Apostleship of Prayer Spirituality
 
 

THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS

 Two complementary and inseparable elements are integrated in the very being of Ignatian Spirituality:
          1) A Mystique of the End -- Apostolic Service out of Love;
          2) A Practical Wisdom concerning the Road -- which enables us to pursue the first end effectively.

To dwell on the first would risk stressing only a generic aspect and one that is found in every apostolic spirituality.   To dwell on the second, i.e. on the practical wisdom, e.g. on the election or on the applications to daily life, might lead the retreatant to forget the goal to which this wisdom is essentially ordered, and which not only inspires but also specifies it.   Further, there would be the risk of neglecting the relations of means to end, about which Ignatius was always particularly attentive.   These two inseparable aspects, each on its own level and in a mutually complementary way, form the marrow and substance of the Exercises, of the Ignatian message, and of the spirituality based on it.

A pregnant phrase which is found in the CONSTITUTIONS expresses what Ignatius is concerned about when he speaks about Apostolic Service out of love,
                                                                                       DISCRETA CARITAS.

It is CHARITY, love of Christ and one's neighbour, apostolic service of Christ, the Redeemer.   But vitally and inexorably bound with this CHARITY  is DISCRETION, i.e. discernment in the choices and measures with which this service is to be procured.   St. Ignatius placed the supreme rule of conduct of the members of the Society of Jesus  in this conjunction, Practical Wisdom conjoined with Charity:

"Nor is any rule to be enjoined upon them, except that which discreet charity will dictate to each individual".

 
 
 
 
 

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