Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
ne
— he Fourth Week of the Exercises counterbal-
Pu rp ose ances the First, and corresponds to that aspect
? of Ignatius’ illumination by the Cardoner which
content, shows him how everything — all creation is sub-
sumed into the divine unity of Trinity. Jesus is the
ey £ race first fruit of redemption: he is both redeemer and
. redeemed one, if Paul’s remark about Jesus ‘be-
ACCO rd Ng LO coming’ sinis tobe credited. He is also the Adam re-
. made, the new progenitor in whom all are reconsti-
lg NALLUS tuted: his mother first, then those who are drawn
upward by his resurrection. The week on sin pre-
sented the breakdown of divine order and harmony
through the perversion of the gift of freedom. The
disruption begins from the top, with the angels and works its way
downwards leaving at the bottom a hellish residue. In the Second Week,
the Word is shown descending from the Trinitarian unity into the chaos
sin has created. In the Third Week, Jesus becomes immersed in all that
is tending downwards, even going through death into the very depths of
chaos. Finally, the Fourth Week retraces the descent, working from the
depths upward, as God in Christ reconstitutes what has fallen apart.
Because of Christ’s faithfulness to his mission, his obedience, God makes
him the source of all reordering. Infused with life, Jesus moves upward
from the grave, pausing on his return from death to greet the mother by
whom he first came into an alienated world. (Perhaps this is the real
reason for Ignatius’ inclusion of this extra-biblical apparition of Jesus.)
Then, through his Easter appearances, Jesus gathers around him the
new humanity brought once more into fellowship with God. Finally,
ascending higher yet with all creation in his train, the glorified agent of
the Trinity’s purpose is received into the embrace of his Father.
The Fourth Week is also the apprenticeship Ignatius provides for
living by the Spirit of the risen Christ in the time after the retreat ends.
During the week, Christ himself teaches the retreatant how to be as he
is, and after the retreat, he continues to place at her disposal all that he
has and is. In fact, whatever belongs to Christ risen is now hers by
inheritance. He is the Christ to whom the retreatant has been praying
and continues to pray, and whose power sustains her hope. He is the
victorious Christ that the church celebrates and makes present in
Eucharist and in community. He is the Christ who is endlessly at work
in the world to fashion a people modelled on the Trinity.
rep see
the
oft
Spi
mig
does
retry
Ther
tant:
the p