MEDITATION IV The Observance of Our Rules
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Ignatius, of Loyola, Saint and Coppens, Charles
1st Prelude. Imagine you see St. Ignatius, as he is often painted, with the book of his Constitutions in his hands.
2nd Prelude. Beg through his intercession for a high appreciation of our rules.
POINT I. What are the rules of our Society? They are a summary of those wonderful Constitutions which the Holy Ghost has used for the conversion and sanctification of countless multitudes of souls during the last four centuries, namely:
1. Of the numerous members of our Society during the successive generations, so many of whom have given evident proofs of having attained heroic sanctity.
2. Of vast numbers of other persons of the clergy and the laity who have been saved and sanctified by the virtues and the labors of the members of our Society.
POINT II. Why are these rules so productive of sanctity?
1. Because they are not merely human work; for St. Ignatius, in writing his Constitutions, obtained by fervent prayer the special assistance of the Holy Ghost. This is evident from the history of the Saint. (For instance, Genelli’s “Life of St. Ignatius,” p. 248).
2. Because they lead the way to the perfect imitation of Christ. By his Spiritual Exercises St. Ignatius makes us conceive the most lofty ambition that can be aroused within the human heart, namely to make itself comformable to the heart of Jesus; and by his rules he guides us through all the details of our earthly career to the realization of this lofty purpose.
POINT III. How do our rules accomplish this end? By animating all our actions with the spirit of the three highest virtues: of Faith, Hope and Charity.
1. They aid us to lead a life of faith. For whenever we observe a rule, we thereby elicit an act of faith, accepting the letter of the rule or the word of our superior as the expression of the Divine will. Our life is thus made to consist of a succession of supernatural acts.
2. They make us live a life of hope. He that follows his own judgment leans on a fragile reed; but he that acts because the rules prescribe a certain course thereby trusts God more than his own reasoning and thus hopes in the help of God. He shall not be disappointed.
3. They perfect in us the love of God. For they constantly prescribe what tends to the greater glory of God: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Do I observe all my rules faithfully? Does any of them cause me a special difficulty? Perhaps I do not understand it well; all of them, if rightly understood, are most reasonable.
Colloquy with our dear Lord, asking for great fidelity to observe all our rules.