Sp. Exx.: Christ the King and his Call

(These are to be done in two separate prayer periods. Ask for the same grace each time. Finish with a colloquy with God, Mary and Jesus.)

Grace: I ask our Lord that I might be able to hear his call and that I might be ready and willing to do what he wants.

Setting 1: I imagine a human leader, selected and raised up by God our Lord himself. Every woman, man and child of goodwill is drawn to listen to such a leader and is inspired to follow his call.

His address to all rings out in words like these: “I want to overcome all diseases, poverty, ignorance, oppression and slavery – in short, all the enemies of the human race. Whoever wishes to join me in this undertaking must be content with the same food, drink, clothing, and so on, as mine. So, too, she must work with me by day and watch with me by night, that as she has had a share in the toil with me, she may share in the victory with me.” If a leader so attractive and inspiring and so much a man of God makes such a call, what kind of person could refuse such an invitation? How could anyone not want to be a part of so challenging and noble an adventure?

Setting 2: I consider Jesus, our Lord, and his call. If a human leader can have such an appeal to us, how much greater is the attraction of Jesus Christ, our leader and king? His call goes out to all people, yet he specially calls each person in a particular way. He makes the appeal: “It is my will to win over the whole world, to conquer sin, hatred and death – all enemies between people and God. Whoever wishes to join me in this mission must be willing to labor with me, so that by following me in suffering, he may follow me in glory.”

Persons who are of great heart and are set on fire with zeal to follow Christ will not only offer themselves entirely for such a mission, but will act against anything that would make their responses less total. They would want to express themselves in some words such as these:

“Eternal Lord and King of all creation, humbly I come before you. Knowing the support of Mary, your mother, and all your saints, I am moved by your grace to offer myself to you and your work. I deeply desire to be with you in accepting all wrongs and all abuse and poverty, both actual and spiritual – and I deliberately choose this, if it is for your greater service and praise. If you, my Lord and King, would so call me and choose me, then take and receive me into such a way of life.

(Spiritual Exercises #91-98 translation: David Fleming, SJ)

Pope Benedict Recommends Spiritual Direction for All

from Zenit.org on 9/16/2009

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Everyone -- priests, religious, laypeople -- and especially youth, should have a spiritual director to help them in the Christian life, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope affirmed this today when he reflected on Symeon the New Theologian during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall.

The Holy Father mentioned how important spiritual direction was in the life of the 11th century monk, and affirmed that the invitation to seek guidance in the spiritual life "continues to be valid for all."

The Bishop of Rome encouraged especially young people, but also priests, consecrated persons and laypeople"to take recourse to the counsels of a good spiritual father."

He mentioned that a spiritual guide should help to grow in knowledge of oneself and lead a person "to union with the Lord, so that one's life is increasingly conformed to the Gospel."

"We always need a guide, dialogue, to go to the Lord," Benedict XVI affirmed. "We cannot do it with our reflections alone. And this is also the meaning of the ecclesiality of our faith, of finding this guide."

Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2009

September 20, 2009

Once again, the words of Jesus are hastily glossed over by the Twelve in his second Passion prediction. Instead they argue about who is the greatest among them –presumably wondering who might be a worthy successor to him. Jesus turns their understanding upside-down for he gives them a new style of leadership that is based on giving up one’s ambition, self-interest, and influence so they can serve the most vulnerable in society. Life won’t be easy; they have to do the grunge work in order to receive their reward in eternal life.

The first reading tells us that many actively work for us to fail and they test God to see if God will be faithful to the righteous who try to live in his ways. The second reading reveals the failings of those who do not walk in the path of righteousness but are guided by self-interest and jealousy. In the Gospel, a child – in essence, one who needs the greatest care from others – becomes the pulled from the margins of society into the center. While we uphold these readings are virtuous and noble, we often still seek our own glory and sense of importance. It just seems natural for us to do. We want to achieve meaningful things and do good works and yet for every person we reach, another is excluded by our choices.

How can we free ourselves from our own need for achievement and preservation so we can become more kingdom-centered people? It may mean a life of hardship where we always place our very selves (our egos, desires, and needs) into radical risk and vulnerability. We become like the child who has to depend upon others. I sense that when we free ourselves to love the world in the way that Jesus loves us, we will have a more complete level of intimacy with him that will make sense of everything else and all will be well – not quite what we wanted – but entirely sufficient. We, and those we have helped, will become the blessed ones.

Quote for the Week

When we teach our children to be good, to be gentle, to be forgiving, to be generous, to love others, to regard this present age as nothing, we instill virtue in their souls, and reveal the image of God within them. This, then, is our task: to educate both ourselves and our children in godliness; otherwise what answer will we have before Christ’s judgment seat?

John Chrysostom

Themes for this Week’s Masses

In the first readings we return to the Old Testament to learn of the return of the Jews from exile at a time when they can begin to rebuild the Temple. In dedicating the Temple, they re-establish the cultic role of the priests and Levites in the service of God in Jerusalem. In God’s mercy, new life has been given to restore the house of God. God in the temple will become the glory of the people and the center of their lives.

In Luke, we hear his account of the calling of the Twelve with instructions for mission. Herod becomes perplexed about all that was happening and is intrigued with the person of Jesus. Jesus quickens the curiosity the disciples have of him by asking them personally, “Who do you say I am?” and then he instructs them about his fate for being obedient to God’s mission for him. Suffering is an essential part of his work.

Saints of the Week

Monday is the feast of Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Noted for his Gospel that appears first in the New Testament canon, Matthew relies heavily upon Mark’s Gospel for details. We know little about the Apostle or the Evangelist, but Matthew appears in his Gospel as a tax collector, while in Mark and Luke, he is called Levi. In imagery, Matthew’s Gospel is represented by a man because of the genealogy that appears at the beginning.

Wednesday is the memorial of Padre Pio, the Capuchin Franciscan Friar from the village of Pietrelcina who is noted for receiving the stigmata while praying before a cross, much in the same way that Francis of Assisi received the wounds. Because of his piety, the prayer groups he founded continued to flourish. He founded a hospital, was a spiritual advisor, confessor and intercessor.

Saturday is the day we honor Cosmas and Damian, twins who were martyred under Diocletius. They were doctors who practiced without charging for services. Many cures are attributed to their intercession, most notably Emperor Justinian.

This Week in Jesuit History

§ Sep 20, 1990. The first-ever Congregation of Provincials met at Loyola, Spain on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the approval of the Society and 500th anniversary of the birth of St Ignatius.
§ Sep 21, 1557. At Salamanca, Melchior Cano wrote to Charles V's confessor accusing the Jesuits of being heretics in disguise.
§ Sep 22, 1774. The death of Pope Clement XIV, worn out with suffering and grief because of the suppression of the Society. False stories circulated that he was poisoned by the Jesuits.
§ Sep 23, 1869. Woodstock College of the Sacred Heart opened. With 17 priests, 44 scholastics, and 16 brothers it was the largest Jesuit community in the United States at the time. § Sep 24, 1566. The first Jesuits entered the continental United States at Florida. Pedro Martinez and others, while attempting to land, were driven back by the natives, and forced to make for the island of Tatacuran. He was killed there three weeks later.
§ Sep 25, 1617. The death of Francisco Suarez. He wrote 24 volumes on philosophy and theology. As a novice he was found to be very dull, but one of his directors suggested that he ask our Lady's help. He subsequently became a person of prodigious talent.
§ Sep 26, 1605. At Rome, Pope Paul V orally declared St Aloysius to be one of the "Blessed."
Prayers

Wish me luck this weekend as I climb Mount Katahdin in northern Maine. Katahdin is a Penobscot Indian word for “the greatest mountain” and is the tallest mountain in Maine at 5268 feet. It is a terminus on the great Appalachian Trail.

Sp. Exx.: The Discernment of Spirits for The First Week

In the Principle and Foundation, we see that we and all creatures belong to God. All is gift and all is goodness in itself. Our primary response to God is thanksgiving, praise and a desire to serve God in others. We can also see that because of inner unfreedom, we can use God’s gifts selfishly. Our goal is to grow in inner freedom so as to choose to be more loving people.

Sin: In some of our prayers, we see sin, the movement toward selfishness and away from God. Sin is ancient (Adam and Eve) and pervasive (read the newspapers). We all share in sin and we will always be enticed by the evil spirits to sin. But we also see more deeply that God continues to love us, that we are loved sinners. That is a foundational grace for Ignatius: I am a sinner loved by God.

Love and sin indicate the presence of the Good Spirit and the Evil Spirit struggling for our souls. How do we know which one is acting on us?

