THE SWORD, THE STAR, AND THE SEAL OF ST. IGNATIUS

Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ

Ignatius High School July 2010

Today, as we celebrate the feast of our founder, our patron saint, the father of Jesuits and thus the father of all Ateneans, St. Ignatius of Loyola, let us focus on three things that I think defined who he was, and that could define who he can be for us today. Three things: the sword of Ignatius, the star of Ignatius, and the seal of Ignatius.

First the sword of St. Ignatius. One of the most popular images of Ignatius, as we know, is his offering of his sword to the Virgin of Montserrat. The sword meant a lot to him. It defined who he was: a soldier missioned to protect his king, a soldier who will fight battles for the Crown, a soldier who will give his life for the Spanish kingdom of his time. The sword represented the life he has been living as a young man, filled with vanity and ambition, consumed with pride and personal glory, prestige and power. Yet as we know from the story of Ignatius, after his conversion in Loyola he decided to leave this life behind and follow God wherever God may be calling him. This meant saying goodbye to his being a soldier. It meant giving away his expensive clothes, and in its place, wearing a poor man’s robe. It meant surrendering his sword, during a whole night vigil or prayer, kneeling in front of the Black Madonna in the Chapel of Montserrat in Spain. In doing so he gave his life – single-heartedly – to God, and to God alone. And almost like saying, I am yours, it is up to you, take me, and lead me where you want me to go. He knew, he was certain, that he was being called to something greater.

When we see the sword of Ignatius, when we think about it, perhaps we can also think about our own swords, the swords of our own personal lives. What are the things that we have that define who we are, our passions, things that we can, yes, give up, offer to God, in place for something greater, something better, something more. Could our swords be our material things, the stuff that we tend to accumulate and are in excess of, like perhaps cellphones and computers, games and gadgets, clothes and clutter. Such that if we let go of them, we simplify our lives, and when we simplify our lives, we become closer to God. Or perhaps, could our swords be those that are great about our selves, like talents and gifts, like things we are good at, academics, sports, music, making friends, being good leaders, and being good followers too, and how about our precious time and energy – things valuable to us, which we can offer to God, so that God can use them toward something greater. Something greater like using our talents and gifts for others, for service of the poor. Remember that God still used the soldier in Ignatius, and called him to fight not anymore for the human king, but for Christ the King, for God’s kingdom, over the forces of evil in the world. In your lives, dear students, what do you think is your sword? What is your passion? What can you offer to God? What can you sacrifice to God so He can transform it, use it, for something greater, something for the betterment of others, for the betterment of the world. What is the sword that you can offer and surrender?

Second, the star of Ignatius. Ignatius was a busy man. His typical day was devoted to so many things: listening and talking to people, helping the poor and the hungry, raising funds, getting the support of the rich and powerful men and women, writing letters to the first Jesuits, to Popes, bishops, kings, and queens. He must have been very tired at the end of each day. At nighttime, Ignatius would stop, go out to the veranda of his room, and look up to the heavens, and gaze at the stars. Ignatius was a star-gazer. Star-gazing kept him quiet. It kept quiet his mind, his heart, his soul, after a tiring, noisy and busy day. More than this, star-gazing gave Ignatius some insight and perspective. It made him see that he is part of something infinitely bigger and greater. When he gazes at the stars, the infinite horizon, he realizes how small we are in the vast expanse of the universe. And this renders him silent. He is awed. He is humbled. It made him see that there is a greater power to all the things of the world. It made him see God, the greater power, loving and caring for us, small creatures of this planet. It made him feel grateful that he is still alive, kept alive and happy by God.

When we see the star of Ignatius, when we think of it, can we also think of our own stars. What are the things in our lives that keep us quiet, reflective, silent, prayerful? Perhaps, our teachers, the Jesuits, the required prayer periods, the required masses like this one? I hope not only these. I hope other things like a time we set aside for ourselves, not being forced to do so, alone, silent, perhaps in our rooms, or in any quiet places, nothing and no one to disturb us, where we can reflect, where we can pray. Jesuits call this contemplation. It focuses our mind, our heart, our soul. It connects us to our God, and like Ignatius, it gives us light, perspective, happiness, in the middle of our very busy schedules, in the middle of the so many things we do in our lives.

