Wednesday, August 14, 2013

To be "Ignatian"

CWR: Superior General of the Jesuits encourages youth to be “Ignatian people”
Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, participates in the pre-WYD program, MAGIS Brasil

(via Insight Scoop)

Ignatian people? Not Christian people? Often when the term is used by modern-day Jesuit colleges, it is in reference to a transformed Catholic Christian humanism which has been divested of its Christian center, little better than what passes for "spirituality" in popular culture. There may be talk about human dignity and social justice, but very little focus on God and Christ.

But the superior general did not deviate so far:
Speaking in Spanish, Fr. Nicolas made some opening remarks, observing that the world is in the middle of an economic, political and cultural crisis. “What worries me is that there seems to be no alternative system, despite all the information and intelligence available in the world”. He went on to draw from the experience of St. Ignatius, suggesting that in order for young people to make a difference in transforming the world “you have to transform people first”. However, the challenge of transforming the world, according to Fr. Nicolas, is best met by allowing God to transform our hearts, after which we can be able to change what is outside. He encouraged the young people to use gatherings such as the World Youth Days, to widen their horizon to see more and open their hearts, while recognizing that Christ works in the heart of every person, irrespective of social class.

Although the last line reminds one of Rahner's "anonymous Christianity," if Fr. Nicolas is speaking of Christians and non-Christians alike. While he is right to urge "caution and discernment in determining when to receive international aid, especially when they have strings attached to them," are his suggestions about universities too tied to industrial development and unsustainable growth?

No comments: