July Week 3
Virtue: Devotion
Resolution: I choose to practice spiritual disciplines to nurture my relationship with Christ.
Human Story: Ignatius of Antioch ( - 108/140)
Ignatius was born into a noble, though not wealthy, family in Spain a year before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Ignatius (Inigo) was the youngest of eleven children. Around the age of 16, his father was near death, so Inigo decided to become a page (an aspiring knight) - a transition that meant Inigo would leave his family and submit himself to the instruction of others.
During this phase of life Inigo became fascinated with the idea of chivalry and conquest, and when his time came to enlist in the Spanish army, he joined right in, becoming known for brawling, dueling, gambling, and sensual relationships with women. When he was about 26, Inigo was wounded in battle by a cannonball. This near fatal injury severely broke his right leg, tearing his calf muscle, and hurt his left leg too. For the rest of his life, he would walk with a limp. In the months following this misfortune, he was bedridden, requiring constant care back home in Loyola. One day he asked for a book about knights and romance, the focus of his life to up until then, but the house had no such books. Instead he was brought two books - one on the Life of Christ and the other on the Lives of the Saints. Inigo found himself enamored with these stories and quickly lost interest in the lusts of his youth and his vainglory self-righteous pursuits.
While he was still recovering, he had a dream where he encountered Mary, the Mother of Jesus, whose presence struck him with awe and immense joy. After recovering from his injury, he arranged to travel to Jerusalem to make pilgrimage to all of the holy sites. Before embarking from the port of Barcelona, he stopped in at a local monastery in order to exchange his knight’s armor for that of a pilgrim-beggar. However, he got totally distracted by the life of the monks. They shared with Inigo a book that would forever change his life - Manual of the Spiritual Life by monastic reformer Garcia Jimenez de Cisneros. So instead of heading to Israel as he had planned, he remained near the monastery for almost a year, cultivating his own spiritual life. After this year of largely self-guided discipleship, Ignatius eventually made his way to Jerusalem where he quickly realized his own lack of wisdom in missionary efforts. He vowed to become a priest.
During the ten years it took him to become ordained, Ignatius began sharing his "Spiritual Exercises" with others. A total of 10 men formed an unofficial group that became known for working in hospitals, preaching the Gospel, hearing confessions, teaching the “Exercises,” sheltering the oppressed, and feeding victims of the plague. The pope heard of their work, and called on them to help take on the reformation of monasteries.
Ignatius became the leader of this newly formed "Society of Jesus" (now known as Jesuits) which is currently the largest Catholic monastic order in the world. His book Spiritual Exercises, which was foundational to the new order, is intended to be a practical, month-long instruction focused on the following four categories:
Week 1. Contemplation of our sin and God's saving love
Week 2. The life of Jesus, particularly His public ministry
Week 3. The passion week and death of Jesus
Week 4. The risen Christ
References
Fleming, D. (1980). The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius: A Literal Translation and A Contemporary Reading. St. Louis, MO: The Institute of Jesuit Sources.
O'Malley, W. (1976). The Fifth Week. Chicago, IL: Loyola University Press.
Butler's Lives of the Saints: New Full Edition. Revised by Peter Doyle. (2000). Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press.
Lesson: Luke 18:9-14
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
The truth of this parable can be succinctly summarized by the final phrase - "...all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." This teaching can be found throughout all four Gospels and the entire New Testament. In fact, without this theme being demonstrated by Christ and exhibited by the early church founders, Christianity wouldn't be what it is today. This quintessential virtue is a bedrock to our faith. Without it, we would all be lost! But what can we learn from these two contrasting men Jesus highlights in the parable?
First, let's look at the Pharisee. Despite his wrong posture, look for a moment at his level of commitment: fasting twice a week and tithing a tenth of all his income. What we’re observing here is a person who is legitimately "devoted" to God in some ways. But his heart is not right. There is a lack of compassion and empathy towards others, as well as an incorrect view of God's grace and mercy. All of his prayer and devotion are for naught because of his attitude.
Second, let's look at the tax collector. In those days, a tax collector would likely have been an extortionist. But that is who Jesus chooses to highlight as the good-guy in the story, noting his proper posture toward himself (his sins) and God's grace and mercy. Not that Jesus condoned his lifestyle, but He wanted to show the Jewish elites and the religious authorities that their self-righteousness was wrong.
How does this parable tie into our month's virtue of "devotion"? It is not enough to be merely devoted; the Pharisee was certainly devoted. Instead, in our devotion we must have the right posture of heart, the right attitude toward others, and the right view of God. We must, in short, be humble in our devotion.
Remembrance
A Prayer of Ignatius
Traditional version - "Anima Christi"
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me;
Within thy wounds, hide me;
Suffer me not to be separated from thee;
From the malignant enemy defend me;
In the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come to thee,
That with thy saints I may praise thee
Forever and ever. Amen.
Contemporary Version - "Soul of Christ"
Jesus, may all that is you flow into me.
May your body and blood be my food and drink.
May your passion and death be my strength and life.
Jesus, with you by my side enough has been given.
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross.
Let me not run from the love which you offer,
But hold me safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my dyings shed your light and your love.
Keep calling to me until that day comes,
When, with your saints, I may praise you forever. Amen
Challenge
Practice the “Daily Examen” (one of Ignatius’ famous methods of prayer).
Give thanks to God for all the blessings you have received today.
Ask for the grace and help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten you to know and see your sin as he sees it - and cast it out.
Go back over the events of this day - reviewing your thoughts, words, and acts - trying to detect any sinful behavior - whether of omission or commission - and examine the roots of any identified sin(s).
Express sorrow and ask for God’s healing love to forgive you.
Pray for the strength of God’s grace to help change/amend your life.
Reflection
Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. It is certainly a higher virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one. -St. Ignatius
Further Growth
2021: Book of Common Prayer Proper 11
Old Testament: Isaiah 57:14-21
Psalm: Psalm 22:23-31
New Testament: Ephesians 2:11-22
Gospel: Mark 6:30-44
2020: Book of Common Prayer Proper 14
Old Testament: Wisdom* 12:13-19
Psalm: Psalm 86
New Testament: Romans 8:18-25
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43
*Apocryphal text