HSE4 - St. Ignatius, A Man of the Church - The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J.

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St. Ignatius, A Man of the Church – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J.

Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor reflect on St. Ignatius of Loyola’s deep trust in God’s presence through Scripture, the Church, and creation. Hearing the Word of God can stir the imagination in ways that simple reading may not, inviting us into a more living encounter with Christ. Ignatius himself modeled this attentiveness by discerning God’s guidance through his Church, even in challenging or imperfect circumstances. His obedience to Church authority—rooted in the conviction that Christ speaks through it—shaped the Jesuits’ special vow to serve under the Pope’s mission. For Ignatius, this fidelity was not blind, but grounded in the belief that the Holy Spirit animates the Church as a “hierarchical mother.”

He turns to modern struggles with confusion, criticism, and division fueled by social media and rapid communication. It’s important to discern when the Church is speaking authoritatively in matters of faith and morals, and when leaders are merely offering personal opinions. Using the image of Odysseus tied to the mast, he likens fidelity to Church teaching as the sure safeguard against the alluring “sirens” of cultural voices that distract from God’s truth. Ignatius also perceived God’s sustaining love in creation, finding in even the smallest details of nature a doorway into divine mystery.

Discerning Hearts Catholic Reflection Questions:

How do I allow God’s Word to move from my intellect into my heart through prayerful listening and imagination?
When I hear the Church’s teaching, do I recognize Christ’s voice speaking through her?
How do I respond when faced with confusion or division in the Church today?
Am I willing to trust and follow the Church’s guidance even when it challenges my own preferences?
In what ways can I practice discernment between authoritative Church teaching and personal opinions of leaders?
Where in creation do I notice God’s sustaining presence and love?
Do I allow cultural “sirens” to pull me away from Christ, or do I remain tied to the mast of the Church’s faith and morals?
How can I foster a spirit of patience and docility when the Church deliberates on complex issues?
What does it mean for me personally to “feel with the Church” in the spirit of St. Ignatius?
How does the principle and foundation of the Spiritual Exercises invite me to see all things in relation to God?

Fr. Anthony Wieck is a Jesuit priest of the Central & Southern province. Sixth of nine children, raised on a farm in Oregon, Fr. Anthony began religious life in 1994, spending his first five years of formation in Rome, Italy, studying at the Casa Balthasar and the Gregorian. The former was under the watchful patronage of Pope Benedict XVI (then-Card. Joseph Ratzinger). Fr. Anthony currently acts as retreat master at White House Jesuit Retreat in St. Louis, Missouri. He also offers spiritual direction at the St. Louis diocesan seminary for 25 future priests there.