The First Principle and Foundation

1
The First Principle and Foundation

• JSEA
• 2000

2
The Spiritual ExercisesOf St. Ignatius Of Loyola

• THE FIRST PRINCIPLE
• AND
• FOUNDATION

3
The goal of our life is to live with God
forever.God, who loves us, gave us life.Our own
response of love allows Gods lifeto flow into
us without limit.
Principle and Foundation
4
To Know,Love,and Serve Godin this
worldandin the next!
5
All the things in this world are gifts of
God,presented to us so that we can know God more
easilyand make a return of love more readily.
Principle and Foundation
6
From Ivory Towertohands-on in the real world
7
We are challenged to know reality, to know each
person and each situation.In knowing, we are
able to see God in all things!
8
As a result, we appreciate and use all these
gifts of God insofar as they us develop as
loving persons.But if any of these gifts become
the center of our lives, they displace God and so
hinder our growth toward our goal.
Principle and Foundation
9
Discernment

• Mode of evaluating Christian discipleship
• Requires openness to growth
• Ends - The call of God in your life.
• Means - How you choose in your life.

10
Discernment

• Should ask the haunting question.What is the
  greater good that I can do at this particular
  moment in my life?

11
In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in
balance before all of these created gifts insofar
as we have a choice and are not bound by some
obligation.We should not fix our desires on
health or sickness, wealth or poverty, success or
failure, a long life or short one. For
everything has the potential of calling forth in
us a deeper response to our life in God.
Principle and Foundation
12
Ignatian Indifference

• Key Ignatian spiritual concept which means
• Undetermined to one thing or another
• Unbiased
• Impartial
• With decision suspended until the reasons for a
  wise choice are learned

13
Ignatian Indifference

• If we are indifferent, then we have real freedom
  because we are able to choose those things which
  will lead us to serve the Lord best.
• Indifference leads to making choices for the
  greater good, the magis.

More
Magis
14
Our only desire and our one choice should be
thisI want and I choose what better leads to
Gods deepening his life in me.
Principle and Foundation
Paraphrased by David L. Fleming, SJ
15
Choices affectively lead to consolation or
desolation.

• Consolation - a sense of being at peace and in
  harmony with God, others and oneself
• Desolation - a sense of being at odds with God,
  others and/or with oneself

16
Choice and effect

• Neither among men, nor among angels, is there a
  more noble activity than to glorify your Creator,
  and to lead to Him as many other creatures as you
  can.
• Ignatius of Loyola
• May 7, 1547.
• To the scholastics at Coimbra.

17
Leaders in Service

• Men and Women for Others

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam