Day 2 of #31DaysWithIgnatius

#day2of31withIggy: The #sun is setting on 2 July 2016; Election Day in#Australia. This goes out with a #prayer for peace, for guidance and adherence to the #HolySpirit; indeed the good spirits that #StIgnatius teaches us about following, under the banner of #Christ.

The right to #vote is something I take seriously, and something I am so grateful for, since so many in the world are denied a voice for effective change. I bring to mind the #asylumseekers and#refugees who’ve ran from their homelands to seek a safe haven in Oz, especially those locked up and denied#freedom. May God rouse our leaders to compassion, righteousness and love under the values of all that is holy and good. Ad majorem Dei gloriam.

#31dayswithIgnatius #findingiggy#IgnatianSpirituality #spex #fcjasau #fcj#sunset #nature #phonephotography#nofilter #amdg

 

In celebration of Ignatian Spirituality, and to mark the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (31 July), I have taken on the challenge of posting a picture a day that speaks to me of the lessons learned from all things ‘Ignatian’. Here it is, as posted on Instagram (@fcjAustralia).

Day 1 of #31DayswithIgnatius

In celebration of Ignatian Spirituality, and to mark the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (31 July), I have taken on the challenge of posting a picture a day that speaks to me of the lessons learned from all things ‘Ignatian’. Here it is, as posted on Instagram (@fcjAustralia):

#day1of31withiggy: One of the first things I learnt about Ignatian spirituality was the gift of #noticing. Yesterday I noticed this tiny #leaf on the ground, dotted with #raindrops. I lost some trying to pick up said leaf, but was still able to delight in its wonder.

10 Ideas for Lent

Our friends at IgnatianSpirituality.com have compiled a list of ten ways you could choose from to deepen your Lenten journey.

As we begin with Ash Wednesday, a heartfelt wish and blessing to each one of you. May God enter your lives and may your hearts be close to God.

10 Ideas for Lent

News: My Image of the Sacred Heart

To me, that an organ such as the human heart can be both pierced and alive at the same time is nothing short of a miracle. | Geralyn Anderson

Read the full article at: dotMagis, the blog of IgnatianSpirituality.com

The Shared Work of Friendship

It was Aristotle who observed that authentic friendship had to begin with shared work toward the good. | Tim Muldoon

What might this mean? Friendship, authentic friendship, indeed love, has to be founded on the basis of shared work toward the good. The emphasis on the nature of things shared is an important qualification, since sharing requires among other virtues, that of humility. In sharing, we say to the other, “I entrust to you, a part of what I have,” because to hold on and to keep for oneself is just that – for oneself only. How often we observe in children this dynamic at work when we encourage them to share! Some give happily, letting what they have go to another, trusting that the toy or object will return to them. Others more reluctantly cling on to the object, afraid that if they give up what they have, it’ll be lost from them forever. Learning to share is a lifelong task of refinement that also requires patience.

To share is to give a part of oneself to another. Image source: Mom 2 BB Reviews

How might shared work contribute to friendship? To have an aim, a cause, a goal, a desire, a dream or a vision for one’s life or worldview is worthwhile, but to let someone else in on that is to entrust another with a certain care and responsibility for a part of that which is near to you, and a part of you. This, I believe, is what Ignatius wrote, taught and practiced: that love ought to be shown more in deeds than in words. [Spiritual Exercises #230] To let another walk with you in this life, to share in the journey together is indeed an act of friendship and love, as much as is accompanying another. True love works mutually in the exchange of giving and receiving. It is breaking bread with one another.

Prayer:
Loving God, help me to see the good to which I’m called to work. Help me to share in this work, that with the grace of humility I may let go. Give me the courage to say ‘yes’ to you in accompanying another, and the humility to let them accompany me. Help me to enter ever more deeply into your invitation of friendship and love. Amen.

—–
Editor’s note: The rest of Timothy Muldoon’s insight may be found here.

Why Ignatian Spirituality is Appealing for Young People

Timothy Muldoon, professor at Boston College shares his thoughts on why Ignatian spirituality is appealing, but also, helpful for young people.

To paraphrase, Ignatian spirituality is asking the big questions (What do I want in life? Do I have a purpose?) but it is also the practice of asking and the practice of answering these big questions.

“It’s not intellectual,” says Muldoon. “It’s not about ideas. It’s about what you do.”

• Do you reflect?
  Do you stop?
  Do you really pay attention to people and see them as really other human beings?
  Are you able to name what’s happening when you love someone?
  Are you able to say ‘Why is it that I have a great desire to make art, or write words or music or whatever it is…’?

The Ignatian tradition invites us to answer these questions so we may become more fully who God first desired us to be.