it that I cling to? Perhaps it is material possessions, and their associated status, and a sign of success. Perhaps it is holding on to security in other ways. Perhaps it is a deep reluctance to share what I have, freely. 
2. How generous and grateful I have been in recent months? How free I am with the goods and services that own and share?

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, Jesus, set me free from whatever I cling to that does not lead me to have your vision. Help me to think of what is above and not of what is on earth.  Let me see all the blessings you have given me are meant for me to join you in building up your Kingdom of Love and self-sacrificing communion with others. As St. Ignatius prayed, "Give me only your love and your grace, and I will be rich enough, and ask for nothing more." Help me Lord, to experience the vision of your glory in simple things that I do. I make this prayer Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

July 29, 2022