Can our friends be our stars? Like the friends in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies. Remember Toy Story? How Andy realized toward the end of the movie that his old toys, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jesse, Rex, Slinky Dog, Mr and Mrs Potato Head, are really his friends, friends who have taught him the value of love, loyalty, even sacrifice. In the same way, our dear parents, our family, our teachers, our classmates, our administrators – they can be our stars, giving us light amid darkness and confusion, joy amid our sadness, helping us pray. They are stars who make us choose life, as we have heard in the second reading a while ago. Do we feel grateful for these stars in our lives? Have we thanked them in one way or the other?

And now, the third, the seal of St. Ignatius. In the time of Ignatius, seals were very important. All noble families, like Ignatius’ own, the Loyolas, have their own emblems or seals. The Loyolas have the famous seal of two wolves feeding on a pot of food, which showed abundance, sharing, and generosity, there was enough food to share, even to the wolves. When Ignatius became the head, or the General of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, he had to write thousands of letters – more than 7000 letters actually – to Jesuits and other people. He used a symbol to seal and stamp with wax the letters he sent all over the world. His seal bears the first three letters of the name of Jesus, IHS. It became the seal of the Society of Jesus.

When we look at the seal of Ignatius and the Jesuits, think about and reflect on your own seal. If you were to draw, or create a seal for yourself, how will it look like. What images will it contain? Will it have animals like wolves? Or initials and symbols? I am sure that many of you have made such visual representations of yourselves. In our modern-day pop technological jargon, we call them Avatars, like those we use for yahoo emails. In Facebook we can choose any type of profile picture, and represent ourselves with cartoons, photos, notes, links, and others. In the dazzling world of computer games like the amazingly phenomenal DOTA or Defense of the Ancients, we can choose our favorite heroes – Zeus, Naix, or Lina Inverse from all of 97 heroes, sentinels or scourge, level-up in experience, strength, agility, intelligence, craft our game plan, strategies and tactics, or in Guitar Hero, select and synchronize our favorite rhythms, songs and artists. We can construct our own personal websites, webspaces, chatrooms, games, rules, and others. The possibilities – creative and exciting – are endless in terms of defining ourselves today, introducing, presenting ourselves to the big world. And yet, the question remains: who are we, who shall we be, who do we want to be. In the Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples: who do people say that I am? The question of identity confronts us. Are we real or virtual? Actual or imagined? Are we portraying our selves as we are now, or as we wish to be in the future? Who do you say you are? Who do people say you are?

In the case of Ignatius, he chose his identity to be simple, uncomplicated, yet deep and profound. He chose his identity, his avatar, his hero, to be near, to be close, to the identity of Jesus. Jesus, simply, profoundly Jesus. The first Jesuits named their group in honor of Jesus, the Compaña de Jesus. They wanted themselves, their identities to be near that of Jesus, so that they will not wander far and forget who they are. Perhaps whenever we see the seal of Ignatius and the Jesuits, we can reflect on our own personal seals, symbols, images, our heroes, our profiles, and our avatars. Do we identify with Jesus as Ignatius did? Or do we identify with someone else, with something else?

And so, dear students, dear faculty and staff, in this feast of our founder, St. Ignatius, let us reflect on his legacy and his spirit, a legacy and spirit that remains alive today, almost five centuries after. His sword, his star, his seal. Our own swords, stars, and seals. His spirit and tradition. Alive and burning in our community here in Ateneo. Alive and burning in our hearts.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.

ATENEO HIGH SCHOOL

ST. IGNATIUS FEAST DAY MASS

29 July 2010

Novena Mass Reflection Day 6 :Ignatius at Paris

Hello! We continue this morning with our novena sharing, reflecting this time on Ignatius’ experience in Paris. As many of us may already know, Ignatius went to Paris to study at the not-so-young-age of 37. For the students, if you think studying and learning is hard now, imagine when you are 37 years old memorizing facts, names and dates, staying up late to learn new concepts, taking quizzes and long tests, struggling while all your other classmates are in the prime of their lives with clear minds, good memories and youthful energy. Some of your teachers can probably attest to the fact that studying is much harder when one is much older. It is a humbling experience to say the least.

Now, despite this “disadvantage,” Ignatius saw the importance of a good education to be able to serve God well. How could he teach or preach if he did not know the material in the first place? So he went for studies even at his advanced age. Of course, he had to go to the #1 university in Europe at that time, the University of Paris. At 37, attending the best university – he definitely had a hard time. But to be fair, his roommates, Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, probably studied hard as well – the whole class did. Though, perhaps some, like Ignatius, studied more than the others. But all of them went through the same Parisian educational system where the students would be given a subject to master; there would be a lot of exercises and exams, over and over again until they mastered it; only then would they move to the next topic, and to the next, and so on and so forth. For seven years they toiled together. And as you can probably guess, Ignatius, Faber and Xavier and all their other classmates emerged from such a demanding and challenging experience with more than just a doctorate degree – they emerged as close friends, companions.

I think many of you can relate to this. May it be a difficult subject, a demanding teacher or one of the many class projects – it’s hard, it pushes every one of you, but in the end, when all has been said and done, you’ve not only learned a new skill or concept, you’ve also learned more about those who struggled with you: you classmates. After three or four years in the same class, you cannot but know each other well.

If I may be bluntly honest this morning, I must say that I am going through such an experience right now. As some of you might know, I’m a Jesuit candidate living in Arvisu House. I and my fellow candidates are being given a taste of what it means, what it entails to be a Jesuit. It’s not easy. It’s not easy for me to be poor when I’ve had a car, got a well-paying job, a very comfortable life and sizable inheritance. It’s not easy to be chaste when I’ve had a girlfriend, when I’ve known how it is to love someone deeply and be loved as deeply in return; not to mention the raging hormones (well okay, libido, mostly). It’s hard to be obedient when I’m educated, skilled and confident, used to being independent and proactive. It’s hard. But it becomes a little easier when I know I’m not journeying alone. I know my Arvisu brothers are going through the same thing in their own way. And these past two months, I’ve gained some really good friends who give more than just advice, but who provide the strength to carry on. Through our shared struggle, friendships are born.

In today’s Gospel, the same can be said of Jesus’ disciples. We have Jesus speaking in parables that no one at that time could understand. Even his disciples couldn’t understand. So, in the Gospel, we find them going to Jesus asking for an explanation. It must have been hard to be Jesus’ disciple then. Imagine leaving your family, your possessions to go from town to town listening to a teacher you cannot understand and constantly being threatened by the authorities and elders. It must have been a real struggle. But it is a struggle that forged deep friendships among disciples that later helped lay the foundation for the early Church.

And so, in any hardship or tragedy we are currently going through, perhaps is good to ask who else is struggling beside us and perhaps we can lend a helping hand or give kind word or even just an affirming smile because for all we know: that person may need a friend.

Novena Mass Reflection Day 5 :Ignatius at Jerusalem

Unang Bahagi.
Kapag nagleleybor ang buntis, hindi ‘yan makatitiis…

Nagpunta si Ignacio sa Jerusalem. Ang dahilan… gusto niyang mapuntahan ang pinagmulan ng pananampalatayang Kristyano, ang lugar kung saan mismo isinilang ang panginoong Hesus. Marahil, bukod sa gala lang talaga si Ignacio, e romantiko rin siyang dito niya gustong ipanganak, isilang ang pagyabong ng kanyang bokasyon. Gaano karomantiko si Ignacio sa bahaging ito? Bukod sa gusto niyang puntahan kung saan isinilang si Kristo, gusto rin lang naman niyang makita pati ang lugar ng asensyon ni Kristo at pati na kung saan nakaturo ang kanyang mga paa nito nang umakyat siya sa langit. Pati kung saan nakaturo ang paa ni Kristo nang umakyat siya sa langit ha. Hardcore. OC.

Pero siyempre, hindi ito naging madali sa ating bida. Bakit? Nandyan ang mga Turko na sumakop sa Jerusalem nung panahong iyon kaya hindi basta-basta makapangaral hinggil sa Kristyanismo. Bukod pa rito, e nariyan ang mga Franciscano na kumausap kay Ignacio na kung gusto niyang lumalim pa nang husto ang kanyang ispiritwalidad, e pumunta siya sa Roma, at huwag maging labis na mapangahas na mangaral hinggil sa Kristyanismo sa Jerusalem dahil baka magalit ang mga Morong Turko at ‘di na nila payagan pang makapunta ang mga Kristyano sa banal na bayan. Sa madaling sabi, itinaboy nila si Ignacio.

Sa isang banda, mukhang bigo si Ignacio sa kanyang layunin sa Jerusalem. Bigo sapagkat hindi niya naisilang ang paglago ng kanyang ispiritwalidad sa lugar kung saan niya ito nais isilang.

