The following reflection is part of our “Jesuit 101” series, celebrating the Ignatian Year. This piece helps us to better understand the concept of “magis” which is used often in the context of Jesuit institutions and Ignatian Spirituality. To learn more, check out...
Teresa of Avila, saint, mystic, reformer of the Carmelite order, founder of the Discalced Carmelites and . . . angry with God. That last one doesn’t seem to fit with the others. But there is a story I’ve heard of St. Teresa. One day, while riding her horse, she fell...
On Palm Sunday, Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem. By the end of the week, he will be betrayed and crucified. Fr. Danny Gustafson, SJ, reflects on the many contrasts of Holy Week and the beauty to be found. Based on the readings for Sunday, April 10, 2022. From...
Podcast episode: With this talk, we move to the Third Week of the Spiritual Exercises. Jesus’ public ministry threatened the power of the religious authorities, and they now move to suppress the threat. It is easy to accompany Jesus in the good times, but it’s much...
This is the tenth installment of A Deacon’s Diary. In the ninth installment, Steve tried to love his enemies, and his friends, too. I. A week ago, I was listening to a talk at Boston University’s Catholic Chaplaincy. The speaker, a Carmelite priest, was telling our...
“7 on three, 7 on three… one, two, three, 7!” In the state of Ohio it takes 7 games to win a high school state championship in baseball. From the moment our tryouts were over, we started breaking down the huddle by chanting 7! 7 games, 7 wins, one state champion....
Podcast episode: Jesus commands his disciples to love as he loved. In order to fulfill this commandment, we need to be intimately familiar with how Jesus loves others. In the final talk of the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises, David highlights seven episodes...
There may be no Ignatian term that is more misused than the word magis. Indeed, it is Latin and it does mean “more,” but that hardly gets to the Ignatian meaning of the term. That is because magis does not necessarily nor simply mean more. In fact, it often means...
I’ve never read a word of Richard Carlson’s viral self-help series, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s All Small Stuff, so let me be clear at the onset – I am not taking issue with the notion that life might be best spent learning how to discern what’s worth...
So, wait. What exactly is a synod? Maybe you’ve heard this term. Perhaps not. It technically means a gathering of bishops for the purpose of giving counsel to the Pope. Pope Francis, however, wants to expand our understanding of synodality. That’s why he announced in...
