St.Ignatius of Loyola
Readings:
Jeremiah 15:10,16-21
Matthew 13:44-46
Reflection
A Star trooper and Swashbuckler find the Kingdom
As a fierce preacher and “doomsayer,” out of the class of “We’ll all be ruined, says
Hanrahan”, Jeremiah, having cursed the day he was born, continues slaying the “proud and haughty” with his words until he is finally assured that “I am with you to save and rescue”.
As a young man, Inigo was decked out in his armour and sword a proud knight for God who was quickly brought to his knees. Severely wounded in battle and during recovery in the family castle, was introduced to spiritual Giants when his sister-in-law gave him the Lives of the Saints” instead of the Lives of his Heroic Knights, to feed his ambition Inspired by lives of the Greats, Dominic and Francis, Ignacius decided that he could do that too and be great.
So he plunged into ascetic practice and decided that education was a way to success. At the University of Paris, he gathered 6 companions and soon after went to the Pope to approve his new “Contemplation and Action Oriented Religious Order,” only to be jailed by the Inquisition for blasphemy and excommunicated. The decree was never published due to the intervention of the Countess of Russia. Thus, the “Jesuits” survived.
Taking on the name of “Jesuits” the group were derided and scorned. Famously even John Adams in a letter to Jefferson, warned him of the impending unwelcome approach of the Jesuits to this shore
An old Jesuit was once asked if he was going to heaven, and he replied’ I know I am a friend of Jesus, but I am so not sure about that Ignatius! “ Against all odds, Jeremiah is now honoured; Ignatius is sainted; and he has found the hidden Treasure and the Pearl of great price, giving up all to carry forward the Kingdom they found, captured and shared
Are we seekers? What have we found?? Can we be sure?? How do we share?
David Peter Folkes is a former Passionist Priest who resigned and married with 2 children and 2 grandchildren living in Chicago. He is mostly involved with refugee resettlement and racial equity issues.