1. If a sinner moves to more sin, the Evil Spirit gives pleasure, but the Good Spirit stings the conscience with remorse.

2. If a good person move to being better, the Evil Spirit causes gnawing anxieties, sadness, and sets up obstacles, while the Good Spirit stirs up courage, consolation, tears, inspiration and tranquility.

Consolation:

a. moves to being inflamed with love of God.
b. moves to tears out of love for God or grief for sin.
c. moves to every increase of faith, hope, love and every interior joy.

Desolation:

a. moves to darkness and disturbance of soul.
b. moves to the low and earthly.
c. moves to anxiety arising from various agitations and temptations,
d. moves to a lack of faith, hope and love.


Joy is not the same as consolation:

Patriots’ Super Bowl victory (joy) vs. dreaming about this Lenten prayer (consolation)
Depression (or sadness and grief) is not the same as desolation, but it can feed it.
A rainy day can be depressing

Examples:
After his conversion, Ignatius was attached by scruples. (desolation)
A woman seeing a ray of light at the burial of her mother and feeling overwhelming consolation.
An experience when I have felt both miserable and greatly consoled.
Consolation in giving, doing and sacrificing?
Desolation after wasting time on computer games, TV, etc.

Adapted by Fr. Ken Hughes, S.J.

Saint: Robert Bellarmine, S.J.

Robert Bellarmine is a theologian, bishop and Doctor of the Church. He entered the Jesuits in 1560 and did his ecclesiastical studies in Rome, Padua, and Louvain. As professor of the University of Louvain, he became the professor of Controversial Theology and garnered much respect from Protestants as he carefully and systematically defending the Catholic faith in a rational manner. This was a time in which the Reformation doctrines of Luther and Calvin were quickly spreading throughout Europe. He civilly taught his classes to answer the objections the Reformers brought against the Church.

In 1577 he was transferred to Rome where he again taught theology, which became the basis for his book Disputations on the Controversies of the Christian Faith against the Heretics of this Age. He also helped to revise the Latin Bible, prepared two catechisms, directed the Roman College, supervised the Vatican library, and acted as the Pope’s theologian.

He was appointed Cardinal (1599) and Archbishop of Capua (1602). Pope Pius XI declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1931.

Sp. Exx.: The Two Standards (Banners)

Ignatius uses medieval military imagery in this meditation in which we see two people and two banners: Jesus and Lucifer (lightbearer – because he disguises his dark schemes under light). Two huge armies. Two voices and two messages: Lucifer – wealth and renown, which leads to pride. Jesus – spiritual poverty (perhaps actual poverty), contempt or humiliation, which leads to humility. (Don’t let the language get in the way)

Ignatius wants us to see three important truths:

a. We are in a life and death struggle between light and darkness, good and evil.
b. The resources of Lucifer are huge.
c. The strategies of the evil spirit are very clever

The evil spirit seduces us in small ways. We cannot eradicate evil. The weeds will always grow along with the wheat. The temptation of money and reputation is always lurking (money and reputation are neutral, but the evil spirit uses them to entice us to see ourselves as better than others.) We can build our self-worth and esteem on having more or being more than someone else. Most of us are tempted to be more self-sufficient, independent and to see ourselves as better than others. That is pride, which separates us from our true-self, from our neighbors and from God.

The way of Jesus is spiritual poverty (detachment from possessions), even actual poverty (if God asks us), and humiliation (being laughed at for not seeking more privileges and material things), which lead to humility. Humility means seeing and accepting myself as beloved of God and with dignity. The two standards can look like this:

Lucifer: Riches – what is possessed defines me
Jesus: Poverty – Freedom from possessions

Lucifer: Renown, Honor – approval of others defines me.
Jesus: Humiliation – freedom from validation of others.

Lucifer: Pride – self-sufficiency
Jesus: Humility – freedom from independence (separate) or supremacy (above)

To follow Jesus more closely means entering into conflict with Lucifer for two principal reasons: 1.) Lucifer is afraid of the power of good which you have, and 2.) you are joining Jesus’ mission to encourage all people to turn to one another in compassion and love. Humility is foundational for compassion as it acknowledges our need for one another. The mission is cosmic.


The Two Standards Meditations

Consider how Christ calls and wants all under his standard; Lucifer, on the contrary, under his.

A composition, seeing the place. It will be here to see a great field of all that region of Jerusalem, where the supreme Commander-in-chief of the good is Christ our Lord; another field in the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.

Ask for what I want: and it will be here to ask for knowledge of the deceits of the bad chief and help to guard myself against them, and for knowledge of the true life which the supreme and true Captain shows and grace to imitate Him.

Imagine the chief of all the enemy seated himself in that great field of Babylon, as in a great chair of fire and smoke, in shape horrible and terrifying. Consider how he summons innumerable demons and how he scatters them, some to one city and others to another, and so through all the world, not omitting any provinces, places, states, nor any persons in particular.

Consider the discourse which he makes them, and how he tells them to cast out nets and chains; that they have first to tempt with a longing for riches -- as he is accustomed to do in most cases -- that men may more easily come to vain honor of the world, and then to vast pride. So that the first step shall be that of riches; the second, that of honor; the third, that of pride; and from these three steps he draws on to all the other vices.

So, on the contrary, one has to imagine as to the supreme and true captain, who is Christ our Lord.

Consider how Christ our Lord puts himself in a great field of that region of Jerusalem, in lowly place, beautiful and attractive. Consider how the Lord of the entire world chooses so many persons -- apostles, disciples -- and sends them spreading his sacred doctrine through all states and conditions of persons.

Consider the discourse which Christ our Lord makes to all his servants and friends whom he sends on this expedition, recommending them to want to help all, by bringing them first to the highest spiritual poverty, and -- if his Divine Majesty would be served and would want to choose them -- no less to actual poverty; the second is to be of contumely and contempt; because from these two things humility follows. So that there are to be three steps; the first, poverty against riches; the second, contumely or contempt against worldly honor; the third, humility against pride. And from these three steps let them induce to all the other virtues.

Adapted by Fr. Ken Hughes, S.J.

Poem: In Blackwater Woods by Mary Oliver

“To live in this world

you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

Against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.”

Song: Do you realize?

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face?
Do You Realize - we're floating in space?
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry?
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die?

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes,
let them know you realize that life goes fast.
It's hard to make the good things last.
You realize the sun don't go down.
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

The Flaming Lips

Poem: Leaf by Leaf by Leaf (Unknown Poet)

Leaf by leaf by leaf
They tumble and fall
All my haggard hurts.

Like a cottonwood tree
Ever so slowly letting go,
So the heartache of my heart.

There goes a bit of sadness,
Now a leaf of anger flies;
Then it’s the dropping of self-pity.

The leaf of unforgiveness
Takes forever to fall,
Almost as long as non-trusting.

Leaf by leaf by leaf
They fall from my heart
Like a tree in its own time.

Old wounds don’t heal quickly,
They drop in despairing slowness,
Never looking at the clock.

It seems a forever process,
This healing of the hurt,
And I am none too patient.

But a quiet day finally comes
When the old tree with no leave,
is decidedly ready for the new.

And in my waiting heart,
The Branches with no leaves
Have just a hint of green.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

September 13, 2009

My heart is attuned to the effect of meaningful hearing that occurs in the readings this week. Isaiah’s passage begins with “The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear.” The Psalmist sings out “I love the Lord because he has heard my voice in supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me the day I called.” The reading from James reminds us that once we compassionately hear the voice of our neighbor, we are called to act with kindness and mercy.

Even Jesus, in Mark’s Gospel, shows that he listens deeply to his disciples and uses it as a way of leading them to deeper insights. However, once Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ, he fails to listen to the deep significance of that which Jesus is telling him. Jesus wants his disciples to share in his understanding of God’s mission for him, but Peter just does not listen well. Imagine the bond the two would have felt if Peter was able to convey that he understood what Jesus was trying to tell him. Instead, Jesus reacts angrily because Peter discounted his words.

The barebones message of Jesus is that we may be asked to take up the cross because we are his followers just as he is destined to pick up his cross. He is telling us so that we will not be afraid when it is our time to choose him. He wants us to fully understand the consequences of discipleship because they are nothing in light of the rewards. We will have to deny ourselves in our pursuit of placing Christ at the center of our lives – a choice we make out of love for Christ rather than merely for an ascetical spirituality. We can do this when we have a healthy sense of self and a wise knowledge of Christ’s love for us.

These are difficult words to really hear, but they are the words that prove our faith. As James tells us, “demonstrate your faith to me with works.” Listen to Christ’s words today. How does your heart respond?

