News Intro Text
An Ignatian Way of Proceeding
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News Item Content
<p>by Edward B. “Ted” Arroyo, S.J., Ph.D., JSRI Associate</p>
<p>As we approach November’s election, we at JSRI encourage discerning assessment of the difficult political choices at hand. </p>
<p>At the beginning of his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius Loyola advises that in facing an “election” about one’s state in life, we “let the Creator act immediately with the creature, and the creature with its Creator and Lord” because in decisions like these “it is more fitting and much better, when seeking the Divine Will, that the Creator and Lord should communicate with the devout soul, inflaming it with love and praise, and disposing it for the way in which it will be better able to serve in the future.” (Spiritual Exercises #15). Such criteria for discernment may also well apply to the political elections we now face.</p>
<p>Recently when Pope Francis was asked about these upcoming U.S. elections he responded within this Jesuit tradition of “election” when he replied “I never say a word about electoral campaigns….The people are sovereign. I will only say: Study the proposals well, pray and choose in conscience.” </p>
<p>In this context, our Jesuit provincial superior, Fr. Ron Mercier, S.J., in a recent letter provides multiple resources for wise election discernment, inviting Jesuits and our colleagues “to create that space of civil discourse which allows for true democratic dialogue and lets the foundational principles of our faith inform the ways we ponder and speak to one another about the grave challenges we face.”</p>
<p>Fr. Mercier first suggests we consider how “All of us are affected by the racial, political and religious divisions in our society, and these can even affect our communities. Each of us needs to ask where we are tempted to judge others or to close ourselves to hearing one another. How does God call us to conversion of heart, thought, and speech during this time? Charged moments like this can help us hear God’s voice.”</p>
<p>Secondly he suggests "we model civil discourse, open to understanding even when we do not agree... The important task is to nurture understanding. The website launched by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, offers helpful insights along these lines." </p>
<p>Finally, Fr. Mercier suggests that "we promote the teaching of the church as a resource for our political and social reflections" in this campaign season and provides links to multiple resources to help us in discerning this election. Especially in our regular column summarizing perspectives from Catholic Social Thought. JSRI’s website also provides multiple resources on a variety of issues which are part of the current election debates.</p>
<p>The pilgrim Saint Ignatius models and invites us to a process of ongoing discernment in these and many other important elections of our lives, examining the relevant issues, asking for God’s grace, and deciding AMDG (for the greater glory of God.) </p>
<p><a href="https://t.e2ma.net/webview/z2npl/53a6480e812257faf3fe6b01e706983d">MORE>></a></p>
<p>As we approach November’s election, we at JSRI encourage discerning assessment of the difficult political choices at hand. </p>
<p>At the beginning of his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius Loyola advises that in facing an “election” about one’s state in life, we “let the Creator act immediately with the creature, and the creature with its Creator and Lord” because in decisions like these “it is more fitting and much better, when seeking the Divine Will, that the Creator and Lord should communicate with the devout soul, inflaming it with love and praise, and disposing it for the way in which it will be better able to serve in the future.” (Spiritual Exercises #15). Such criteria for discernment may also well apply to the political elections we now face.</p>
<p>Recently when Pope Francis was asked about these upcoming U.S. elections he responded within this Jesuit tradition of “election” when he replied “I never say a word about electoral campaigns….The people are sovereign. I will only say: Study the proposals well, pray and choose in conscience.” </p>
<p>In this context, our Jesuit provincial superior, Fr. Ron Mercier, S.J., in a recent letter provides multiple resources for wise election discernment, inviting Jesuits and our colleagues “to create that space of civil discourse which allows for true democratic dialogue and lets the foundational principles of our faith inform the ways we ponder and speak to one another about the grave challenges we face.”</p>
<p>Fr. Mercier first suggests we consider how “All of us are affected by the racial, political and religious divisions in our society, and these can even affect our communities. Each of us needs to ask where we are tempted to judge others or to close ourselves to hearing one another. How does God call us to conversion of heart, thought, and speech during this time? Charged moments like this can help us hear God’s voice.”</p>
<p>Secondly he suggests "we model civil discourse, open to understanding even when we do not agree... The important task is to nurture understanding. The website launched by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, offers helpful insights along these lines." </p>
<p>Finally, Fr. Mercier suggests that "we promote the teaching of the church as a resource for our political and social reflections" in this campaign season and provides links to multiple resources to help us in discerning this election. Especially in our regular column summarizing perspectives from Catholic Social Thought. JSRI’s website also provides multiple resources on a variety of issues which are part of the current election debates.</p>
<p>The pilgrim Saint Ignatius models and invites us to a process of ongoing discernment in these and many other important elections of our lives, examining the relevant issues, asking for God’s grace, and deciding AMDG (for the greater glory of God.) </p>
<p><a href="https://t.e2ma.net/webview/z2npl/53a6480e812257faf3fe6b01e706983d">MORE>></a></p>