An Ignatian Journal
with reflections
An Ignatian Journal with reflections
“ The world is charged
with the grandeur of God.”
Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.
REFLECT UPON GOD’S GRANDEUR:
“ If we could see the
miracle of a single flower clearly,
whole life would change.” our
Buddha
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“ We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We
spiritual beings
are having a human experience.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.
HOW DO I CONSIDER MYSELF A SPIRITUAL BEING?
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Discernment is a process for
making choices between several courses of action, all of which
are
potentially good.
It relies on the use of affect as well as intellect.
WHEN HAVE I RELIED ON INSTINCT BECAUSE IT “FELT” RIGHT TO HELP ME MAKE A DECISION?
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“ If it were not for injustice, man would know
not
justice.”
Heraclitus
WHAT DOES INJUSTICE MEAN TO ME? HOW DID I LEARN TO REGARD JUSTICE AS A SOCIAL VIRTUE?
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“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because are
if we
not grateful,
then no matter how much we have we will not be happy—because we will always want to have something else or something more.”
Br. David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B.
FOR WHAT AM I GRATEFUL?
“ You are precious in
my eyes. I honor you
and
love you.”
Isaiah 43:4
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“Each person must live their life
as a model for others.”
Rosa Parks
HOW AM I A MODEL FOR OTHERS?
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Cura personalis, which is Latin for
care of the whole person,
includes ourselves as well as others.
WHAT STEPS DO I TAKE TO CARE FOR MY “WHOLE PERSON”?
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“ From the days of Francis Xavier and Matteo Ricci to the time of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and the present, Jesuits have recognized the necessity of
engaging cultures in their service of faith.�
Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.
HOW DO I ENGAGE PEOPLE OF OTHER CULTURES?
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“Finding God in all things” is said to sum up ignatian spirituality. IN WHAT UNLIKELY PLACES, GREAT AND SMALL, HAVE I FOUND GOD?
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“Charity, a word that
comprises love
justice,
and may well be the most sublime of all Christian virtues.”
Diana Butler Bass
HOW AM I CHARITABLE? WHAT ARE OTHER SUBLIME VIRTUES?
“ What does the Lord require?
Only to act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with your God.”
Micah 6:8
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“Personal answers to ultimate questions.
That is what we seek.”
Alexander Eliot
WHAT ARE SOME ULTIMATE QUESTIONS I SEEK TO ANSWER?
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Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam WHAT DOES THE SOCIETY OF JESUS’ MOTTO “FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD” MEAN TO ME?
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“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, as
and as long I live,
it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”
George Bernard Shaw
WHAT ARE SOME OF MY EXPERIENCES WITH HELPING OTHERS IN MY COMMUNITY?
Service,
being men and women for others,
is an important Jesuit core value.
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“ Solidarity is learned through ‘contact’
rather than through ‘concepts’. When the
heart touched
is by direct experience, the mind may be challenged to change.”
Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.
WHAT “CONTACT” EXPERIENCES HAVE I HAD? HOW HAVE THEY CONTRIBUTED TO MY BEING A MAN/WOMAN FOR OTHERS?
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“Take courage, it is I;
do not be afraid.”
Matthew 14:27
WHEN HAVE I FOUND COURAGE THROUGH HOPE, FAITH AND BELIEF?
“ We must build dikes of
courage
to hold back the flood of fear.” Martin Luther King Jr.
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“ To stay in one place and watch the
seasons come and go is tantamount to constant travel: One is the
traveling with
earth.”
Marguerite Yourcenar
WHAT DO THE PASSING SEASONS MEAN TO ME? WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE NOW FOR WHICH THE TIMING SEEMS JUST RIGHT?
“ For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose
under the
heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
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“ Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in a love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything…
Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide Pedro Arrupe, S.J.
everything.”
REFLECT UPON THE POWER OF LOVE IN YOUR LIFE.
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“ I am careful not to confuse excellence with
perfection. Excellence, I can reach for;
perfection is God’s business.”
Michael J. Fox
HOW DO I REACH FOR EXCELLENCE?
Magis, which is Latin for “more” and a Jesuit core value, invites us to attain excellence in quality.
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“Those who dwell among the
beauties
mysteries
and of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” Rachel Carson
WHAT BEAUTIES AND MYSTERIES DO I DWELL AMONG?
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“Look for God’s fingerprints
in all that is studied, examined and reflected upon in life.” Msgr. Joseph Quinn Vice president for mission and ministry Fordham University
WHERE ARE GOD’S “FINGERPRINTS” IN MY LIFE?
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“ It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen; that is the common of
right humanity.”
Seneca the Elder
REFLECT UPON THIS QUOTE.
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…and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us…
Lord’s Prayer
WHEN HAVE I RECENTLY FORGIVEN SOMEONE WHO “TRESPASSED” AGAINST ME? WHAT DID I RECEIVE IN RETURN?
