July 31 is the Feast of Saint Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus
(the Jesuits). Ignatius' influence on Christian prayer and spirituality
cannot be
underestimated. In my own life, I've had a Jesuit priest as a
spiritual
director for over 30 years and for the same period of time I've
always made my annual retreat at Jesuit retreat houses. This morning's prayer begins with a selection from Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises
(paraphrased by David L. Fleming, S.J.). I encourage you to take your
time with these words - just the very first line offers enough food for
thought and prayer to last a week!
The Goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God's life
to flow into us without limit.
All the things in this world are gifts from God,
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God's life
to flow into us without limit.
All the things in this world are gifts from God,
presented to us so that we can know God more easily
and make a return of love more readily.
and make a return of love more readily.
As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God
insofar as they help us to 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.
In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance
and so hinder our growth toward our goal.
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,
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 a short one.
For everything has the potential of calling forth in us
a long life or a short one.
For everything has the potential of calling forth in us
a deeper response to our life in God.
Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads
Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads
to God's deepening his life in me.
Pause for Prayer
Lord, help me accept everything in my life
as your gift to me...
And here, Lord, is the one thing
I find most difficult to accept...
Give me the grace, Lord,
to accept this as your gift to me,
as part of my journey to you...
Grant me the wisdom
to hold all things in balance, in perspective...
And here, Lord, is the one thing
that most easily upsets my balance...
Give me the grace, Lord,
to see how this is but part of my life
and to treat it accordingly...
Let none of your gifts overshadow
the gift of your grace in my life...
And here, Lord, is the one thing
that most often distracts me from you...
Give me the grace, Lord,
to see how nothing is greater
my relationship with you...
Help me see how everything in my life
has potential for drawing me closer to you:
everything, Lord!
Let this be my one desire:
to choose, always, what leads me to you
and deepens your life within me...
Give me the grace to desire Lord,
that in all things
you are my first desire...
Amen.
This song is based on a prayer written by Saint Ignatius called the Suscipe,
which is Latin for, receive.
Take, Lord, Receive by John Foley, SJ
If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!
Take, Lord, receive all my liberty,
My memory, understanding, my entire will.
Give me only Your love and Your grace,
My memory, understanding, my entire will.
Give me only Your love and Your grace,
that’s enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.
Take, Lord, receive all I have and possess.
You have given all to me, now I return it.
Take, Lord, receive, all is Yours now.
Dispose of it, wholly according to Your will
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.
Take, Lord, receive all I have and possess.
You have given all to me, now I return it.
Give me only Your love and Your grace,
that’s enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.
Take, Lord, receive, all is Yours now.
Dispose of it, wholly according to Your will
Give me only Your love and Your grace,
that’s enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.
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