Tản mạn: IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY AND THE SPIRIT OF LEGIONARIES

Changing from serving a worldly queen and beautiful girls to serving for Our Lady, Mother of God. He was “passing a night in vigil before an altar of Our Lady at Montserrat.” After that, "he begged and obtained leave of his confessor to give up his horse, and to hang up his sword and his dagger in the church, near the altar of the Blessed Virgin.” (Autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola)

“Mary’s Legion cannot offer to her the name […] accompanied by qualities less notable, so that in these qualities is indicated the very minimum of legionary service” (Chapter 4, no.1)

To her he ascribes the inspiration of the Spiritual Exercises, and his Order, imitating its founder, has shown the most unbounded affection and devoted filial love toward the Virgin Mother of Christ.”

a. The spirit of Lay Apostolate

Since the time of Saint Ignatius, the Jesuits have emphasized:

• The role of the laity in the mission of the Church

• The practice of “finding God in all things”

• Engagement with society, culture, and everyday life

Frank Duff also embodied this spirit when he founded a movement entirely for lay people, with a mission of evangelization and service. “The immediate end of organisations of this class is the apostolic end of the Church; in other words: the evangelization and sanctification of men and the Christian formation of their conscience, so as to enable them to imbue with the Gospel spirit the various social groups and environments.” (Chapter 2, no. a)

b. Organizational method and apostolic discipline

The Legion of Mary has:

• A regular meeting system

• Spiritual discipline

• A clear method of work

• Discernment in apostolic activities

These elements bear similarities to the organizational spirit and discernment of the Jesuits, even though they are not a direct influence. “The laity, cooperating in their own particular way with the hierarchy, contribute their experience and assume responsibility in the direction of these organisations, in the investigation of the conditions in which the Church’s pastoral work is to be carried on, in the elaboration and execution of their plan of action.” (Chapter 2, no. b)

c. The spirit of Contemplativus in actione – Contemplation in action

The Legion of Mary:

• Prays deeply

• Engages in vigorous apostolic work

• Integrates contemplation with action

This is also a characteristic feature of Ignatian spirituality. Also, the handbook reminds: “We swing between the opposite extremes of apathy and feverish anxiety because we regard him [God] as detached from our work. Instead, let us realise that we only have the good purpose because he has implanted it, and that we shall only bring it to fruition if he sustains us all the time. The success of the enterprise in hand is more by far to him than it is to us. Infinitely more than we, does he desire that conversion we are seeking. We wish to be saints. He yearns for it a million times more than we.” (Chapter 1, Beginning)

Author: Little Stream

Photo: Br. Bong