“ The weak can never
forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute
of
the
strong.”
Mahatma Gandhi
“ To forgive is the highest, most beautiful
form of love.”
Robert Muller
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“We are all pencils in the
hand of God.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
VOCATIONALLY, WHAT AM I GOOD AT DOING? WHAT DO I LIKE TO DO? DOES ANYBODY NEED ME TO DO IT?
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“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have
to see the whole staircase,
just take the first step.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
SOME OF MY “STAIR STEPS” OF FAITH CAN BE DESCRIBED AS:
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“Service is what life
is all about.”
Marian Wright Edelman
HOW DO I “MAINTAIN JUSTICE”?
“ Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly
do what is right.” Psalm 106:3
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“We [need to be] aware…of our temptations and fears, the consolations and
lights given to us by God
and the various movements that happen within us…”
Ignatius Loyola Spiritual Exercises 17
WHAT ARE MY TEMPTATIONS, FEARS AND GOD-GIVEN LIGHTS?
“ In quiet and trust you shall find
your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15
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“The sword of justice has no scabbard.”
Antione de Riveral
WHAT ARE SOME INJUSTICES THAT I OBSERVE DAY TO DAY?
The service of faith and promotion of social justice is an important Jesuit core value.
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“ How wonderful it is that nobody need
wait a single moment before starting to the
improve
world.”
Anne Frank
WHAT CAN I DO TODAY TO IMPROVE THE WORLD?
“ But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23a
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“An authentic life is the most
personal form of worship.
Everyday life has become my prayer.”
Sarah Ban Breathnach
WHAT ARE SOME OF MY EVERYDAY PRAYERS?
“ The Hopi Indians of
Arizona believe that our daily rituals and prayers literally keep this world spinning on its axis. For me, feeding the seagulls is one of those everyday prayers.”
Brenda Peterson
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“Ask and you will receive, so that your
joy may be full.”
John 16:24
WHAT IS IT THAT I MOST NEED FROM GOD?
“ When the solution is simple,
God is answering.” Albert Einstein
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“Faith is the bird that
feels the light
and when the dawn is still dark.”
sings
Rabindranath Tagore
HOW DO I METAPHORICALLY DESCRIBE MY FAITH?
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“O
you have searched me and you know
lord, me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” Psalm 139:1-4
WHAT IS MY REACTION TO BEING KNOWN SO COMPLETELY?
“God knows us
from within ourselves, not as objects, not as strangers, not as intimates, but as our own selves.” Thomas Merton
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“Lately I’ve been
runnin’ on faith.
What else can a poor boy do?” Jerry Lynn Williams
WHEN HAVE I FELT THAT I’VE “BEEN RUNNIN’ ON FAITH”? WHERE WAS GOD IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES?
“ Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”
Psalm 10:1
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“The Latin root for the word ‘perfect’ means
only ‘finished,’ not ‘without flaws’… doesn’t mean we be have to be perfect.”
to whole
Sue Bender
HOW AM I THE PERSON THAT GOD INTENDED ME TO BE?
“ The word ‘perfect’ really means,
be who God intended you to be;
be fully mature and ripe. That’s a much more inviting concept than our usual idea of perfect, which is rooted in perfectionism.” Kathleen Norris
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“As we serve others
we are working on ourselves
every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion
naturally nourishes HOW AM I OPEN TO COMPASSION FOR OTHERS?
...when we attend
to ourselves with compassion and mercy, more healing is made available for others. And when we serve others with an
great healing comes to us.�
open and generous heart, Wayne Muller
our own hearts as well. It is not a question of who is healed first...
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“Give no decision
till both sides
thou’st heard.”
Phocylides
WITH WHOM DO I HAVE TROUBLE BEING IN DIALOGUE?
“ Dialogue is the fundamental unfolding of a
gift of oneself
to another.” Pope Benedict XVI
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Jesuit education aims to develop people
of service and leadership faith.
What kind of a leader am I? As a team member, my strengths are‌ HOW AM I A SERVANT-LEADER?
Servant-leaders give priority attention to the needs of their colleagues and those they serve. Servant-leaders are humble stewards of human, financial and physical resources.
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“Good people are good because they’ve
come to wisdom through failure.”
William Saroyan
WHAT FAILURES IN MY LIFE HAVE BROUGHT ME WISDOM?
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“ Solidarity includes compassion, but it is more.
Solidarity is not only a spontaneous the that responds immediately, but also a decision to take action to join with, to form community with, those who are suffering…
movement of heart
HOW AM I A “WHOLE PERSON OF SOLIDARITY FOR THE REAL WORLD”?
