The Spiritual Exercises and discernment are instruments for a renewed apostolic zeal in the service of the faith, particularly in a context of growing and more widespread secularization. By following more intently the way of Christ, we are called to show Christ as the Way.
1. As I begin my prayer, I ask for the Grace: of being an ever more effective instrument to bring others to God.
2. I am inspired by the example of John the Baptist, who leads others to Jesus.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. (Jo 1: 35-37)
3. The Formula of the Institute defines the Society as a pathway to God for each Jesuit.
Whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God beneath the banner of the cross in our Society, which we desire to be designated by the name of Jesus, ... take care, as long as he lives, first of all to keep before his eyes God and then the nature of this Institute which is, so to speak, a pathway to God [1]
4. I let myself be challenged by the desires expressed in the first UAP.
“We resolve to collaborate with the Church in experiencing secular society as a sign of the times that affords us the opportunity to renew our presence in the heart of human history.”
“We want to invite all people to follow the path opened up by Jesus of Nazareth, a path on which we ourselves are walking, following in his footsteps, encouraged by his Spirit.”
“We want to share with others the most fundamental discovery of our lives, namely, that discernment and the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius show the way to God. We need to follow the call to deepen our knowledge and experience of Ignatian spirituality, and we want to do so out of a living faith that is incarnate and consistent, a faith nourished by familiarity with God that is the fruit of a life of prayer, a faith that enters into dialogue with other religions and with all cultures. Our faith is manifested in works of justice and reconciliation...”
- How do I live my life as a pathway to God?
- How may we use Ignatian spirituality to respond to secular society as an opportunity to bring others to God?
I consider these questions and talk about them with the Lord.
5. Following my prayer, I reread section A of Fr. General’s letter Feb. 2019 "To show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment" (p. 2).