St. Iggy, the frontliner

By Dr. Herman M. Lagon

 

This month, all Jesuit schools in the world commemorate the life of one of the earliest frontliners, St. Ignatius of Loyola. More than four centuries ago, St. Iggy had a promising career as a courtier and a ranking soldier of the Spanish royalty. Badly hit by a cannonball in the Battle of Pamplona, he made a 180-degree turn and became a spiritual pilgrim and a mystic. He went to school again and eventually became a priest, wrote the Spiritual Exercises and discernment, and organized and led one of the biggest religious orders in the world, where our beloved Pope Francis is part of, the Society of Jesus.

 

Sinner yet called. A contemplative in action. Perhaps this is how he described himself when he decided to commit to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His holy mission, to save souls. Together with his brother Jesuits, St. Ignatius taught us by example—like a true-blue frontliner—how to sacrifice one’s life, personal ambition, and comforts to take care of the young, the old, and the vulnerable; to nurse the sick, to feed the hungry; and to give shelter to and to journey with the least, the last, and the lost.

 

He learned, along the way, that in order to save more souls, his brothers must educate as many young people to embrace a “way of proceeding,” an Ignatian pedagogy, that is life-giving, guiding people to be more reflective and profound in their experiences, and are committed and generous enough to offer their time, effort, talents, skills, and resources for others. It is not surprising that 464 years after his death, the order now has 827 Jesuit schools with 51,000 faculty and staff, and 857,000 students worldwide under its fold.

 

We hope to live out the legacy of St. Ignatius for us to animate amid the crisis we face right now:

to be genuine frontliners, “men and women for and with others,”

to be allergic to mediocrity as we “desire to do greater things for the greater good,”

to be real Christians who truly bring to life a “faith that does justice,” and

to value nature, life, diversity, and everyday challenges, as we “see God in all things.”

 

There is nothing more heartwarming to cap this sharing with the “Prayer for Generosity” that encapsulates what St. Ignatius desires us to embrace. I invite everyone to recite the prayer with renewed zeal and fire in our hearts. Altogether,

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous
Teach me to serve You as I should
To give and not to count the cost
To fight and not to heed the wounds
To toil and not to seek for rest
To labor and ask not for reward
Save that of knowing that I do Your most holy will

Amen.

 

Let us continue to set the world on fire.#