In the Present Tense

The Australian Jesuits recently published a 2018 poem of Caleb Ryan. Mr. Ryan is a religious education teacher; he “was part of a Jesuit Leadership Pilgrimage that saw him and a group of his peers walk in the footsteps of Ignatius through France, Spain and Italy.”

“A Basque Man Who Came to Know God” describes St. Ignatius of Loyola conversion story. It also considers the life-pilgrimage of Jesus as well as contemporary people with the goal of becoming “suitably free.”

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Image of O.L. of Montserrat at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, Bloomifield Hills, MI by PDP

Jesuit Perspective

The global Society of Jesus tweeted the statement, Jesuit College & University Presidents Call for End to Violence, regarding the tragic events that marred the Electoral College certification on 06 January in Washington, D.C. Several links to the individual colleges and universities are available at the statement. Related statements are at some of those sites.

"We call for a recommitment to the ideals of fairness, justice, racial equity, and inclusion to which our nation aspires today."https://t.co/jpmI0r83nx

— Society of Jesus (@JesuitsGlobal) January 8, 2021

Faithful Civic Engagement

The Society of Jesus in Canada and the U.S. released a  document to help practitioners of Ignatian spirituality engage their ”shared political life” at local, state, provincial and federal levels. In his introductory letter to the document Fr. Kesicki noted that “‘Contemplation and Political Action’ is not a voter guide.… Instead, it applies our tradition of Ignatian spirituality to our shared political life.”

"Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement" shows us how we can live our faith through political action: https://t.co/OxBYLSjhD8 pic.twitter.com/cNiXLOseES

— Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ (@FrTimSJ) September 16, 2020

Today’s Jesuit Saint

Although the celebration of Sunday takes precedence on most feasts and memorials of saints, room for devotion to a day’s saint abides. In the opinion of St. Ignatius of Loyola St. Pierre Favre gave the Spiritual Exercises better than anyone. Edel McClean helps us appreciate Pierre’s personal qualities.

Edel McClean introduces today's #saint, an early #Jesuit who was admired by all who knew him but plagued by self-doubt: #PierreFavre. https://t.co/LNqpIlXmer

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) August 2, 2020

Another Resource

The Jesuits of Britain have been using Zoom to help people meditate. Included with the scheduled one is a link to past meditations.

Whether you are new to Ignatian meditation or a past-master ,come and join us online every Wednesday at 8pm for IMAGINE.

Watch previous sessions on the IMAGINE YouTube channel : https://t.co/y6cvyKjagU

Sign up to our Imagine mailing list:https://t.co/2zlksBiq2p pic.twitter.com/WV4r0X6kH1

— Jesuits in Britain (@JesuitsBritain) July 14, 2020

Jesuit Ordinations in Rome

Jesuit Cardinal Michael Czerny ordained 18 deacons and 2 priests in the Basilica of St. Peter.

Vatican II taught that all the baptized are called “to share in the mission and ministry of the church,” said Cardinal Czerny, adding that “ordained ministry does not exhaust or monopolize this ministry," https://t.co/cEa0xWg7SU via @americamag

— Paul Panaretos (@PDPswim) June 27, 2020

Sacred Heart: Entering the Solemnity

T hinking Faith just posted an archived item by Jesuit James Hanvey. In it he “explains why this devotion will always be central to the life of the Church and why it is the foundation of our intimacy with Christ.”

The devotion to the #SacredHeart is the foundation of our intimacy with Christ. ‘Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, has a heart… With him it is always personal.’ https://t.co/Jr4WlJPpn2

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) June 19, 2020

Trial for Assassination Killings

The defendant is the former Vice-Minister of Public Security in El Salvador where six Jesuits and their housekeeper and her daughter were killed. On 8-10 June the Spanish court completed its first “block” of the trial. The second block will begin on 08 July. In addition to securing justice for 8 people murdered, “demonstrates the need to reinstitute rules that will allow the effective exercise of Universal Jurisdiction.”

The trial for the killings of Ignacio Ellacuría, Ignacio Martín-Baró, Amando López, Joaquín López y López, Juan Ramón Moreno, Segundo Montes, their housekeeper and her daughter, Elba Julia Ramos and Celina Maricet Ramos, began in Spain on Monday 8 June. https://t.co/jRDGny5NOu pic.twitter.com/i5cwStXJSO

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) June 11, 2020

In Memoriam

Jesuit Bishop George Murray died yesterday. He had battled leukaemia.

“American Catholics have shown a lack of moral consciousness on the issue of race. If we are to be true to the principles on which our country was founded and the principles on which our faith is based, we must do much more.” -Bishop George Murry, SJ. RIP.https://t.co/yJsA69K8HY pic.twitter.com/iCRAN4e30n

— Jesuit News (@jesuitnews) June 6, 2020

Difficult Litany

The disease of racism compounds the suffering of African-Americans. “As a Black man living in America,” Jesuit Patrick Saint-Jean leads a cry for breath, recognition and respect.