Kabiguan o di-mapipigilang pagsilang? Kapag nagleleybor ang buntis, hindi ‘yan makatitiis… magsisilang at magsisilang ‘yan. Sa taxi, sa dyip, sa bahay, sa ospital, sa traysikel, sa kariton, sa traysikad, sa arinola… kahit saan, kung nagleleybor ang buntis, hindi ‘yan makatitiis… magsisilang ‘yan. Ganyan marahil ang nagyari sa ispiritwalidad ni Ignacio. Hindi man sa pinakaninanais niyang lugar ito isilang, hindi niya ito mapipigilang ipanganak. Tulad ng isang inang nagdadalantao, kahit hindi sa pinakamahusay na ospital ipanganak ang kanyang supling, ayos lang. Ang mahalaga, buhay ito, masigla at malusog. Hindi man sa Jerusalem, ang mahalaga, isinilang ang bokasyon ni Ignacio, buhay ito, at patuloy na lumago.

Ikalawang Bahagi.
Ano ang higit na mahalaga? Jerusalem o ang layuning paglagong pang-ispiritwal ni Ignacio? Ospital? O ang panganganak nang ligtas, buhay, at malusog?

Kung iuugnay ito sa sariling pagninilay, maaaring maihambing ang Jerusalem sa mga panagarap ko. Samantalang ang dahilan naman ng pagpunta ni Ignacio sa lugar na ito ay maihahambing ko naman sa mga sariling dahilan kung bakit ako nangangarap.

Ano ang aking Jerusalem?

Maging presidente ng Pilipinas! ‘Yan talaga ang pangarap ko. ‘Yan ang Jerusalem ko. Ang dami kong pinagdaanan para marating sana ang pangarap na ‘yan.
Sumali ako sa mga organisasyon sa paaralan ko nung ako ay nasa elementarya at sekundarya. Naging pangulo ako ng student government ng aming paaralan. Namuno ako sa maraming mga gawaing pampaaralan na magbibigay ng higit na kaginhawahan at kaayusan ng katayuan ng mga kapwa ko mag-aaral noon.

Bukod dito, galing din ako sa pamilya ng mga politiko. Naging kapitan ng Baranggay ang lolo ko (sumalangit nawa) at baranggay tanod naman ang isa kong tiyuhin. Mabibigat talaga ang pusisyon ng mga kamag-anak ko sa pulitika!

Naisip ko, kung talagang gusto kong maging pangulo, mabuting kumuha ako ng law sa kolehiyo upang maihanda ako nang maigi. Pero may mga turko at Franciscano rin sa buhay ko. Ang pinakamalaking hadlang, kahirapan. Ni hindi ako sigurado kung mapag-aaral ako ng magulang ko sa kolehiyo. Kung gaano kahirap, mahabang kwentuhan ‘yan. Basta ganito ang kalagayan ko dati, sa iskwaters area kami nakatira, na noong una’y wala kuryente (sa loob ng isang taon) at wala kaming kubeta (sa loob ng isa’t kalahating taon at kailangan mong tiisin ang sakit ng tiyan at maglakbay ng kalahating kilometro para makadumi nang matiwasay sa bahay ng tiyahin ko). Sa madaling-sabi, kailangan kong bitawan ang aking Jerusalem.

Pero katulad ni Ignacio, hindi puwedeng hindi ko ito maisilang. Binalikan ko ang dahilan ng aking Jerusalem, ang dahilan ng aking pangrap, ang dahilan kung bakit ko gustong maging pangulo. At ito ay ang aking sariling krusada sa paglaban sa kahirapan. Sawa na akong maging mahirap at alam kong ito rin ang nararamdaman ng karamihan sa bayang ito. Ito ‘yung pinagbubuntis ko, ito ‘yung gusto ko sanang maipanganak sa sarili kong Jerusalem. Pero hindi ko nalasap, ni bahagyang narating ang aking Jerusalem.

Hindi man ako naging pangulo, nagguro ako (sa paaralang humuhubog sa magiging pinuno ng bayan). Upang hindi mamatay o masayang ang mga adhikaing naging dahilan ng aking Jerusalem.

At katulad ng nagleleybor na buntis… hindi rin ako makatitiis na hindi ito maisilang. Kung hindi man sa mahusay na ospital, kahit sa dyip o sa traysikel o sa kariton ko ito isilang. Ayos lang. Basta buhay at masigla. …Kahit hindi sa Jerusalem.

