Listen to this story:
31 July 2024
By Father Jeffrey S. Burwell, SJ
Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 33; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Luke 14:25-33
What an honour it is to preside at today’s liturgy and to be present in this church among so many friends, family, Jesuit companions, and partners in mission.
We gather today – as we do every year on July 31 – to celebrate the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. In addition to being one of the initial seven companions of the Society of Jesus and its first Superior General, his spiritual writings and apostolic legacy have influenced both the Jesuits and countless others for 500 years.This gathering also marks a transition for Father Erik Oland SJ and me. Having completed his administrative mandate yesterday, we reflect with gratitude on the good work he did as the Major Superior of the Jesuits of Canada. Recognizing that I continue that same service as his appointed successor, we pause to consider prayerfully the opportunities that await.
I learned in March that our Superior General (Father Arturo Sosa SJ) selected me as the new Provincial for the Jesuits of Canada, which presently includes those fearless Jesuits in Haiti who remain juridically connected with us. Since this time, I have felt a sustained sense of peace and consolation. I recognize the apostolic foundations laid by Father Oland are firm, and I begin my mandate from a position of stability and strength. If the mission of the Jesuits of Canada continues to flourish under my leadership, it is due in large part to the wisdom, knowledge, and counsel exhibited by my predecessor.
Twenty-seven years ago, I made the choice to give my life without counting the cost and to fight the battle without heeding wounds — that is, to choose life as a Jesuit. Although the years have certainly had some challenges, the decision to enter the Society of Jesus has brought profound joy and deep fulfillment. Saint Ignatius was fond of asking: What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?
How tragic it might have been had I disregarded the desire to do great things for our Lord and settled only for what the world had to offer. Neither riches, nor honour, nor power will bring lasting joy; with these alone, no real consolation is ever to be found. We know our hearts are restless until they rest in God. As such, I recognize (with deep gratitude) each person who nurtured and supported my vocation to the Society of Jesus. I wouldn’t change a single decision, as each one — the wise and the foolish — taught me and helped prepare me for this point in time.
Now, let’s consider the importance of today’s feast. We begin by recalling that Saint Ignatius was born in 1491 in the Basque region of Spain, a time when the world was in the midst of great change. European explorers had encountered Indigenous civilizations in what is now known as the Americas; the Renaissance was in full bloom; and the Church itself faced the challenges associated with the Reformation. Despite the possibilities available to him as a young man, Ignatius was largely interested only in himself.
He found it difficult to let go of his adolescent desire to seek worldly honour. As a young man, he served as a soldier – frequently looking to distinguish himself through acts of misguided valour and courage. One such act of bravado resulted in a catastrophic cannonball injury to his leg, ultimately ending his military career and beginning a long and painful convalescence. Yet history has shown us this was not the end of his story; rather, it was the beginning.
During this time of enforced stillness – confined to his bed – Ignatius began to read about the life of Christ and the legacy of the saints. These books (as every Jesuit is taught during his Novitiate experience) were the only texts available in his residence. As such, in the silence of the pages, Ignatius began to have a spiritual awakening; he began to see the world in a new way. He saw, perhaps for the first time, that there was more to life than his own needs, wants, or desires.
Although slow, Ignatius’ conversion was profound. We know from his autobiography that it wasn’t simply a change of heart; it was a concrete encounter that reoriented his entire life. Reflecting what we hear from Jeremiah (20:7) in the First Reading, he was so seduced by the love and mercy of Christ, who would forgive even his past sins, that it ignited within him an unquenchable desire to give himself entirely to Jesus. It was the experience with the cannonball that led Ignatius to strive no longer for worldly acclaim but to sacrifice everything for the greater glory of God, echoing Saint Paul (1 Corinthians 10:31) in the Second Reading.
