On
July 31 the Jesuits celebrate the feast of their
founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. The core of
Ignatian spirituality can be summed up in one
word, namely, Magis. Magis is a Jesuit phrase
which means "the more." It is taken
from 'Ad majorem Dei gloriam' a Latin phrase
meaning 'For the Greater glory of God."
Magis refers to the spiritualiy of doing more,
for Christ and therefore for others. It is an
expression of an aspiration and inspiration.
Three pillars of Magis are:
1. To know Jesus more clearly. 2. To love Jesus
more dearly. 3. To follow Jesus more nearly.
To know Jesus is to experience
Jesus deep down in our hearts and then to recognize
him in our fellow human beings. To love Jesus
is to have self-emptying love for others just
as Jesus showed his selfsacrificing love for
humanity. And to follow Jesus is to follow his
way. A true Christian is never complacent but
always looks forward to the opportunities to
do more for Christ.
To
live out Magis is to ask: a) What have I done
for Christ? b) What am I doing for Christ? c)What
more can I do for Christ?
St. Ignatius asked these questions
to himself and strove to live three pillars
of Magis in his life. The spirit of Magis led
him to establish the ideal company called "The
Society of Jesus." Can we strive to live
out magis in order to form an ideal society
centered around Jesus Christ. If St. Igantius
did, why can't we?
Anil Pereira s.j
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