Bok Pioquid
CSIP

Novena Mass Reflection Day 4 :Ignatius at Manresa

Naglalakbay noon si Ignacio patungong Barcelona nang siya’y napadaan sa isang ilog na pangala’y Cardoner sa bayan ng Manresa. Mayroon doong kuweba. Sumilong siya roon ng ilang araw ngunit di niya akalaing lalagi pa siya ng sampung buwan. Sa kuwebang iyon, ibinigay ni Ignacio ang kanyang sarili sa matinding pagdarasal at pagsakripisyo. Doon niya isinulat ang kanyang Spiritual Exercises. Sa tabi ng Cardoner, nagkaroon ng pangitain si Ignacio. Ang pangitaing iyon ay tuwirang nakapagbago ng kanyang pananaw sa buhay at sa ugnayan nito sa ibang nilalang. Mula noon, mas nakita niya ang lahat ng bagay, pangyayari at tao sa kasaysayan ng mundo na may hayagang ugnayan sa Diyos na may likha ng lahat. Bagama’t habambuhay itinago ni Ignacio ang patungkol sa yaong pangitain, maraming naniniwala na ang Diyos mismo ang kanyang nakita’t nakatagpo sa panahong iyon.

Maganda ang karanasan ni Ignacio sa Manresa. Mas nakilala niya ang Diyos at ang kanyang sarili. Ngunit hindi niya piniling manatili doon habambuhay. Ang manlalakbay na Ignacio ay umalis ng Manresa at ipinagpatuloy ang kanyang paglalakbay. Oo, mas nakilala niya ang Diyos at ang kanyang sarili sa Manresa ngunit nakilala rin niya ang plano ng Diyos sa kanyang buhay.

Naalaala ko, noong papatapos na ang aking 30-day retreat sa Sacred Heart Novitiate, nakaramdam ako ng munting kalungkutan nang mawari kong magtatapos na itong katahimikan. Ngunit naranasan ko rin ang matinding pananabik na bumalik sa mundo upang subukang gawin ang kanyang kalooban. Gaya ng Manresa, at tulad ni Ignacio, inihanda ako ng Diyos sa loob ng tatlumpung araw sa Sacred Heart Novitiate.

Kasagsagan noon ng pagputok ng mga balita tungkol sa napakaraming iskandalo ng simbahan at ng mga pari nito. Hindi ko makakalimutan noong tinanong ako ng aking superior, Madz, hindi maganda ang itsura ng Simbahan ngayon, maraming iskandalo itong hinaharap, may mga lumalabas sa pagpapari at halos wala na, sa mga kabataan, ang may nais na maging tulad natin.

Kaya ako narito, sagot ko, kung parang isang napakalaking barko na lumulubog ang Simbahan ngayon, kalooban ng Diyos na ako’y manatili anuman ang mangyari. Kahit hindi ito madali, dahil naniniwala ako sa kanya, ako’y tatalima.

Mahalaga ang mga Manresa ng ating buhay. Para itong mga ”stop-overs” kung saan naririnig natin ng malinaw ang ating Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pakikinig sa ating sarili. Dito natin naalaala ang mga kwento ng Diyos sa ating buhay, kung paano niya tayo minamahal. At dito natin nalalaman ang kanyang kalooban.

Bro. Madz Tumbali, SJ
CMO/ Araling Panlipunan

Novena Mass Reflection Day 3 :Ignatius at Monserrat

Months before I said “Yes” when I was asked to become the next APSA, I remember a conversation I had with my predecessor, Mr. Jun Balmaceda. He said something along these lines (which I have roughly translated): “The challenges of the APSA Office at times seem insurmountable, and it takes a little craziness to maintain sanity in dealing with them.”

I knew what I was getting into. I will need to look after over two thousand students. I will need to listen to the complaints of parents. I will immerse myself in their problems. I will need to take care of over two hundred faculty members. I will deal with issues spanning about three generations. There will be problems that I can anticipate and prepare for, and those that I won’t even see coming.

Then I figured that each and every one of us is faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges from time to time. And they do not have to be problems associated with work. They can come in the form of losing a loved one in a tragic event. Maybe you found out that your husband or your wife is having an affair and your family is falling apart. Maybe you made a wrong investment, and now you can’t pay for your children’s tuition fees. In any case, maybe Mr. Balmaceda’s advice has a lot of wisdom: taking these problems too seriously would make us go insane. People who really know me would say I have no problem with going a little crazy. There are times when it’s hard to distinguish if I am serious or not. But what I would like to share in this Mass is a weapon I have found more effective in facing these challenges than just a little craziness. That weapon, is a way of prayer.

