Spirituality: The Deliberation that Started the Jesuits

At the meeting on the first night, the following question was opened up: given that we had offered and dedicated ourselves and our lives to Christ our Lord and to his true and legitimate vicar on earth, so that he might dispose of us and send us wherever he judged it to be more fruitful.., would it or would it not be more advantageous for our purpose to be so joined and bound together in one body that no physical distance, no matter how great, would separate us?

In the end, we established the affirmative side of the question, that is, that in as much as our kind and affectionate Lord had deigned to gather us together and unite us, men so spiritually weak and from such diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds, we ought not split apart what God has gathered and united; on the contrary, we ought day by day to strengthen and stabilize our union, rendering ourselves one body with special concern for each other, in order to effect the greater spiritual good of our fellow men. For united spiritual strength is more robust and braver in any arduous enterprise than it would be if segmented.

Literature: Tales from Nagasaki

He expressed grave suspicions about “angry people” in peace movements. There is a great need for peace movements, he wrote, but only if made up of people with hearts that are at peace. He warned of any peace movement that was “merely political” or ideological and not dedicated to justice, love and patient hard work. Angry shouting in the streets about peace often cloaked very unpeaceful hearts, he commented…. In one place Nagai says all of us are called to “contemplation, which is not difficult. You see children praying this way, for instance, before the crib at Christmas time.” He quotes the Gospel: “I thank you Father for hiding these things from the clever and revealing them to little ones.”… Looking out at the nuclear wasteland Nagai said with the faith of Isaiah, “God will turn (Jerusalem’s) desolation into Eden, and the wasteland into a garden of Yahweh.”

(ch. 26, The Little Girl who Couldn’t Cry, pp. 213-214)

Photo: Ignatius at Prayer

Literature: Tales from Nagasaki

During this period he also returned to Urakami and tackled the problem of residual radiation. He had no instruments but when he discovered live ants and then earthworms he was convinced the autumn rains had washed most of the fall-out away. The rumors that all life would be impossible for 70 years were wrong. Like the ants, back to work! Helped by some friends he built a small hut by leaning charred beams against the stone retaining wall of his home, and roofing it with pieces of heat-buckled tin. … Many heeded Nagai’s call to rebuild the suburb and they put up huts around his. The remnant of the university staff set about planning a new university and Nagai joined in energetically.

(ch. 24, “Not from Chance our Comfort Springs,” p.185)

Literature: Tales from Nagasaki

“And just then, at 11.02 a.m., an atom bomb exploded over our suburb. In an instant, 8,000 Christians were called to God and in a few hours flames turned to ash this venerable Far Eastern holy place.

“At midnight that night our cathedral suddenly burst into flames and was consumed. At exactly that same time in the Imperial Palace, His Majesty the Emperor made known his sacred decision to end the war. On August 15, the Imperial Rescript which put an end to the fighting was formally promulgated and the whole world saw the light of peace. August 15 is also the great feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is significant, I believe, that Irakami Cathedral was dedicated to her. We must ask: Was this convergence of events, the end of the war and the celebration of her feast-day, merely coincidental or was it the mysterious Providence of God?

“I have heard that the atom bomb… was destined for another city. Heavy clouds rendered that target impossible and the American crew headed for the secondary target, Nagasaki. Then a mechanical problem arose and the bomb was dropped further north than planned and burst right above the cathedral… It was not the American crew, I believe, who chose our suburb. God’s providence chose Urakami and carried the bomb right above our homes. Is there not a profound relationship between the annihilation of Nagasaki and the end of the war? Was not Nagasaki the chosen victim, the lamb without blemish, slain as a whole-burnt offering on an altar of sacrifice, atoning for the sins of all the nations during World War II?”

(ch. 24, Not from Chance our Comfort Springs, p. 188)

Prayer: Ambrose

And do not be afraid that there will be any delay in healing. You must use the remedy which you have received. As soon as Jesus gives the command, healing occurs. So entreat the Lord, and fear no delay.

Poem by Matteo Ricci, S.J.

A shepherd boy fell sad one day,

Hating the hillside on which he stood;

he thought a distant hill he saw

more beautiful from afar,

and that going there would wipe away his sorrows.

So he set off to that distant hill,

but as he drew near it

it looked less good than it had from afar.

O shepherd boy, shepherd boy,

how can you expect to transform yourself

by changing your dwelling place?

If you move away can you leave yourself behind?

Sorrow and joy sprout in the heart.

If the heart is peaceful, you’ll be happy everywhere,

if the heart is in turmoil, every place brings sorrow.

A grain of dust in your eye

brings discomfort speedily.

How can you then ignore this sharp awl

that pierces your heart?

If you yearn for things outside yourself

you will never obtain what you are seeking.

Why not put your own heart in order

and find peace on your own hillside?

Old and new writers alike give this advice:

there’s no advantage to roaming outside.

Keep the heart inside, for

that brings the profit.

Literature: Tales from Nagasaki

It was a glorious April day and the little valley echoed with the songs of the bird Nagai had loved most since childhood, the uguisu, sometimes called the Japanese nightingale. Something told Nagai that all the beauty around him did not just happen. Wasn’t Pascal’s Creator-God a reasonable hypothesis? Nagai reflected: I am always ready to test a hypothesis in the laboratory. Why not try this prayer that Pascal is so insistent about, even if only as an experiment.

(Ch. 5, ’Tis an Ill Wind… pp.44-45)

Prayer: Pio of Pietrelcina

Go ahead! Courage!

In the spiritual life, one who does not go forward goes backward.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 7, 2011
1 Kings 19:9-13; Psalm 85; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33

          The story of Jesus walking on water in the fury of a storm is a favorite of many. It is a call for greater trust and we easily find ourselves like Peter who impetuously answers the call to walk towards Jesus, but then gets sidetracked by the swirling storm and the deep sea. We lose our focus on the one who can calm us. If you are a high sensate like me, one who is notices the tiny, sensory, environmental details, keeping focus on Jesus is difficult. We are the ones who pay attention to the many distracting voices while searching for the one who can ultimately guide us to the right place.

          Having recently completed directing the 30-day Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, I recognize how difficult it is to earn trust even for those steeped in religious life. Some find it difficult to trust Jesus because of their images of Jesus Christ. If he is only a transcendent God-man, it is not easy to relate to him because he is always in control and is always God. If he is fully human, we can find a brother who endured the same difficulties we face. It is much easier to develop a friendship with one who is like us than one who is an altogether different being. The power balance can be too great to overcome.

          The disciples saw Jesus as merely a man. They prayed with him, learned from him, ate with him, and had leisure time with him. Because he was so like them, they were fearful when they encountered him in supernatural situations. It bent their minds so much to cause them to wonder about the source of his power. His humanity made him credible, and his humanity pointed to the power of God as the source of his words and works. Even when we have known before birth, we may find it difficult to talk with and place greater trust in him.

          Many factors prevent us from trusting him: our undeveloped catechesis, the strength of our will (because we have learned to do things to our satisfaction on our own), memories, disordered attachments and lack of awareness and freedom. We increase our trust in him when we get to know him more familiarly. I find it helpful to ask myself the same question at different points of the day. As I review my morning or afternoon, I ask, "Where were you, O Christ, in this past segment of my day?" Then I let him answer. I'm often pleasantly surprised at some insignificant event that becomes meaningful. I find Christ in the details of my unconsciousness that shape the way I respond to my environment for the rest of the day.

          I have come to relish the quiet moments of the day even if I can only snatch five minutes. Because of this, the reading from 1 Kings 19 has been meaningful to me. In the passage, Elijah is in a cave on Mount Horeb where he expects the meet God who can be found in storms, but he does not find him in the thunderous fury or the brilliant lightning. He finds him in the stillness that follows the whispering wind. When our storms settle down, we are able to hear the voice of Christ more clearly - in a way we can trust. Christ does not make himself known with clanging symbols, but with a still small voice that resonates in our hearts.

          It is right for us to pay greater attention to the stillness of our hearts. When the storms of our lives have passed over, we will certainly hear the comforting voice of Christ to take away our fear. As we become familiar with him, the volume of his voice can rise above the whipping winds and turbulent gales. With perseverance, his voice can be the only sound we hear despite the clamor that rages beyond us.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: In Exodus, the frail and elderly Moses asks the people to remember the kindness of the Lord and to follow the commandments given to the people in loving protection. At 120 years of age, Moses says he cannot cross the Jordan to enter and occupy it; the Lord and Joshua will cross into it, but he will remain behind. The Lord promised to be with Joshua who ordered the priests to carry the ark of the covenant with them into the Jordan and to halt in the middle. The water stopped flowing and all Israel crossed over safely on dry land. Joshua gathered the twelve tribes at Shechem and spoke of behalf of the Lord recalling the Lord's favor to them throughout history beginning with Abraham. All this is the Lord's doing and not the achievement of the people or its leaders. In Joshua's speech, the people answered that they will serve the Lord and the Lord alone through him. Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and then set up a large stone in the sanctuary of the Lord as a witness to the covenant.