We must listen to and see the reality of Black America. "Perhaps all white people need to find a way to better train their ears and eyes to adequately see and hear black people." @PatrickSaintJe4. Read more here: https://t.co/nBJHyIbAvT#GeorgeFloyd #Racism #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/fEK6Lh16PQ

— The Jesuit Post (@TheJesuitPost) May 30, 2020

“Enjoy Silence”

Three questions and two minutes with Jesuit Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, who died today.

In 2016, I asked Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, what he would tell someone just starting out in the life of prayer. His answer: "Enjoy silence." Here is two minutes with a great Jesuit priest and spiritual master. https://t.co/iKdi3lbZc9

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) May 20, 2020

In Memoriam

Jesuits and their friends and colleagues mourn the death of their former General Superior.

The prayer card for Fr. Nicolás, @TheJesuits' 30th Superior General, who died today at age 84. Please remember him in your prayers. https://t.co/cth276exHr pic.twitter.com/DeFxMNQodn

— Jesuit News (@jesuitnews) May 20, 2020

God Cherishes Deeds

Genuinely caring what another thinks, cherishing the actions of another: the result of both is a deeper relationship. It is so with God. Ignatian praying allows one to feel God cherishing, respecting, vivifying oneself. Spiritual director Tim McEvoy considered a dictum of St. Ignatius of Loyola: actions for others exceed words. Praying allows actors to notice and share God's delight. 

How does @Pontifex call us to transform our culture in order to care for our common home in #Laudatosi? https://t.co/9gpKaUrJQd

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 16, 2020

Network of Listeners

The Jesuit Province of Canada recently launched “Talk to a Friend.” It is a network of listeners (French and English and a few other languages) from across the various Jesuit apostolates. The initiative seeks to accompany “people who are suffering because of” the pandemic. Following the link leads to detailed information and how to use “Talk to a Friend.”

Homeless Are Not Invisible

Pope Francis said in his recent interview

the poor are hidden, because poverty is bashful. In Rome recently, in the midst of the quarantine, a policeman said to a man: “You can’t be on the street, go home.” The response was: “I have no home. I live in the street.” To discover such a large number of people who are on the margins … And we don’t see them, because poverty is bashful. They are there but we don’t see them: they have become part of the landscape; they are things.

In Detroit Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church and the University of Detroit-Mercy are not shy to see the homeless. The Church is home to the Pope Francis Center. The Center made a creative move to keep people healthy and still offer showers to those who are homeless.

The #Jesuits' @popefranciscnt has opened mobile showers in a @detmercy parking lot for the homeless to use during the pandemic. https://t.co/7eQMcuXjoy

— Midwest Jesuits (@MidwestJesuits) April 16, 2020

No One Is Not Affected

Everyone is adversely affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Individuals experience personal and household financial losses as well as mobile constraints. Individuals constitute various groupings—government, business, academic, charitable, faith. One faith group is a religious order. 

Yesterday the Curia (headquarters) of the Society of Jesus posted a brief report on its daily operations. Despite the changes in executing its mission, the mission of the Society of Jesus has not changed. It continues “bringing the consolation, hope and healing of the Risen Lord.”

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Wiki-image St. Aloysius stained glass by “Nheyob | CC BY-SA 4.0"

Half Hour with Dr. Anthony Fauci, MD

Dr. Fauci was a member of the Class of 1958 at Regis High School, New York City. In June 2019 he spoke to alums of the school about his education, his career with National Institutes of Health, working with presidents, medical care and public health.

A more detailed story appeared today in ncronline.org.

Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus

Jesuit General Superior Fr. Arturo Sosa promulgated the Universal Apostolic Preferences for the next decade. He summarized them in this video.            

Education, Retreat, Transformation

Tweeted by U.S. Catholic:

“My Jesuit education transformed my life and…I truly believe I have been prepared to lead an extraordinary life with the education that can only be offered at a Jesuit school.”

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Wiki-image by Amerique CC BY 3.0

Not Extras

Canadian novelist Robertson Davies turned a phrase that warrants repeated appreciation: “Any theologian understands martyrdom, but only the martyr experiences the fire.” [The Manticore (Viking Press, 1976), p. 101.] It reminds that understanding is not as prized as many insist. Martyrs defy being understood—vexing to any for whom understanding is supreme.

     “A somewhat dissenting voice” reviewing recently released “Silence” did not consider its numerous martyrs to be movie-extras but more central than its protagonist. The review returned Robertson Davies’ apothegm to the present to be appreciated again.

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Wiki-image by Hisenv of ABUNZE KAIGAM CC BY-SA 4.0