Day 2: Companions in the Spiritual Exercises

Day 2 Companions in the Spiritual Exercises

OPENING HYMN

Prayer for Generosity (Jandi Arboleda) or
Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas-Palad (Manoling Francisco, SJ)

INTRODUCTION TO THE CELEBRATION

P. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.

If the presider is a priest or deacon:
P. The Lord be with you.
A. And also with you.

We gather to honor Ignatius, Francis and Peter, who, through the Spiritual Exercises, found a common root and friendship in Jesus, in whose Company they united themselves for the building of his Kingdom.

A moment of silence is observed.

PRAYER OF PRAISE

P. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
A. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3: 14-21)

P. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
A. As it was in the beginning is now and will be for ever. Amen.


GRACE OF THE DAY
We beg for the grace to relish the love of God and be rooted in a deep and intimate friendship with Christ.

SCRIPTURE READING

From the letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 22-30. 35-39

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

MEDITATION SONG

In My Heart (Manoling Francisco, SJ) or Now We Remain (David Haas) or
Here in This Place (David Haas)
The meditation song may be preceded or replaced by a homily or sharing, or a period of silent prayer.

REFLECTION

Faber dedicated himself to the service of the Church; and having gone through the usual course of theological studies, with the advice of Ignatius, he embraced the clerical state. Before, however, receiving orders, he performed the Spiritual Exercises, with a loftiness of soul and generosity of purpose which are rarely to be met with. During the winter, which, that year, was so tensely cold that coaches might safely cross on the frozen waters of the Seine, he undertook this career of penance. Glowing with fervor while all was cold and bleak in nature, he spent hours in the open air rapt in sublime contemplations; and several days without tasting any food. After this, in the twenty-eighth year of his age, he was ordained priest, A.D. 1534,—the first-born as it were, of the great parent of the Society. (Rev. Chas. Constantine Pise, D.D. Saint Ignatius and His First Companions. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons.p.78-79)

DAILY PRAYER

Please refer to First Day.

INTERCESSIONS

Ignatius initiated his first companions through the Spiritual Exercises and thus established the Company of Jesus, born from and grounded firmly in the awareness of God’s merciful love. Let us pray to the Father of Jesus, confident that he will give us all that we ask in His Name:

R. Lord, keep us in your love.

1. For the Holy Church of God, redeemed by Christ with an everlasting love. That she may be sincere, eloquent and steadfast in proclaiming the saving mercy of Christ our Lord to all people. Let us pray to the Lord.
2. For our nation, especially the poor and the needy among us. That our people may know and experience truly and deeply the living reality of Christ and heed the call of his kingdom of truth, justice and love. Let us pray to the Lord.
3. For our Society, in its ministry and privilege of sharing the legacy of our Father Ignatius. That the Lord may continue to touch and bless with consolation and grace, light and guidance, all who commit themselves to the Spiritual Exercises, waiting for his love and mercy. Let us pray to the Lord.
4. For Jesuits on tertianship. That they may rediscover the love of Christ and be renewed in the foundation of their calling. Let us pray to the Lord.
5. For a renewal of the spiritual life. That in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern living, the men and women of our time may listen to the call of God in their hearts and live in his love. Let us pray to the Lord.
6. For all of us gathered here. That we may always live in deep and sincere contemplation of God’s love and offer our lives in his service. Let us pray to the Lord.

Our Father…

CLOSING PRAYER

God our Father, you reveal your mercy to us in the self-giving love of Jesus your Son. Increase your love in us even as you inflamed the hearts of Ignatius, Francis and Peter with love of your Son and united them in zeal for his kingdom.

We ask this in the Name of Jesus the Lord.

A. Amen.


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