Gospel: Following the Transfiguration, Jesus predicts his Passion. Temple tax collectors try to trick Jesus about his attitude toward paying the taxes and Jesus cleverly respects both religious and civic observances. Young children are brought to Jesus and his disciples swish them away, but he beckons them to come to him and enjoy the blessings of playing lightly in his company. Jesus then reminds the people that their lives are to be like a grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies as it awaits its rebirth in fullness. Jesus then tells a parable of the necessity of constant forgiveness, but Pharisees immediately launch a debate about the conditions for divorce. Jesus tells them that divorce was introduced because of human attitudes; it is not how God intends for us to deal with our most intimate friends. Children are once again brought to Jesus where he blesses them and bestows the goodness of the kingdom of heaven upon them.

Saints of the Week

Monday: Dominic, priest (1170-1221), was a Spaniard who was sent to southern France to counter the heretical teachings of the Albigensians, who held that the material world was evil and only religious asceticism could combat those forces. Dominic begged and preached in an austere fashion and set the foundations for the new Order of Preachers for both men and women.

Tuesday: Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), martyr (1891-1942), became a Catholic convert from Judaism after reading the autobiography of Teresa of Avila. He earned a doctorate in philosophy, but was unemployable because she was a woman. She taught at a high school for eight years before entering the Carmelites in 1933 where she made final vows in 1938. She moved to Holland to escape persecution by the Nazis, but was arrested when the bishops spoke out against the persecution of the Jews.

Wednesday: Lawrence, deacon and martyr (d. 258) was martyred four days after Pope Sixtus II and six other deacons during the Valerian persecution. A beautiful story is told about Lawrence's words. When asked to surrender the church's treasure, Lawrence gathered the poor and presented them to the civil authorities. For this affront, he was martyred. He is the patron of Rome.

Thursday: Clare, founder (1193-1253), was inspired by Francis of Assist so much that she fled her home for his community to receive the Franciscan habit on Passion Sunday 1212. She lived in a nearby Benedictine convent until she was made superior of a new community in San Damiano. She practiced radical poverty by wearing no shoes, sleeping on the ground, and giving up meat.

Friday: Jane Frances de Chantal, religious (1572-1641), founded the Congregation of the Visitation with her spiritual advisor, Francis de Sales. This congregation was for women who wanted to live in religious life, but without the austerity of the other orders. Jane was married to a Baron with whom she had six children and she sought religious answers to her suffering. Her order established eighty-five convents dedicated to serving the poor before she died.

Saturday: Pontian, pope and martyr and Hippolytus, priest and martyr (d.236). Pontian's papacy was interrupted by a persecution when the Roman Emperor Maximinus arrested him and his rival, Hippolytus, and banished them to Sardinia. Pontian resigned so another pope could succeed him. Hippolytus, who formed a schismatic group and claimed to be the real pope, reconciled with the church before he and Pontian were martyred.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         Aug 7, 1814. The universal restoration of the Society of Jesus.

·         Aug 8, 1604. St Peter Claver takes his first vows at Tarracona.
·         Aug 9, 1762. The moving of the English College from St Omers to Liege.
·         Aug 10, 1622. Blessed Augustine Ota, a Japanese brother, was beheaded for the faith. He had been baptized by Blessed Camillus Costanzi on the eve of the latter's martyrdom.
·         Aug 11, 1846. The death of Benedict Joseph Fenwick. He was the second bishop of Boston, twice the president of Georgetown, and the founder of the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
·         Aug 12, 1877. The death of Fr. Maurice Gailland. He was an expert in languages and spent many years at St Mary's Mission in Kansas. He wrote a 450.page dictionary and grammar of the Potawatomi language.
·         Aug 13, 1621. The death in Rome of St John Berchmans. He died while still in studies, preparing for a public disputation.