John Predmore, S.J., is a USA East Province Jesuit and was the pastor of Jordan's English language parish. He teaches art and directs BC High's adult spiritual formation programs. Formerly a retreat director in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Ignatian Spirituality is given through guided meditations, weekend-, 8-day, and 30-day Retreats based on The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatian Spirituality serves the contemporary world as people strive to develop a friendship with God.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Spirituality: From "Essential Writings" by Pedro Arrupe, SJ
The [Spiritual] Exercises are, in the last analysis, a method in the pedagogy of love - the pedagogy, that is, of the most pure charity toward God and toward one's neighbor. They root out carnal and worldly love from the human heart, thus opening it to the beams of God's love. A demanding love it is, calling forth in a person a response of love and of service. Service, which is itself love. This is the message of the very last paragraph of the book of the Exercises. "The zealous service of God our Lord out of pure love should be esteemed above all." In the Exercises we find terms and concepts which are logically reducible to one another: the "glory of God," for example, can be replaced by the "service of God." The same may be said of "praise" and "reverence." Only one term is final and irreducible to another: love.
I so appreciate the writings of Pedro Arrupe. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteHe was an inspirational leader. He remade the church.
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