…Solidarity takes place when a person or community not only sees a need and acts, but commits to follow up, to endeavor to see that action is taken to improve the other’s situation for the long run. Solidarity also includes a kind of mutuality that goes both ways in respect and accountability when the relationship grows. Solidarity becomes a two-way process because it becomes a relationship with both sides giving and receiving.” Marie J. Giblin
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“ The Ignatian vision…. • Sees life and the whole uni- • Cultivates critical awareness verse as a gift calling forth of personal and social evil, wonder and gratefulness; but points to God’s love as more powerful than any evil; • Gives ample scope to imagination and emotion as well • Stresses freedom, need for as intellect; discernment and responsible action; • Seeks to find the divine in all things—in all peoples • Empowers people to become and cultures, in all areas leaders in service, men and of study and learning, in women for others, whole every human experience, persons of solidarity, buildand, (for the Christian) ing a more just and humane especially in the person of world.” Jesus; George Traub, S.J.
WHICH SPEAKS MOST STRONGLY TO ME? WHY?
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“ The human race is challenged more than ever before to
demonstrate
mastery—
our not over nature but of ourselves.” Rachel Carson
HOW DO I CARE FOR NATURE AND EARTH’S RESOURCES?
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Take a few minutes to pray with the Examen. THANKSGIVING
What am I especially grateful for in the past day... The gift of another day? The love and support I have received? The courage I have mustered? An event that took place today?
PETITION
I am about to review my day; I ask for the light to know God and to know myself as God sees me.
REVIEW
Where have I felt true joy today? What has troubled me today? What has challenged me today? Where and when did I pause today? Have I noticed God’s presence in any of this?
RESPONSE
In light of my review, what is my response to the God of my life?
A LOOK AHEAD
As I look ahead, what comes to mind? With what spirit do I want to enter tomorrow?
MY REACTIONS DURING MY EXAMEN:
Ignatius Loyola considered the Examen the most important exercise a person could do each day.
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“ To be religious today is to be interreligious in the sense
that a positive relationship with believers of other faiths is a requirement of a world of religious pluralism. Believers of other religions…
have helped us to respect
the plurality of religions as the human response to God’s salvific work in peoples and cultures... HOW AM I INTERRELIGIOUS?
...we are all pilgrims
setting out to find God in human hearts.” Society of Jesus, General Congregation 34, “Our Mission and Interreligious Dialogue”
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A man eagerly described what he dreamed of doing for the poor. Said the Master, “When do you propose to make
your dream come true?”
“ As soon as the opportunity arrives.” “ Opportunity never arrives,” said the Master. “It’s here.” Anthony de Mello WHAT OPPORTUNITIES TO CARE FOR OTHERS DO I HAVE? WHAT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE I MISSED?
“ Great acts are made up of
small deeds.”
Lao Tzu
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“Ask and it will be given to you; and knock and the door will be opened to you...
seek
you will find;
WHAT DO I REQUEST AND SEEK? WHY? WHAT WILL BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR?
... For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks,
the door will
be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-9
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Howard Gray, S.J., offers a model of Ignatian spirituality that says:
“…Be attentive to reality; reverence and appreciate what you
and hear and feel see in all its particulars...
HOW AM I MOST AVAILABLE TO FIND GOD IN ALL THINGS?
...and then you
will find devotion or ‘consolation,’ the singularly moving way in
which God works in that situation.”
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“ We should all know that diversity makes
for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are in no matter what their color.”
equal value
Maya Angelou
WHAT IMAGES DO I CREATE WHEN CONSIDERING DIVERSITY IN MY LIFE?
“God decides
the number of stars and gives them all their names.” Psalm 147:4
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“Imagine what it is like for a child to
Pray for children who do.”
grow up in fear.
T.G. Wilhelm
HOW DO I UNDERSTAND GOD’S PRESENCE IN TRAUMA, SUFFERING AND INJUSTICE?
“ Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with
his presence.”
Paul Claudel
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Ignatius Loyola emphasized the importance of being prepared for
change and a changing world.
That sentiment is no less relevant today than it was 500 years ago. HOW DO I ACCEPT, PREPARE FOR AND MANAGE CHANGE?
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“A bone to the dog is not charity.
is Charity
the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.”
Jack London
WHAT DOES THIS PHRASE MEAN TO ME?
“Tomorrow’s ‘whole person’ cannot be whole without a welleducated solidarity.” Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.
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“ Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to
God’s deepening life in me.”
From the Principle and Foundation written by St. Ignatius Loyola Paraphrased by David L. Fleming, S.J.
REFLECT ON WHAT BEST LEADS YOU TO GOD AND WHAT DRAWS YOU AWAY FROM GOD.
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“Go forth and
set the world on fire.”
St. Ignatius Loyola
AS I LOOK BACK THROUGH MY PLANNER, WHAT HAVE I DISCOVERED ABOUT MYSELF? ABOUT GOD?
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