Page 12 - Y Mind

Rohan Brahamane SJ
R ohan Br ahamane SJ

IgnatIus our constant
us our constant
I
Ignat
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on
companIon
compan

hree years in the Society and still or reverential submission to God. Every
Tthe memories of my long retreat are Jesuit should take Ignatius as his constant
very much fresh in my mind. I still re- companion. To imitate him in everything
member our novice master telling us, we do will make one a practical Jesuit.
“Jerome Nadal used to say, ‘Every grace During the long retreat, my Nov-
St. Ignatius received is given freely to ice Master asked me, “Will the consola-
all the Jesuits, his beloved sons, only tions that God has been giving you turn
you need to discover it’”. On the other into actions?” My answer was, “YES.”

hand, Pope Francis in GC-36 asked, “Why A Jesuit having Ignatius as his con-
are the Spiritual Exercises not chang- stant companion will never fear to take
ing us?” I think our lack of openness is any risk in terms of mission. During my
the answer to both these responses. Novitiate days I read about many Je-
First of all, we need to know why suit saints and martyrs who were en-
we are Jesuits. Every Jesuit will have a kindled by the fire which enkindled
different vocation story. From the very St. Ignatius to serve the whole world.
beginning, those who have the desire Lastly, as I journey in the religious
to join this way of life, have the desire life as a Jesuit, I have found out four rea-

to do well, to grow in the love of God. sons why one chooses to be a Jesuit.
During the long retreat we discovered First reason is that one realizes that one
the graces and integrated them. From is a sinner. Second reason is one is a man
the juniorate onwards our focus chang- who has a deep desire to serve God. Third
es from spiritual to intellectual. We are reason is that one is moved by the good
tempted to neglect our constant com- spirit to make one’s choice. Fourth reason
panion, St. Ignatius. Spiritual blindness is that one is ready to be a fool for Christ.
can only be discovered by making our- Therefore, if one desires to serve the
selves vulnerable and testing our spiri- Lord under the banner of the Cross
tual depth. We need to know that a Jesuit in the Society one must make Ignati-
is a sinner yet called to be a companion. us as his constant companion. His un-

From the Spiritual Diary of St. Igna- dying spirit will guide him, inspire him
tius of Loyola, we come to know that he and lead him in the way he himself
focused on one thing i.e., ‘Acatamiento,’ was led by the Holy Spirit to do great-
meaning total surrender to the Divine will er things for the glory of God alone.

11 Young Minds 2020