Another reason the rich and powerful like the Jesuits is the rich-man-eye-of-the-needle issue.
When Jesus said, “It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into heaven”, He didn’t mean “impossible” just difficult, sort of like building a ship in a bottle.
Anyway, if there were a way for a rich man to get into heaven, the Jesuits would be the ones to figure it out.
The Jesuit slogan AMDG, (to the greater glory of God), has the practical translation, as we repeat like a broken record, “It’s all good.”
So, how does the camel squeeze through?
There it is, in Wikipedia. It’s called “detachment.”
Detachment
Where Francis of Assisi's concept of poverty emphasized the spiritual benefits of simplicity and dependency, Ignatius emphasized detachment, or "indifference." For Ignatius, whether one was rich or poor, healthy or sick, in an assignment one enjoyed or one didn't, was comfortable in a culture or not, etc., should be a matter of spiritual indifference—a modern phrasing might put it as serene acceptance. Hence, a Jesuit (or one following Ignatian spirituality), placed in a comfortable, wealthy neighborhood should continue to live the Gospel life without anxiety or possessiveness, and if plucked instantly from that situation to be placed in a poor area and subjected to hardships should simply cheerfully accept that as well,without a sense of loss or being deprived.
As the Church Lady would say, “How conveeeeenient.”
While the quote refers mostly to life inside the Jesuits, the attitude translates to civilian life. Rich people can simply pretend not to notice that they’re stinking rich, they’re too focused on spirituality. They’re “detached.”
And if you’re poor, well, that’s your “assignment.”
So it’s perfectly natural that Gordon Getty, one-time richest man in America (now approx. #150) sits on the Board of Trustees of my alma mater, St Ignatius High School (now “college prep”).
And perfectly natural that the President of the Board of Trustees of S.I. (fro many years) happened also to be president of Wells Fargo Bank. Paul Hazan, we must assume, didn’t claw his way to the top of the second largest bank in California. He was just sort of assigned to be CEO, you know, by God.
We’re all just Ignatians on our spiritual quest.
Notes on San Francisco’s St Ignatius High: S.I. grad Gordon Getty is the lifetime sponsor of Gavin Newsom, current Mayor of San Francisco. The source of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s seven-figure net worth is her husband, Paul, another S.I. grad.
3 comments:
Believe it or not, there are many Jesuits that argue with each other over the issue of poverty.
Allow me to comment on one of your quotes. You say:
"While the quote refers mostly to life inside the Jesuits, the attitude translates to civilian life. Rich people can simply pretend not to notice that they’re stinking rich, they’re too focused on spirituality. They’re “detached.”
And if you’re poor, well, that’s your “assignment.”"
This is simply not true. Ignatius was a firm believer that the Jesuits were to be a "bridge" between the rich and the poor. Yes, there are Jesuits that live among the rich. However, they do this to try to get the rich to realize that there are poor people out there that need their help. In contrast, there are many Jesuits that live and work among the poorest of the poor each day.
Also, the phrase AMDG does not give the Jesuits license to do what ever they want because "it's all good." In fact, it is just the opposite. It give the Jesuits a framework in which to function. All things during the course of a day should be done with God in mind and how you can glorify him. If what you are doing can't glorify God, then it shouldn't be done.
Anon: Thanks for commenting.
"bridge between rich and poor."
That sounds a lot different than "work to eliminate poverty."
Does J Sobrino think of himself as a "bridge between rich and poor"? My impression is he sides with the poor.
Jesuits IMHO educate the leaders of all sides of political, even military disputes. It's sort of like corporations donating to both candidates in an election, they want to be on the winnning side whatever the outcome.
Jesuits even argue about abotion and gay sex. That guy Fessio wants to genetic-engineer homosexuality out of existence. That guy at Marquette says gay sex like straight sex can be amdg.
Also, assuming you are the same anon commenting recently, you're starting to see my connection to and interest in the the Jesuits.
There's an earlier post about the letters AMDG chalked on the Nagasaki (dear to Jesuits) bomb. Ignatius said, as I understand, that anything not sinful can be amdg, including nuclear bombardment.
The Jesuits don't do what they do just to "come out on the winning side" no matter what. As you may know from your previous involvement with the Jesuits, they are very often oriented toward social justice. They are simply working toward that goal within the framwork of Ignatian spirituality. No underlying agendas. No ulterior motives.
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