What more can I do for Christ?

Among the many congregations, orders, associations and institutes established in the Catholic Church over the centuries, the Jesuits have not failed to distinguish themselves by their missionary and pastoral zeal and scholarship.  Many of the sons of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) have distinguished themselves in diverse fields from science to poetry to theology and medicine.  Among them were the astronomer, Christopher Clavius, the polymath Athanasius Kircher, the theologian Robert Bellarmine and poet Gerard Manley Hopkins.  The film, The Mission, left a deep impression on my when I saw it many decades ago.

St Ignatius was very much a product of his time – a Spanish Basque of noble birth who was trained in the military arts before his conversion to a deeper discipleship of Christ.

He did not stop at half measures. Some historians credit the Jesuits

with playing a significant role in the Catholic renewal in Poland during the Counter-Reformation.  Whatever the full story, the legacy of Ignatius is one of deep insight and holiness. Countless generations have found solace and direction in the Spiritual Exercises.  The practice of patient discernment in daily life is shaped by Ignatian spirituality.

St Ignatius did not write or develop a detailed Eucharistic theology. His focus was spiritual and devotional. However, there is no doubting that the Eucharist along with devotion to Mary and obedience to the Pope were cornerstones of his discipleship.

According to Fr General Kolvenbach SJ:

This love for the Eucharist could not be lacking in the SpiritualExercises. In fact the contemplation of the Supper was called the third Foundation of the Exercises, after the first Principle and the Kingdom. The Eucharist is placed in conjunction between the second and third week, as the central point where all my concrete desire to be with Christ converges and from where flows the accomplishment of this desire on my paschal way with Christ through his Eucharist.

In the Spiritual Exercises, we are invited to personally meet Jesus present and available to us – the very same Christ the disciples met in the Gospels.  In a characteristic way of Ignatian spirituality we are encouraged to imagine ourselves ‘in the scene’ -  listening to Jesus – for example at the Last Supper - and witnessing his gift. 

What is he saying to me in these words and in these actions?  What experiences, insights or emotions arise?  The daily journey is one of conversion, self-examination and a deeper commitment to God's will with the Eucharist as our point of reference and anchor.  

As always, we should strive to journey with others including, if we are fortunate enough, a sound and wise ‘soul friend’.  Our journey is to be in communion with the whole Catholic Church and not just our own subjective experience or thoughts.