Rooted in Reality
As those in formation today, the world appears vastly different to us from what it was for the Jesuits who came before us. Standing on the shoulders of giants, we are preparing to enter a reality they could scarcely have imagined — a world shaped by digital fragmentation, ecological crisis, and a profound erosion of institutional trust. Amid these challenges, if we are to serve the world effectively, we cannot merely rely on the prestige of the collar; rather, we must be rooted in a deeper, more resilient interiority.
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Specifically, a central grace for this journey is found in the Ignatian principle, known as Tanto Cuanto: the ‘insofar as’ that grants us inner freedom. This inner freedom enables us to desire and choose only what leads us closer to God. In a world of polarized, binary certainties, such freedom fosters the flexibility to remain open, attentive and discerning. It empowers us to step into chaotic and difficult situations without needing to control the outcomes. Instead, we learn to trust that God is already at work, quietly drawing all things toward the greater good.
We must, therefore, transcend being men of answers to men of discernment. The current ethical and technological challenges require humility, depth and openness to listen. Our most humane social resource is a shared vulnerability. The world longs for compassionate companions rather than distant authorities. By embracing our own fragility, we become capable of walking gently with the struggles of others.
Ultimately, we are being formed to be contemplatives in action — men who find God not by retreating from the world, but by standing at the heart of the formidable challenges ahead.
