Ignatian Insights 3 : Magis

If there is one very special characteristic, among many, which distinguished Ignatius of Loyola was his insatiable optimism and an inner drive which propelled him to pierce through status quo, to find pastures untrodden. He would not tolerate the good people, he would push them to better people; it is no point in being just good, he might have been telling his companions, they should become better people, after their encounter with the Lord, and that is how they would be able to show their love for the one who called them out of their stagnancy. This had made a lot of difference in the men he formed and sent on a mission.

If we skim through the writings of Ignatius, it would become obvious that he was fond of the comparative degree. Look at the Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises (23:7), where he already lays emphasis on this comparative ‘more’ : “Rather, we ought to desire and choose only that which is more conducive to the end for which we are created”. This ‘more’ has become one of the characteristic features of the Jesuit mission, where they would not be satisfied with the way things are going, but be always on the look out for doing things in a better way.

In the Kingdom of Christ meditation (91-100) of the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius again employs this principle of ‘more’ to encourage the exercitant to greater generosity. This is what he observes in the Third Point of the Second Part (97): “Those who desire to show greater devotion and to distinguish themselves in total service to their eternal King and universal Lord, will not only offer their persons for the labour, but go further still.” This shows that Ignatius was not the one who entertained a mediocre, the complacent, but was prepared to push people as far as they could move, without coercing obviously into their personal freedom.

This had become the rallying point for Ignatius in the Spiritual Exercises. In the Second Week, on the very first Contemplation on the Incarnation, he invites the exercitant to ask for the grace (104) : “Here it will be to ask for an interior knowledge of Our Lord, who became human for me, that I may love him more intensely and follow him more closely.” He takes for granted that the exercitant is well disposed towards the Lord and doing his will, but he is also aware that he has to do something more as a proof of his love for the Lord, who became a human person for the sake of the fallen humanity. This ‘more’ obviously is open-ended, and even at the time of our death, we will still be searching for this ‘more’.

It was the insatiable thirst of the human persons which was responsible for the advancement of science and technology; Ignatius wishes us to explore the spiritual world with this notion of ‘magis’, as is so very evident in the motto of the Society of Jesus, which contains the trademark of Ignatius, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the Greater Glory of God! If everyone sought the glory of God, Ignatius wanted his sons to aim for the greater glory of God, thus going beyond the ordinary. Ignatius was a visionary, a dreamer, whose eyes were fixed on greater things, and that accounts for the many wonderful things that his sons are able to do here and now!

Glorying in God

Watching tit-bits of the mega Oscar award function at Kodak Theater in California, especially the Indian fraternity, showing of all their assets, as if this is the end of the world, I got a feeling that it was time for us to cool down, and even play our trumpets a little softer. Who knows when the trumpet may start blaring and annoying the people around. But in the scene full of color and sound, one little phrase by the Mozart of Madras caught my attention. Before showering encomium on his mother, A. R. Rahman dedicated the twin Oscar awards to God, and ended his short speech with a phrase he said in Tamil, "ella pugazhum iraivanukke". I just couldn't believe that a man of that stature will say this, 'all glory to God'. To attribute such an achievement to God is no mean gesture, it was beyond my imagination.

Was it a publicity stunt, as the public figures are wont to do often? I realized that it was not, because his mother said something in the similar tone, attributing the success of her son to the work of God. It was amazing to see how these simple people see God, and find a secure place in Him/Her. Granted that is young musician had to discontinue his studies to make a living with his musical talents, he had nothing to complain, or curse his fate; nor did he make a speech saying if he had received enough support, he would have won the Oscar sever years ago! One of the greatest and most enduring virtues of Islam is submission to the will of God, and Rahman was hinting at it.

He sounded more religious than most religious do. There is a mad rush to acknowledging all achievements to individual efforts, toil and sweat, and seldom do we come across people who would give due credit to a force that is beyond human comprehension. In this world that is soaked in disbelief and questioning, we often would like to keep God as a matter of personal conviction, and would only hesitate to bring Him/Her to our public space. I would like to think of the moments during this day, when I had brought even the word God at any moment of my public life; yes, I did, but that was in acknowledgment to the belief of a gentleman who came to see me. Is it possible for me to take my (some would be hesitant to claim God with a personal pronoun; but can't I have anything personal with God?) God?

We the Jesuits have as our motto, something what Rahman has publicly proclaimed, and most of our institutions have the first letters of this Latin phrase carved on the walls, printed in block letters on the books and notebooks : AMDG (ad majorem dei gloriam - for the greater glory of God)! Each of us Jesuits are called to do exactly what Rahman had done on the Red Carpet at Kodak Theater - to attribute all our successes, achievements to God, who is instrumental in all our activities, even our very existence. I would not venture to assess if we are able to do it always, and unconditionally; that is beyond the scope of this little reflection; but one thing is for sure: in the initial stages of the Society, all made conscious effort to bow their heads with humility before God, for making use of them as His/Her instrument.

It is a common belief that God carries us along wherever He/She goes, and is present at every thick and thin of life; is it not right then that we too take him along to our offices, work places, to our markets, tea stalls, and malls? I may not be able to publicly announce that I owe everything I have and have achieved to God (because there are more than I can believe who are there to frown at me if I were to say that), but it is possible for me to pause for a moment during the day, and whisper in His/Her ears, Thank you, God! This little gesture may not make us saints, but can for sure make us human, who can bend the knees before the mighty powers of God. If I seek his glory and honor, then I will have very little to pull up my collars and blow my trumpet, so that everyone on earth hears it!