Theology in Paris
22. Ignatius moves to the more liberal France
The Alcalá companions broke up and Iñigo made up his mind that in order to continue his work of opening people up to conversion to Christ within the Catholic Church he would need to become a priest. To study for the priesthood he went to the University of Paris, which in those days was more liberal than the more Catholic Spain.
In Paris, Iñigo changed his name to the more common Ignatius. He also began to gather a number of students around him who ten years later in Rome were to form the foundation of the Society of Jesus – the Jesuits.
Lyrics
How can you pray and study at one and the same time?
How can you think of God’s things and learn Latin rhymes?
How can you give attention to two things at once?
How can you think and wonder and still be at one?
The answer’s very simple; you really should not try!
Be one-pointed, one-centred, or you’ll split and die,
Do what you are doing, be and learn how
To love your God always, for his name is ‘now’.
How can you be delighted when your hands are chained?
How can you go dancing when your leg is maimed?
How can your voice rise in song when you’re lost in the dark?
How can you build a palace in prisons so stark?
My hands are still praying though chains pin them down;
My feet arc still dancing though held to the ground.
My heart is still singing through darkness and din;
My prison’s a palace when I’m free within.
My meaning is being with Christ when he is;
My meaning is being my true self through his;
My meaning is moving through weakness and night,
To be with him always, break through to delight.
A thought to ponder
What were the greatest lessons you learnt in life?
Do you still seek to educate yourself?
Scripture for the Day
As a way of praying today’s Scripture we suggest, Lectio Divina
Proverbs 1:1-7 NRSVACE
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
For learning about wisdom and instruction,
for understanding words of insight,
for gaining instruction in wise dealing,
righteousness, justice, and equity;
to teach shrewdness to the simple,
knowledge and prudence to the young—
let the wise also hear and gain in learning,
and the discerning acquire skill,
to understand a proverb and a figure,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Music for Today
Praise to the Holiest in the Height by Saint John Henry Newman
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