During the novitiate at the beginning of my formation, I do not remember that we were bombarded by the terminology of Ignatian spirituality. Did I hear the words “principle and foundation, the Kingdom, election, consolation and desolation, etc.”? Not very often. We were constantly told about “the Father’s plan, the central place of Jesus Christ, availability to God, the importance of our affectivity and of becoming ourselves”. For me, it is clear that our formators did not teach us Ignatian spirituality as an academic subject. They introduced us to it and made us walk our first steps in it. And we have understood that Ignatian spirituality is not a spirituality of devotion, but of commitment with all our gifts in the endeavour of the mission. And here we are launched for theology (without stage at that time) and then appointed for our respective missions.
Did I really think about Ignatian spirituality during my first years of apostolate? The blunt answer is “no.” It was rather a question of learning the language and beginning the missionary apostolate with the guidance of the community that welcomed me. However, I do not affirm that this spirituality was completely outside my universe. Rather, it constituted my universe without being aware of it. In fact, the exam of conscience and daily revision of life have been instruments of personal growth, and of personal closeness to the One who called me to his service. Moreover, the issue of obedience to God and superiors has never turned into a tug-of-war competition between God, superiors, and myself. It took root in me through living many circumstances, tasks, personal, community and missionary, with this recurring phrase in me: “Lord, I don’t know whether this situation is your will, but I know it’s not mine.” It does not have the intensity or depth of self-offering to God (Spiritual Exercises, no. 98). But it still made me move in the right direction.
Prayer and self-knowledge were the daily rendez-vous through their intertwining. Prayer allowed me to get to know myself better and to meet the daily missionary challenges. Knowing myself helped me to pray first and then to pray better by opening myself to others and to the Lord, saying to myself: “John, you know yourself. If you don’t pray in the morning, forget about meditation.” This is what has allowed me to persevere and serve until now.
The elements of Ignatian spirituality became clearer to me when I was called to serve the mission in the houses of formation, to initiate and inspire young men in their desire to commit themselves to the Lord and discern their vocation. Readings, sessions and courses have enabled me to distinguish and name the different principles that St. Ignatius has left us.
Ignatian spirituality remains very relevant today. It invites the person to have a personal experience of the living God. It accomplishes this task by means of sure points of reference: love of God, perception of one’s own limitations and sins, the need for conversion, the “principle and foundation” leading to the profound freedom called indifference in Ignatian language, the human and spiritual qualities required for a lasting and significant commitment to the Kingdom of God in following Jesus Christ. All these ingredients forge the unity of the life project.
In addition, Ignatian spirituality proposes concrete measures to put into practice the commitment that the person desires to live and to which he or she is called by Jesus Christ. It suggests prayer exercises that involve all aspects of the person, daily exam of conscience to discern the presence of the Lord in daily life, principles of discernment, decision-making and faithfulness.
We are not faced with a spiritual system of thought, or spiritual ideology. It is an adventure of love between the person and his Creator as time passes. It makes us desire God’s presence in us and in the world, generates the desire to be holy and to become disciples of Christ. It makes us available for a faithful commitment in the Lord’s vineyard and in the world around us.
Ignatian spirituality inspires by its contents. St. Ignatius places much emphasis on the incarnation of the Son of God as a key to intimacy in the Holy Spirit with the Father and Jesus Christ during our lives. The situations experienced by Jesus, his daily difficulties and his teachings offer a concrete example of life and committed presence with the People of God. I see today that my presence with the people I meet, my witnessing and my preaching have been shaped by it.
I conclude with Ephesians 3 (4-21)
“I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and in earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the accord of the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you rooted and grounded in love may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth; and to know the love od Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with the fullness of God.”
By: Jean Lamonde, M.Afr.