Quote for the Week

The Stabat Mater is a Medieval hymn that reflects upon the sorrow of Mary as she watches her son die on the Cross. The hymn is sung during the Sequence prior to the proclamation of the Gospel during Mass on the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The first four stanzas are shown below.

At the Cross her station keeping,stood the mournful Mother weeping,close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,all His bitter anguish bearing,now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressedwas that Mother, highly blest,of the sole-begotten One.
Christ above in torment hangs,she beneath beholds the pangsof her dying glorious Son.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

Paul’s letter to Timothy contains instructions about the characteristics that are to exist in bishops and deacons for they are to serve well to advance the kingdom of God. The people likewise are to respect authority and to resist greed. Everyone is to pay attention to sacred scripture so that one’s conscience can be formed well – for the Word of God is truth that leads to life. A Christian is to seek righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.

As Luke continues from his Beatitudes, he likens this generation to a fickle people that are never satisfied, but the physician-author shows a woman who depicts behavior worthy of the kingdom of heaven. This sinful woman shows her great care for Jesus by anointing his feet with alabaster oil and drying it with her hair. Jesus is moved beyond words and finally tells his hosts that her behavior proves her worth as a daughter of God. Jesus then moves onto another town to proclaim the good news and he spends time with the Twelve and with women who had been healed. He begins to tell parables about the nature of the kingdom of heaven likening it to seed that falls on fertile ground.

Saints of the Week

Monday is the celebration of The Triumph of the Holy Cross, which commemorates the find of the true cross by Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was dedicated in Jerusalem. Constantine is responsible for making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Gal 6: 14)

Our Lady of Sorrows, remembered on Tuesday, follows the Triumph of the Cross to symbolically remind us that suffering and Christ’s victory are linked together. Mary’s suffering is told in seven ways: Simeon’s prophecy, the flight into Egypt, losing the boy Jesus in the Temple, Calvary, the crucifixion, the deposition, and the entombment.

Wednesday is the memorial of Cornelius (d. 253), Pope, and Cyprian (d. 258), bishop. Both served during the Decian persecution. Novatian, a charismatic priest, tried to usurp Cornelius’ position as the Bishop of Rome, but the powerful Cyprian came to his defense. Cyprian served in the important see of Carthage where he wrote on church unity, the role of bishops, and the importance of the sacraments. He was killed during the Valerian persecution.

Thursday is Robert Bellarmine, S.J. day – a famous theologian, Jesuit priest, bishop and doctor of the church. He wrote his famous Disputations to combat heresies in the 17th century. He assisted in revising the Latin bible, is the patron saint of cathechists, was the director of the Roman College and the Vatican Library and was made Cardinal. It is rare for a Jesuit to be named bishop or Cardinal.

Saturday is the day in which Januarius is remembered. As bishop of Benevento, he was martyred during the Diocletian persecution, but his blood was captured and saved into a flask and stored in the cathedral in Naples, Italy. Several times a year, it is reported that his blood liquefies and bubbles in the vial.

This Week in Jesuit History

· Sep 13, 1773. Frederick II of Prussia informed the pope that the Jesuits would not be suppressed in Prussia and invited Jesuits to come.
· Sep 14, 1596. The death of Cardinal Francis Toledo, the first of the Society to be raised to the purple hat. He died at age 63, a cardinal for three years.
· Sep 15, 1927. Thirty-seven Jesuits arrived in Hot Springs, North Carolina, to begin tertianship. The property was given to the Jesuits by the widow of the son of President Andrew Johnson.
· Sep 16, 1883. The twenty-third General Congregation opened at Rome in the Palazzo Borromeo (via del Seminario). It elected Fr Anthony Anderledy Vicar General with the right of succession.
· Sep 17, 1621. The death of St Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the Church.
· Sep 18, 1540. At Rome, Pedro Ribadeneira, aged fourteen, was admitted into the Society by St Ignatius (nine days before official papal confirmation of the Society).
· Sep 19, 1715. At Quebec, the death of Fr Louis Andre, who for 45 years labored in the missions of Canada amid incredible hardships, often living on acorns, a kind of moss, and the rind of fruits.

Prayers

Let us take some time this week to remember all those who are sick and in need of healing. Many need our prayers. Please add your prayers to the comment line on the blog so that our friends in our online community may pray with you.

Let us also remember all students who return to school and their teachers and professors who try their best to reach deep into the lives of students. May all of us gain more knowledge and wisdom about the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.