An Ignatian Perspective
See the place.
See a great field, where the supreme
Commander-in-chief of the good is Christ our Lord;
another field in the region of
Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.
Ask.
For knowledge of the deceits of the bad chief and help to guard myself against
them, and for knowledge of the true life which the supreme and true Captain
shows and grace to imitate Him.
Imagine.
As if the chief of all the enemy
seated himself in that great field of Babylon, as in a great chair of fire and smoke,
in shape horrible and terrifying.
Consider
How he issues a summons to
innumerable demons and how he scatters them, some to one city and others to
another, and so through all the world, not omitting any provinces, places, states,
nor any persons in particular.
Consider
The discourse which he makes them,
and how he tells them to cast out nets and chains; that they have first to tempt
with a longing for riches -- as he is accustomed to do in most cases -- that men
may more easily come to vain honor of the world, and then to vast pride. So that
the first step shall be that of riches; the second, that of honor; the third, that of
pride; and from these three steps he draws on to all the other vices.
So, on the contrary,
One has to imagine as to the supreme and true Captain, Who is Christ our Lord.
Consider how Christ our Lord puts Himself
in a great field of that region of Jerusalem, in lowly place, beautiful and attractive.
Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses
so many persons -- Apostles, Disciples, etc., -- and sends them through all the world.
St. Ignatius Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises. The Fourth Day: Meditations on Two Standards.
See a great field, where the supreme
Commander-in-chief of the good is Christ our Lord;
another field in the region of
Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.
Ask.
For knowledge of the deceits of the bad chief and help to guard myself against
them, and for knowledge of the true life which the supreme and true Captain
shows and grace to imitate Him.
Imagine.
As if the chief of all the enemy
seated himself in that great field of Babylon, as in a great chair of fire and smoke,
in shape horrible and terrifying.
Consider
How he issues a summons to
innumerable demons and how he scatters them, some to one city and others to
another, and so through all the world, not omitting any provinces, places, states,
nor any persons in particular.
Consider
The discourse which he makes them,
and how he tells them to cast out nets and chains; that they have first to tempt
with a longing for riches -- as he is accustomed to do in most cases -- that men
may more easily come to vain honor of the world, and then to vast pride. So that
the first step shall be that of riches; the second, that of honor; the third, that of
pride; and from these three steps he draws on to all the other vices.
So, on the contrary,
One has to imagine as to the supreme and true Captain, Who is Christ our Lord.
Consider how Christ our Lord puts Himself
in a great field of that region of Jerusalem, in lowly place, beautiful and attractive.
Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses
so many persons -- Apostles, Disciples, etc., -- and sends them through all the world.
St. Ignatius Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises. The Fourth Day: Meditations on Two Standards.
posted by MM at 7:44 AM
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