Since last a retreat I attended last May, prayer for me has no longer been a monologue that I hope God would hear. I have discovered that it can be a dialogue where I can hear what God is telling me. But it is something that is not automatic for me, especially when I have a lot of things on my mind. So I began to study the conditions that allow this to happen. Here are the steps that I follow:

1. Pray for God’s grace. Use a formula prayer or read a Bible passage for the day. Pray that God will speak to you and that you will hear it.

2. Clear your mind from all your thoughts and worries. In this process you may be reminded that everything in this world is only temporary. Just be aware of your present environment. You can close your eyes and rely on your other senses. Be conscious of your breathing, and with each breath thank the Holy Spirit for giving you this life.

3. A reflection guide will always helpful. Write your thoughts and feelings in a notebook. It can be about the passage that you read. It can be about your answers to some guide questions. It can be about anything. You can even draw if you like.

4. Just wait for the grace to come. But when it happens, how do you know if it is God or something you just conjured from your unconscious? You will know when you hear something that did not come from you. You will be moved to tears. For some you will be moved through uncontrollable laughter, or maybe even music. There will be a surge of emotion that will creep in and take over. And then things will become clear. The seemingly insurmountable challenges before you will become the blueprint of God’s plan. You will feel energized, like a battery that could run forever. At that point, try to write everything as fast as you could. Not that you’re going to forget God’s word, but so you can go back to the experience from time to time.

5. Close the experience with a prayer. It can be a formula prayer. Or it can be something you just made up, like this:

Lord, I remember a homily given by our former chaplain, Fr. Rudy Fernandez. He said that when Mary responded with the magic word ‘Yes,’ God was set loose into the world. And the blind began to see, the deaf began to hear, the mute began to speak. When I said ‘Yes’ to this tremendous responsibility of becoming the APSA, I knew this wasn’t about me anymore. I am going to let you loose into this community. Use me as Your instrument, and let’s make some beautiful music.

Mr. Jon Bilog
APSA

Novena Mass Reflection Day 2 :Ignatius at Pamplona and Loyola

We all know that Inigo de Loyola was born into a noble family and that he trained to become a highly esteemed soldier. We know that he met his misfortune in a battle against France in Pamplona when a cannon ball struck him, wounding one leg and breaking the other. Because the French soldiers admired his courage, they carried him back to recuperate at his home, the Castle of Loyola, rather than to prison.

His leg was set but did not heal, so it was necessary to break it again and reset it, all without anesthesia. But then, a bone protruded below the knee, and one leg was shorter than the other. It was an ugly sight and was unacceptable to this vain soldier, who considered it a fate worse than death not to be able to wear a knight’s long, tight-fitting boots.

Ignatius ordered the doctors to saw off the offending knob of bone and lengthen the leg, again, without anesthesia. He bore that terrible pain for the sake of his appearance and his future.

Ignatius had to rest and let his wound heal for 7 months. Extremely bored, he checked out the library and found only a copy of the life of Christ and a book on the saints. The more he read, the more he was inspired by the exploits of the saints, which he found worth imitating.

At the same time, he continued to have daydreams of fame and glory, of street duels, of boasting and daring and the image of a perfect knight.

But something happened. Ignatius noticed that after reading and thinking of Christ and the saints, he was filled with peace and tranquility. And when he finished his long worldly daydreams of military service and exploits, he would feel unsatisfied and restless.

Ignatius found himself torn between two loves.

He weighed his two conflicting desires and through hours and hours of meditation. He realized that in his pursuit of honor and esteem by the world, he was hiding from God, fleeing from Him. Jesus touched him and set his heart on fire, inspiring him to turn to God and become a “pilgrim” to find his life.

This is where and how St. Ignatius’ conversion began – in pain and in silence.

Have we similarly experienced pain – the loss of a job, a loved one, physical injury or sickness, betrayal by a loved one, loneliness and desperation?

When we are stripped of things that we have become attached to, and seemingly alone, we are brought to an opportunity to be silent and hear the voice of God inside of us.

