10 Characteristics of Ignatian Spirituality

by PAUL on JANUARY 13, 2009

When I first came to Loyola Press, someone
asked me to do my est to sum up Ignatian Spirituality in as
easily!understandale "ay as I could# I came up "ith a list of
ten characteristics and I "ill no" share them "ith you, $a%id
Letterman!style, from &10 to &1 'although I(m not confident
that there is a )correct* order+# Astute readers ',+ "ill notice
that I ha%e co%ered se%eral of these characteristics in
indi%idual posts and I plan to "rite on them all as "e go along#
10# Union of minds and hearts - as rothers and sisters, "e
listen for the .od "ho is present among us, admitting no
di%ision ased on ethnicity, nationality, ackground, age or
gender#
/# 0le1iility and adaptaility - 'e#g#,12th Century 3esuits
"earing Chinese roes and generally adapting to %arious
cultures4 respecting people(s li%ed e1perience#+
5# Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam '0or the greater glory of .od+ -
praising .od and dedicating oneself to participate in .od(s
healing "ork in the "orld#
6# )7he World is charged "ith the grandeur of .od* - the
positi%e, energetic and engaged %ision of .od(s constant
interaction "ith creation#
2# 0aith that does 8ustice - the reali9ation that there can e no
true e1pression of faith "here concerns for 8ustice and human
dignity are missing#
:# Inner 0reedom 'the result of self!a"areness and
discernment#+
;# Contemplation in action - not a monastic e1istence, ut an
acti%e one that is, at the same time, infused "ith prayer#
<# =eflection 'Self!a"areness>$iscernment+ leading to
.ratitude "hich leads to Ser%ice 'linked to ecoming a )man
or "oman for others* - ig Ignatian u99"ords#+
?# Personal relationship "ith Christ and lo%e for the Church
'ruised and roken as it often is#+
1# 0inding .od in all things
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