Catholic Thought discussion

The fourth week of the exercises is also about union with God. Ignatius gives us three methods of prayer. The first is where we contemplate the ten commandments, deadly sins, powers of the soul and the bodily senses. The second method is to contemplate the meaning of each word in the prayer. The third method employs rhythmic breathing. In this week Ignatius also gives us plenty of material to meditate upon.

My comment:

I learned from the Georgetown lectures that the emphasis of the fourth week is to see how God revealed himself and embraced the “human” to show his presence and personality that embraced friendship and consolation especially. This is strongly evident after Jesus’ Resurrection. The Jesuits’ early ministry was reconciliation as the risen Jesus demonstrated it often to the Apostles greeting them with “Peace be with you”.

Yes, the grace of the fourth week is union with Christ. Ignatius leaves us with the realization that our humaneness is God’s humaneness. What we take away from the exercises is our soul. The result is how we live. We get grace through humility and sincerity; ask for forgiveness when it hurts other people. It is also a process that frees you from being somebody you’re not. You are liberated from the “tyranny of the should”.

By the time of the fourth week an evolution within already took place. You should need less support and trust your instincts. You put your trust in God and know what kind of life you should lead. You explore your union with God through contemplation, comprehension of previous life, and finding love in God that finds expression in deeds rather than words.

Father Howard Gray of Georgetown recommends John 21 as an ongoing call that is part of the Christian experience. This the is story of Jesus coming to the aid of his disciples fishing, breaking bread with them again on the shore, and saying to Peter “take care of my sheep” and “Follow me!”

John 21 is my favorite meditation and it is a good way to end the fourth week of the exercises. I revisit this chapter often. Father Gray states that the contemplation on divine love brings the whole dynamics of the exercises together. In week three, Father Gray says that a colloquy is reclining on the breast of Jesus just as the beloved disciple had. I thought this comment was beautiful.