On September 26, last year, rains that poured continuously for hours caused floodwaters to rise close to the ceiling of our home. It took two days before the floodwaters of Ondoy receded and we were able to go to our house. I was not prepared for the damage that met my eyes. Everything – the house, the garden, furniture, clothes, appliances – everything was coated in foul-smelling mud. Three of our cars had been completely submerged in floodwaters. We felt we were stripped of our material things. It caused us all a lot of pain. But in silence and in prayer, we turned to God as the true and only source of security. The biggest lesson we learned was that material things come and go, but what matter most are family, our love for one another and the Sprit of God that gives us the strength to endure difficulties and continue to hope.

We have learned that the gifts that God has given to us are not to be kept but shared with others. Nothing is really ever ours.

Like St Ignatius, we learn to accept all that happen to us, to be humble, and to be obedient to God’s will.

St. Ignatius de Loyola, pray for us.

Mrs. Aida Santiago

Parent

Novena Mass Reflection Day 1 :Ignatius at Azpetitia

Ang buhay ni San Ignacio sa Azpeitia, Guipozcoa, Hilagang Espanya ay masasabing marangya at napupuno ng kasiyahan. Lumaki siya na may patutunguhan at may pangarap para sa sarili. Pero tumigil ito nang tamaan siya sa paa ng canon ball. Ang canon ball na siyang nagdala sa kanya sa daan na ginawa para sa kanya. Ang canon ball– minsan ito’y nagsisilbing pampagising. Minsan inaakala mo na ito’y isang trahedya, pero malaki ang kabuluhan sa ating buhay. Masakit pero hindi natatapos doon ang lahat, maaring ‘yun lamang ang umpisa. Tulad ni San Ignacio ay may sarili rin akong patutunguhan at pangarap. Sabi ko sa sarili ko ngayong taong ito, magiging pokus ako sa aking mga plano. Makabili ng sariling bahay, makabili ng laptop, ang mag-aral muli at kumuha ng Masters, pati ang pagkakaron ng kasintahan ay naplano na. Pero may nangyari sa buhay ko na nakapagpagising sa akin.

Tulad ni San Ignacio may “canon ball” na tumama saken. Nagkasakit ang aking ina. Nakitaan siya ng bukol sa kanyang rectum. Ayon sa doktor kailangan daw siya maoperhan para hindi ito maging sanhi ng mas malala pang sakit, ang colon cancer. Naging sanhi ito ng maraming pagbabago sa akin at sa aking pamilya, nadagdagan ang gawaing bahay, nagkaproblema sa pera, nagkaalitan ang magkakapatid, nagkatampuhan kaming mga magkakamaganak. At higit sa lahat hindi na natuloy ang pagkakaroon ko ng kasintahan. Samakatuwid, nasira na ang aking mga plano. Napakabigat sa pakiramdam. Ngunit ang sitwasyong ito ay nakapagpamulat sa akin sa maraming bagay, marami pang bagay pala na mas mahalaga. Sa sitwasyong ito natagpuan ko ang aking sarili na nagdarasal. Kailangan ko magdasal yun ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, kailangan ko ng Kanyang gabay, dahil malapit na ko bumigay. Sa bawat oras na nasa ospital kami nakita ko ang presensiya ng Diyos. Sa bawat araw na naghahanap kami ng pinansiyal na suporta, nakita ko ang Diyos sa aking kapwa. Nakita ko rin ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaisa at pagmamahalan naming magkakapatid, kahalagahan ng pamilya, kahalagahan ng pagpapasensiya at pang unawa, at ang pinaka importante ang kahalagahan ng oras at ng buhay. Hindi nga naisakatuparan ang aking mga plano, pero may mas mahalagang di nawala, ang buhay ng aking Nanay. Minsan may nangyayari sa buhay mo na hindi mo gusto, na hindi mo inakala. Huwag mo itong ituring na kamalasan o masama, o dahil pinaparusahan ka. Kasi ito’y maaring isang daan upang akayin ka Niya sa direksyon na kung saan dapat ka tumungo, na tumigil ka at magbalik loob sa Kanya. Ang magpatuloy sa buhay, na huwag bumitaw sa pananampalataya.

Marami pang “canon ball” na darating. Marami pang pampagising ang Diyos na ating mararanasan, habang patuloy tayo sa paglalakbay at pag diskubre ng nakalaang misyon ng Diyos para satin.

Chona A. Glodo

Testing and Research Office Staff

Rich Young Men

by Joseph Patrick Echevarria

Good morning. In line with our theme for the week ­– “St. Ignatius the Pilgrim who sought the Glory of God” – it is perhaps apt to relate or juxtapose “St. Ignatius the Pilgrim” to a certain “rich young man” we find in the Gospel.

In Matthew’s Gospel, the “rich young man” desires to have a more meaningful life, and seeks out and approaches Jesus and inquires about what more he can do to live a better life – after all, he has already observed the ten commandments, which are difficult enough by themselves. Jesus sees his sincere desire and responds with an invitation to go further, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. We can probably imagine that Jesus, in his humanity, felt sad for the rich young man as well. He was a good young man, but he just couldn’t take that next step. Maybe he had something he couldn’t let go of, or he had responsibilities at home and his family expected much from him, it could be that he is to take over the family business, or perhaps he just wasn’t ready to surrender everything, to surrender himself. In any case, he turned away with his head bowed down.

In many ways, Ignatius too was a “rich young man”. He lived in a castle, he was brave, and an exemplary fighter and swordsman, admired by his peers and the ladies of the court, even his enemies greatly respected him. You could say he had it all. But he too was interested in a better life, not just of comfort and wealth and women and power, but a life of greater meaning and purpose. Like the “rich young man” in the Gospel, he went far and wide in search of meaning; he became a “pilgrim”. And in his travels, like the “rich young man”, he met Jesus, and the Lord, saw his sincerity, invited him to come and follow. But unlike the “rich young man”, Ignatius said “yes”. If we try to imagine that moment in Ignatius’ life, his “yes” might have been said with a little fear for he did not know where Jesus will take him and a little nostalgia at the once grand life he was abandoning. But surely, it was a “yes” filled with much trust and much faith and much love. And as we know, his “yes” to Jesus has made all the difference in his life and in the many lives he has touched then and even now, in the many Jesuits over the years and across nations, and, of course, his “yes” has made a big difference in the many people these Jesuits know, like the students, the teachers, the staff and professionals in the Ateneo High School.

And if we think and look carefully, we will see Ignatius’ “yes” repeated by many in our community, some more obvious than others, some also rich and also young and talented and accomplished and handsome – but have sought a better life, have sought a life of deeper meaning, have sought to follow the God who knows only to love and to give without measure.

To be sure, the world and its values will see these “rich young men” as crazy. But perhaps it will also make them ask, make us ask: “Who is this Jesus who can inspire these men to give up everything to come and follow him?”

As we ask, we pray: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Father, You know us, You know our desires, You know our deepest desires. Grant us the wisdom that we may recognize it ourselves. And grant us the strength, the perseverance and the patience to pursue it with all that we have and all that we are. Amen. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

July 2: Feast of St. Bernardino Realino

St. Bernardino Realino (1530-1616), the Apostle of Leece, was of the Italian nobility. Before entering the Society of Jesus, he was an accomplished lawyer. He was also a chief tax collector, a mayor, and a judge. He also became a superintendent of the fiefs of the marquis of Naples. Yet, despite his success, St. Realino found himself unfulfilled with worldly honors.

When he heard God’s call, he gave up everything to be a religious, a priest, a Jesuit. He became a model confessor, a sincere preacher, and a diligent teacher of the faith to the young. He was a dedicated shepherd of souls and a pastor to the poor, the slaves, the sick, and the prisoners. When he was 32, he wrote to his brother, “I have no desire for the honors of this world, but solely for the glory of God and the salvation of my soul.”

In our world today, we often equate success with worldly things. How rich we are is defined in terms of money, property, and recognition. Many of the youth today labor just to climb the ladder of success. They go to school and work hard day in and day out.

The culture of today is a culture of productivity. The more a person produces, the more successful a person is. The more one accumulates, the better one is. But the life of St. Bernardino Realino reminds us that giving glory to God and the salvation of our souls are far more important than worldly honors. And in the eyes of God, this is success.

S. Bernardino Realino is an example of a rich young man who made the right choice, a young man who gave up everything to follow Jesus and who found his success in heaven rather than in the world.

Which is better: Success only in the eyes of the world or success in the eyes of God? Choose. To be an apostle of God is to be detached from worldly things and to hold on to God, to surrender and follow.

What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of God’s glory and the salvation of your soul?

Lord, we pray that we may be able to follow St. Bernardino Realino and respond to Your call, for Your glory and the salvation of our souls. St. Bernardino Realino, pray for us.

- Bryan O. Arevalo, SJ

Reposted from phjesuits.org