Before choosing men for Sicily, Saint Ignatius sent a circular to all the Jesuits in Rome. We know its content (MI Epp. 252) and the response it received from Peter Canisius (Espinosa Polit, Perfect Obedience, p. 174). Contributed by Martin E. Palmer S.J. (Fusz Memorial, 3700 West Pine Blvd, St Louis MO 63103, ·USA)
These are the points which our Father in Jesus Christ, Master Ignatius, proposed to everyone in the house on February 2, 1548. Giving each man a period of three, four, or five days to recollect and commend himself to God, he had them ponder these points, come to a decision, and write down how they stood in their regard. Our Father in Jesus Christ judged that a man would not be suited for the institute of this Society unless he had attained readiness in regard to all the following points, as true obedience demands.
1. Whether he finds himself indifferent to going to Sicily if so commanded or not going, preferring whatever will be enjoined on him by the superior, to whose governance, in the place of Jesus Christ, he is subjected.
2. Whether, if he should go, he finds himself indifferent towards accepting any task that is enjoined on him –such as: if he is educated, going to serve in corporal matters and ministries; if he has no education, going to teach theology, Greek or some other subject he does not know; and whether therein he judges that the best thing he can do is what is enjoined on him by obedience. Likewise, whether a man sent to be a teacher is ready to accept any of the four courses, i.e., scholastic theology, positive theology, philosophy, or humanities.
3. Whether, if sent as a student, he is ready to study whatever subject he is assigned, i.e., grammar, philosophy, or theology; and under whatever professor is appointed for him. In the same way, whether, if sent to serve, he is ready to work in the kitchen or at any other job.
4. Whether, in addition to carrying out whatever assignment he receives, he is disposed to consider it to be the best, submitting to the yoke of holy obedience not merely his performance but also his private judgement and will, so that he looks upon his assignment as the best in itself, finds peace and joy in whatever the superior shall judge most helpful for his own and the general welfare, and makes evident his faith that God's providence is to guide and govern him through the superior, etc.
These are the points which our Father in Jesus Christ, Master Ignatius, proposed to everyone in the house on February 2, 1548. Giving each man a period of three, four, or five days to recollect and commend himself to God, he had them ponder these points, come to a decision, and write down how they stood in their regard. Our Father in Jesus Christ judged that a man would not be suited for the institute of this Society unless he had attained readiness in regard to all the following points, as true obedience demands.
1. Whether he finds himself indifferent to going to Sicily if so commanded or not going, preferring whatever will be enjoined on him by the superior, to whose governance, in the place of Jesus Christ, he is subjected.
2. Whether, if he should go, he finds himself indifferent towards accepting any task that is enjoined on him –such as: if he is educated, going to serve in corporal matters and ministries; if he has no education, going to teach theology, Greek or some other subject he does not know; and whether therein he judges that the best thing he can do is what is enjoined on him by obedience. Likewise, whether a man sent to be a teacher is ready to accept any of the four courses, i.e., scholastic theology, positive theology, philosophy, or humanities.
3. Whether, if sent as a student, he is ready to study whatever subject he is assigned, i.e., grammar, philosophy, or theology; and under whatever professor is appointed for him. In the same way, whether, if sent to serve, he is ready to work in the kitchen or at any other job.
4. Whether, in addition to carrying out whatever assignment he receives, he is disposed to consider it to be the best, submitting to the yoke of holy obedience not merely his performance but also his private judgement and will, so that he looks upon his assignment as the best in itself, finds peace and joy in whatever the superior shall judge most helpful for his own and the general welfare, and makes evident his faith that God's providence is to guide and govern him through the superior, etc.
After having deliberated with myself for some time on the brief proposal of my reverend Father in Christ and superior, Master Ignatius, I declare in the first place that, with the help of our Lord, I feel equally disposed to either alternative, whether I am ordered to remain at home always, or sent to Sicily, India, 'O!' anywhere else. Moreover, if I must go to Sicily, I affirm simply that I shall be satisfied with whatever office or ministry shall be given me there, whether it be cook, gardener, porter, student, or professor of any class, even of matter with which I am unacquainted. And from this day, February 5th, I vow and swear that I will not concern myself with the future as far as it concerns my dwelling, mission, or any comfort, leaving once for all such care and solicitude to my reverend Father General in Christ. And to him I submit fully my understanding and my will for the government of my soul as well as for my body, humbly offering and confidently surrendering myself in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The year 1548. I have signed this with my own hand.
Peter Canisius of Nimwegen
The year 1548. I have signed this with my own hand.
Peter Canisius of Nimwegen
The standards were high but God provided the men who were committed to doing God's work and we have all been blessed by their willingness to turn their lives over to God.
ReplyDeleteThank you, John, for your obedience. I think that this must resonate with you as you have recently begun a new challenge. God bless.
We try for availability. It is not as easy as it seems, but these words do resonate with me. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteThat certainly sets the bar high for the rest of us whose "Superior General" is for all intents and purposes inaccessible and incomprehensible. His ways are not our ways. Can we realistically hope to be "indifferent" as to whether the ultrasound report shows a long-awaited pregnancy or uterine cancer, whether the phone call is the police telling us our son has been shot or Publisher's Clearinghouse saying we won the sweepstakes, or even whether we get summoned to the boss's office to get a raise or a pink slip? Even if we can work ourselves up to saying, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away," will we have enough control of our "private judgement and will" that we can honestly find peace and all that good stuff if the assignment is one of the unpleasant ones? We may have to bow in resignation to the inexplicable Divine Will and try very hard to convince ourselves that "for those who love God and are called in His Plan, all things work together for the good," but can we be blamed if we find it a struggle? (I seem to recall here a certain passage about "and His sweat became as drops of blood running down upon the ground" paired with "No disciple is above his master"....) Not all of us can be like Ignatius or Peter Canisius or even like Rabbi Meir's wife Beruriah who told him when he got home from a trip that both his sons had just died of plague by asking him if she should return some jewels left in her keeping to their owner when he demanded them, and when he answered "What are you thinking? Of course you have to return them!" she mutely pointed to the coffins in the next room.
ReplyDeleteWhat are we lesser mortals to do when we find ourselves quailing at the thought of what is asked of us, sometimes even just to get through the next day? We certainly would not be found worthy of being Jesuits. Can we hope to be found worthy to be Christians???
No one said it was easy, but to be indifferent to all things doesn't mean we don't have great emotions. Indifference results from being free. Freedom is something every Christian can strive for. We just don't always know the ways we are bound.
DeleteIt's certainly true that we don't see how much we are bound by all kinds of things. And again, "indifference" in English can range from not particularly caring whether the toast is on the left side of the plate or the right to not caring about the crippled child lying in the gutter in Calcutta. St. Ignatius was a Basque, and Basque are not noted for their moderation. They never do anything by halves and anything less that total commitment looks shabby to them (I can say this, since I'm part Basque!), so I can believe that St. Ignatius would demand it of his followers. Jesus seemed to be like that as well, when He said,"He that puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is not worthy" to be His disciple. But He took a slightly softer view in the parable of the two sons, when he said that the reluctant, Johnny-come-lately son ultimately did the Father's will. That gives me hope.
DeleteThanks. Ignatius wanted everyone to be indiffierent to all things except for the will of God. He suggested not preferring sickness to health, good fortune to bad, etc. In all things, the will of God can be found. We stick to pursuing our first and final goal and we'll be alright.
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