Wednesday, June 24, 2015

A Reflection on "The Just Soul"

Mary Ward, the foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, believed to have had a vision or illumination of “the Just Soul” while she was making her Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in 1615. This inner and depth spiritual understanding of God’s initiative into his works was a unique experience for her. She revealed it to her confessor and spiritual director Fr. Roger Lee, SJ through a letter. We notice how unworthy she feels in putting down the experiences in writing showing her utter humility in front of her Saviour and Lord. The vision of the Just Soul has a significant role in the establishment of the Institution of the IBVM. It plays the role of leaven in dough which God had already revealed to her earlier to take “the same of the Society”.  Here I will present the significance of the Just Soul and its comparison to the Institute of the Society of Jesus.
The vision of the Just Soul could be seen as the confirmation from God for Mary Ward to initiate a new Institute in the Mother Church for the spread of God’s kingdom with sincerity, justice and freedom. A soul that is free from hampering earthly attachments, utterly committed to the truth, disposed and ready for every good works that serve God and the neighbours. The state of justice and virtue of sincerity are seen as the foundations of all the other virtues which flow from these principal virtues. She experiences that everyone who joins the new Institution should be “rooted and grounded” (Ignatian terms) in virtues of justice and sincerity in order to gain from “God’s hands true wisdom and ability” (“The Just Soul”, p. 353) to perform everything with perfection.
A Just Soul can be understood as good, true, just, and acceptable way of dispositions before others irrespective of circumstances, contexts, or demographic alterations. Since a just person knows what is to be right or wrong, and, true or false. It invites one to remove one’s mask before reality, so it calls for sincerity and justice. To do justice is to set a right relationship with oneself, with others, with the universe, and, above all, with the Creator and Lord. Consequently, Mary expects to be called “just persons, works of justice, done in innocence, and that we be such as we appear, and appear such as we are” (“The Just Soul”, p. 353) being aware of the possible consequences if not taken seriously and diligently.
Mary Ward marks “virtues of sincerity and justice” as foundational requirement for all who wish to join the Institute, from which all other virtues flow. She knew, at that time, that to begin an Institute different from others (Carmelites or St Clare) was almost next to impossible. But she trusted and pondered over the inspiration and aspiration of the Holy Spirit. She realized that to do something different required a great courage and patience. One also needs to be ready for anything which would include imprisonment or even executions for proclaiming the word of God. During 1618-19, she was committed to prison in London and was soon sentenced to death but she was released, it appears, “by her friends paying down money” (Till God Will: Mary Ward through her writings, 1985, p. xvi). The Just Soul calls to have “great love of God, and desire to do good and a readiness to follow the way of justice and sincerity in lightness of spirit” (Volume II, 1.11, p. 289). She was aware that a man was the master and a woman was his tool. She had hardly any rights, only duties; it was either marriage or the cloister (H. Peters & Mary Ward, 1994, p. 118.)
Conversely, Ignatius would urge his fellow companions to develop the virtue of humility as foundation which helps one to set freedom before others, freedom before things as well as freedom before self-will. He does not use the word ‘justice’ explicitly in his writings but he expresses it through various ways through examination of consciousness, discernment, and diligent attention (Third Decree). The Just Soul of Mary Ward could be compared or equated by the expression “virtuous and learned” [308], sincerity [34, 51, 398, 825] of Ignatius. However, many expressions have developed later and are found in Complimentary Norms. I was also intrigued by the expressions  “Work with all your heart like good vinedressers” (Cum ex Plurium and the Summula) of the Formula of the Institute which could certainly be used to explain the implication of the Just Soul. Just as a vinedresser has to commit himself or herself fully without any excuse in order to get abundant fruits in the vineyard, so as once ready to join the ‘militia of Christ’ being clad for battle day and night (Cum ex Plurium and the Summula, Second Decree) in the propagation of faith and saving the souls of all.
Finally, the experience of the Just Soul of Mary Ward could be compared with Ignatius’ experience at Manresa, however, with different intensity which, in a way, led them to start new Institutes to serve God and his people under the banner of the Cross. The deep spiritual experience compels and propels one to act against one’s self- will. It opens up the horizons for the greater service of Christ and his people especially for those who are neglected and are downtrodden.

I was greatly influenced by the visions of Mary Ward who, like Ignatius, wanted to do something different during her time, in the midst of hardships and challenges. The desire to follow Christ more closely and uniquely was highly remarkable. It invokes in me a sense of eagerness to know more about her. The idea of justice, freedom and sincerity marks the ideal of the Institution. It challenges me today to examine myself deeply since I have been provided with every possible thing. I hardly encounter any opposition in my way of life today as a Jesuit.

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