Then, we’re told that Ignatian Spirituality is based on writings by Ignatius of Loyola called “The Spiritual Exercises.”
While I’m sure that The Spiritual Exercises contain, like the Bible, many embarrassing passages that are “not to be taken literally,” two leap out at us.
These two passages go to the heart not of Jesuit Spirituality, but of “Jesuit Credibility.”
They show that Jesuit preaching isn’t about truth, it’s about eliciting desired behavior from the masses. Behavior desired by whom? By the Pope, of course.
In the Spiritual Exercises Ignatius tells his followers to lie and sandbag for the Pope.
LYING: I always thought the “black and white” quote was apocryphal, but here it is:
Thirteenth Rule. To be right in everything, we ought always to hold that the white which I see, is black, if the Hierarchical Church so decides it, believing that between Christ our Lord, the Bridegroom, and the Church, His Bride, there is the same Spirit which governs and directs us for the salvation of our souls. Because by the same Spirit and our Lord Who gave the ten Commandments, our holy Mother the Church is directed and governed.
SANDBAGGING: In Rules 14 and 15, Ignatius addresses the notion of sharing “too much truth” with the masses. Here the “saint” makes clear that the purpose of talking to the masses is to affect their behavior, NOT to share truth or insight. So, if there is some truth that might affect the masses behavior in a way undesirable to the Pope or to the Pope’s local political allies, don’t reveal this truth to the masses.
Fourteenth Rule. Although there is much truth in the assertion that no one can save himself without being predestined and without having faith and grace; we must be very cautious in the manner of speaking and communicating with others about all these things.
Fifteenth Rule. We ought not, by way of custom, to speak much of predestination; but if in some way and at some times one speaks, let him so speak that the common people may not come into any error, as sometimes happens, saying: Whether I have to be saved or condemned is already determined, and no other thing can now be, through my doing well or ill; and with this, growing lazy, they become negligent in the works which lead to the salvation and the spiritual profit of their souls.
The only solution to the intellectual quagmire of predestination is to give up the notion of hell. God HAS predestined all of us—to heaven!
But no. The RCC has so little confidence in Christ’s message of love it just can’t give up its reliance on fear.
Conclusion:
Q. Based upon the “Spiritual Exercises,” can we believe anything a Jesuit says?
A. No.
3 comments:
This is utterly ridiculous!
hey, I suggest you read more about the history of the church during the 15th and 16th century and the life of St. Ignatius before you jump to these kind of conclusions. You're making a fool of yourself by giving out these kinds of assertions without understanding the context of the Spiritual Exercises and the spirit behind it.
If to be understood the words of Ignatius require a knowledge of 15th and 16th century church history, and an "understanding" of the "context" of the Spiritual Exercises, then Ignatius words really don't "speak across the ages" to us. Just as we need the Church to interpret the Bible for us (the inarticulateness of God) so too we need the Jesuits to interpret the SE's for us (the inarticulatenes of Ignatius).
I suppose you do understand such things. I can only look at SI's words themselves. They urge his folowers to repeat the Pope's lies, and to not disuss unconvenient truths with the laity.
Did you just call your brother Raca?
I'm going to do a little piece on the Georgetown slave business. I suppose I need some context for that, also.
Post a Comment