St Ignatius and Our Work
If I could work like St Ignatius, I think I could accomplish everything God wants me to do.
Duh!
(Yes, I'm back on St Ignatius again.)
Just look at St Ignatius' life. Look at his turnaround from what he was to what he became. Look at how he worked hard to improve his mind and - more importantly - his soul; how he raised himself up (by the grace of God) from a mediocre sort to be the extraordinary man he became.
Notice I said "man" not saint. We know he was a saint. But sometimes we forget that he, like all saints, was human. He was a man at work, just as we are Catholic men at work. And work he did.
He founded and built the Society of Jesus - the Jesuits - from an new and obscure religious order to one of the greatest forces for good in the history of the Church.
(The glory of the Jesuits only makes it so much sadder to see what's happened to them in the last half century or so - a subject for another time.)
St Ignatius directed his original followers from his office in Rome. Before airplanes, cellphones and e-mail, he sent his men around the world to spread the Gospel. He took on the Protestant "Reformation" and defended the Pope and the Catholic Church, leading the "Counter-reformation." Each day he would receive and write letters from his Jesuits and provide advice and direction. Nothing kept him from his work.
Well, you've really got to read about this guy if you never have. Forget Steve Jobs, Donald Trump, Bill Gates and all those guys. St Ignatius founded what became the greatest organization in history. In fact, modern corporate executives study the Jesuits (or at least used to) to learn how to organize and run their companies. Yes, the Jesuits have served as a model for modern corporations.
With all his responsibilities running his growing organization, St Ignatius still found time to direct souls. He never neglected or overlooked the individual. He always remembered that his own spiritual life was most important.
In fact, St Ignatius may be a helpful model for us Catholic men who've lost our jobs and may have to change careers. When he decided to change his life from the mediocre, selfish life he once led to a life dedicated to Jesus Christ, his first step was to attend the University of Paris - in his '30's. He had no previous formal education. He learned Latin from scratch (necessary for an educated person in those days). He was an "old man" on campus. And, because he did not rely on his family for support, he was poor, always having to scrounge around for food, clothing and shelter.
What sustained him was his spiritual life, his relationship to Jesus Christ. His drive and ambition sprung from his love for Christ.
And all of this is possible for us. All of us can follow in his footsteps. All of us can turn from mediocrity to greatness - never mind change careers.
Do it for the love of Christ - for the greater glory of God, as St Ignatius always prayed - and you've just made your work "supernatural." You've taken the daily grind and elevated it to a spiritual plane. You're on your way to Heaven.
St Ignatius worked, just like we work. Once you make your work "supernatural" your work is just as important as his was. St Ignatius pray for us.
Duh!
(Yes, I'm back on St Ignatius again.)
Just look at St Ignatius' life. Look at his turnaround from what he was to what he became. Look at how he worked hard to improve his mind and - more importantly - his soul; how he raised himself up (by the grace of God) from a mediocre sort to be the extraordinary man he became.
Notice I said "man" not saint. We know he was a saint. But sometimes we forget that he, like all saints, was human. He was a man at work, just as we are Catholic men at work. And work he did.
He founded and built the Society of Jesus - the Jesuits - from an new and obscure religious order to one of the greatest forces for good in the history of the Church.
(The glory of the Jesuits only makes it so much sadder to see what's happened to them in the last half century or so - a subject for another time.)
St Ignatius directed his original followers from his office in Rome. Before airplanes, cellphones and e-mail, he sent his men around the world to spread the Gospel. He took on the Protestant "Reformation" and defended the Pope and the Catholic Church, leading the "Counter-reformation." Each day he would receive and write letters from his Jesuits and provide advice and direction. Nothing kept him from his work.
Well, you've really got to read about this guy if you never have. Forget Steve Jobs, Donald Trump, Bill Gates and all those guys. St Ignatius founded what became the greatest organization in history. In fact, modern corporate executives study the Jesuits (or at least used to) to learn how to organize and run their companies. Yes, the Jesuits have served as a model for modern corporations.
With all his responsibilities running his growing organization, St Ignatius still found time to direct souls. He never neglected or overlooked the individual. He always remembered that his own spiritual life was most important.
In fact, St Ignatius may be a helpful model for us Catholic men who've lost our jobs and may have to change careers. When he decided to change his life from the mediocre, selfish life he once led to a life dedicated to Jesus Christ, his first step was to attend the University of Paris - in his '30's. He had no previous formal education. He learned Latin from scratch (necessary for an educated person in those days). He was an "old man" on campus. And, because he did not rely on his family for support, he was poor, always having to scrounge around for food, clothing and shelter.
What sustained him was his spiritual life, his relationship to Jesus Christ. His drive and ambition sprung from his love for Christ.
And all of this is possible for us. All of us can follow in his footsteps. All of us can turn from mediocrity to greatness - never mind change careers.
Do it for the love of Christ - for the greater glory of God, as St Ignatius always prayed - and you've just made your work "supernatural." You've taken the daily grind and elevated it to a spiritual plane. You're on your way to Heaven.
St Ignatius worked, just like we work. Once you make your work "supernatural" your work is just as important as his was. St Ignatius pray for us.
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