The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius : $b adapted to an eight days retreat and six triduums in preparation for the semi-annual renovation of the vows, all for the use of Jesuits only — John Shaqi
The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius : $b adapted to an eight days retreat and six triduums in preparation for the semi-annual renovation of the vows, all for the use of Jesuits onlyCoppens, Charles
Religion
The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius : $b adapted to an eight days retreat and six triduums in preparation for the semi-annual renovation of the vows, all for the use of Jesuits only
This King issues a call to all Catholic warriors (for in this parable
only warriors are spoken of) inviting them to rally under his standard.
They are going to fight for the grandest, holiest and dearest of all
causes. He promises them certain victory, no one of his followers shall
perish unless it be through his own fault. Yet it will be a strenuous
campaign, full of hardships and fatigue for all concerned. But the King
himself will ever be in the midst of his soldiers, in the thickest of
the fight, sharing in their hardships and privations, so that no one
will be expected to toil and endure more than the leader; and each one
shall share in the victory in proportion to the sacrifices he shall have
made in the holy cause.
What should a brave warrior answer to such an appeal? The promises may
appear to be excessive, impossible; but they are so in the parable only,
not in the real facts figured by it.
_POINT II._ Now consider the application to the reality signified. The
Son of God Himself is that King, nobler and grander than any mere human
genius or hero, who has truly come into this world to establish the
Kingdom of God, and who is accomplishing this appointed task.
He calls upon all men, women and children to follow Him in His contest
against God’s enemies; not that He needs their aid, but that they may
share in the glory of the victory.
For this purpose all must, in some measure, share His labors and His
sacrifices; but He will ever be by their side, and endure more than any
of them. Every one will share in the magnificent rewards in proportion
to his generous exertions.
What answer should every generous heart make to such an appeal from his
great, good God, his sovereign Lord and Saviour? “To-day, if you shall
hear his voice, harden not your hearts” exclaims the Psalmist (Ps. 94).
_POINT III._ Those who wish to show greater affection, and to signalize
themselves in the King’s service, not only will offer their whole
persons to labor, but will also act against their own sensuality, and
say: “Eternal Lord of all things, I make my oblation with Thy favor and
help, in the presence of Thine infinite goodness, and in the sight of
Thy glorious Mother, and of all the Angels of Thine Heavenly court,
protesting that I wish and desire, and that it is my deliberate
determination (provided only it be for Thy greater service and praise)
to imitate Thee in bearing all insults and reproaches, and all poverty,
as well actual poverty as poverty of spirit, if only Thy Divine Majesty
be pleased to choose and receive me to this life and state.” As Jesuits,
we are certainly called to this close imitation of Christ. We must, not
only faithfully resist all temptations to sin, but also generously
follow our King in sacrificing lawful pleasures, trampling upon worldly
honors, upon self-esteem and bodily comforts, leading mortified lives,
as worthy companions of Jesus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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