Friday July 31, 2020
Steven Falci
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, the order of Roman Catholic priests known as the Jesuits. St. Ignatius’ enduring gift to all Christians is a spirituality that fosters a deeper awareness of God’s presence in our lives and guides our discernment of what God is calling us to do with the gifts God has bestowed on each of us. It has been described as a pragmatic spirituality that strives to develop Contemplatives in Action and Women and Men for Others.
You may have had the chance to learn about Ignatian Spirituality in the wonderful Advent series last December led by Anne, Nathan and Nicole.
Central to Ignatian Spirituality is Finding God in all Things, guiding us to greater awareness of God’s action in all our daily encounters with people, events and all of God’s creation. It also helps us recognize that faith and God are interwoven through all aspects of our lives. This was an area I especially needed help. While I treasure being a husband and father and value my career as a sustainable investor and involvement in ministries in my faith communities, I tended to consider them as separate areas of my life. Ignatian spirituality (aided by a loving kick in the butt from a wise spiritual director😊) helped me see the interconnectedness of God’s action in all areas of my life and helps my struggle to discern God’s direction more holistically.
Discernment is hard work. It is a struggle for me. Finding God in all Things amid all that is going on in our global society, our individual day to day lives, joys, sorrow and pressures is challenging. But make no mistake about it, God is there! Ignatian Spirituality can help sift through the cacophony that can envelop our lives and slow us down to take the time to consider the actions of God in our day to day lives and what God may be calling us to do.
The daily Examen is a prayer St. Ignatius has given us to reflect on the events of our busy days to identify where God may have been present and discern God’s direction for us. Below is one version of an Examen from the website https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/:
1. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.
2. Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.
3. Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?
God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Make note of these sins and faults. But look deeply for other implications. Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out to her in some way.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.
5. Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.
The Examen may over time bring clarity for big decisions like a career change, but it can also make us aware of ways to be more present to attend to immediate needs of our families and community now. For me, it also provides loving consolation that God is continually present in all things and that God has patience with me as I struggle to seek God’s direction.