Having experienced a personal encounter with our Lord, Ignatius came to believe that others could have a similar experience. He envisioned a world where fractured relationships could be healed, repentant sinners might find forgiveness, troubled souls would find peace, and the faith of lukewarm Christians could once again be inflamed. His hopeful religious perspective naturally attracted followers. The first Jesuits, a small group of six, were men who saw the magnitude of his vision and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
From there, his legacy has grown through the centuries and is manifest today in the 14,000—plus members of the contemporary Society of Jesus. Globally, our Priests and Brothers continue to minister in dynamic and impactful ways. In the face of growing social discontent and isolation, Jesuits provide hope for a grace-filled future. Within increasingly secular and anti-religious contexts, Jesuits create space for spiritual growth. In a time of ideological polarization on a global scale, Jesuits proclaim unequivocally that it is Christ alone who brings about authentic reconciliation.
In the Canadian context, we are blessed to have a dynamic group of men in active ministry. Each has dedicated his life to the service of the Church and the global mission of the Society of Jesus. Living the challenge we heard from Luke (14:26) in the Gospel — to pick up their cross and follow our Lord — the Jesuits in our Province labour daily with fidelity and intensity. Of these loyal companions of Jesus, I could not be more proud.
Yet, as we know, the ministry of the Society of Jesus is not carried out in isolation. Without the support of others — without the commitment of those who share our desire to work towards the fulfillment of Ignatius’ vision — we would be apostolically impoverished. Those who labour with us (and those who support us financially and with constant prayer) are integral to the wider mission. They bring unique gifts, resources, and perspectives to our shared endeavour; they enrich our Jesuit ministries and extend our apostolic reach. I cannot thank them enough for their generosity, care, and desire to be men and women of service.
Now, since being named Provincial, I have been asked countless times about my vision for the Province and its apostolates. People point out the enormous problems facing the Church; they highlight how hard it is to address the many concerns of the contemporary world. While it is true that the tasks are immense and we are small, this – for me – is not a cause for worry. You see, the Society was not established to do all things; Ignatius never felt his men needed to be involved in every corporal or spiritual work. Rather, he sent Jesuits primarily to those ministries where the needs and the opportunities seemed greatest.
However, to be available for mission, a Jesuit needs to be spiritually free. Every time we say YES to one act of service, we need to say NO to another. That said, this is in no way an impoverishment; on the contrary, it reveals great heroic virtue. Let’s remember the words of Saint Maximilien Kolbe, who went to his death willingly at Auschwitz to save another: Love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving. Without sacrifice, there is no love. We might discern the call of God easily enough, but this means very little if we lack the humility to let go of everything else and respond without compromise.
I often reference the first decade of the Joyful Mysteries (the Annunciation) as an example of what spiritual freedom should look like. When the angel Gabriel appeared to our Blessed Mother and asked her to conceive, bear, and raise the Christ-child, Mary willingly walked into an absolute mystery. She had no idea what the future would hold and certainly didn’t ask the angel for a 33-year strategic plan.
Rather, she knew who was asking and she trusted that call. Her great spiritual freedom should serve as a model for us. We can never know what the future will hold, and there’s always great hesitation to say YES to God’s call when we can neither foresee the future nor control what will happen. However, if we keep Jesus at the centre of our lives – as Mary did – and seek to grow closer to him each day, we quickly find ourselves emboldened to go in new directions; we become creative in our desires; and we journey without hesitation toward new horizons. Today is an Annunciation moment for me, the Jesuits of Canada, and our partners in mission. We do not know what the future will hold, but we know who is asking and we trust that call.
Let’s consider then how willing we are to relinquish our luxury, comfort, routines, and plans and go where the need is greatest. We will have failed ourselves and our Lord if we remain attached to where we are now because it’s familiar or (even worse) because it’s easy. Just as our Blessed Mother did not choose comfort over the call, nor will we. As companions of Jesus who follow in the footsteps of Ignatius, we will set our sights higher.
My friends, thank you for being here on this occasion; I am grateful for your presence at today’s celebration. Be assured of the prayers that we offer daily for our friends and benefactors. With the example of Saint Ignatius as our guide, may each of us be inspired to live not simply for ourselves or our own selfish attachments, but rather – with God’s grace – to seek only to do his will and to strive always for his greater glory.
God bless each of you.
Rev. Jeffrey Burwell, SJ
CAN Provincial
