By David Whitmarsh
Words matter, but talk is cheap.
We humans typically vacillate between ‘words matter’ and ‘word smatter’. The smattering of words we spend on that which does not satisfy is a spiritual epidemic. The remedy belongs to those who begin spending more words that matter. Welcome to prayer.
We obviously need prayer for discernment. How are we to hear God’s voice, if we don’t talk to Him?
Saint Ignatius is uniquely qualified to lead us in prayer. No, I’m not talking about that Ignatius. St. Ignatius of Loyola is an excellent mentor for prayer too, but we’re talking here about the Original Ignatius.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch was the third Bishop of Antioch. His birth year is unknown, but there’s a fun legend that Ignatius was the child on Jesus’ lap when He said we must be like the little children.
His resume is insane. He was ordained by Saint “The Rock” Peter. Along with Polycarp and Clement of Rome, he is the third Chief Apostolic Founding Father. How do you like that, George Washington?
Ignatius (who coined the term ‘Catholic’ Church) saw the Church as a symphony. Every instrument being necessary. He is an originator of vocational thought.
Death by wild beasts was his last act. Therein he left us a manual for martyrdom in the seven letters he wrote to various audiences on his way to execution. St. John Henry Newman said all of Christian Theology is outlined in these letters.
What gave Ignatius the power to face martyrdom with aplomb and also outline all Christian Theology?
Conformity to Christ.
A unity like Ignatius and Jesus had can only be achieved in the authentic knowing of one person to another. It’s like marriage. That’s what prayer is for me, coming to know God intimately. I want to know God as He really is, not as I think God to be.
After self-examination and mercy (for everyone), prayer is the next ingredient of discernment. Prayer leads to conformity to Christ which is the fastest path to knowing His will.
Prayer can be hard and uncomfortable, and why shouldn’t it be? Communing with God isn’t promised to be easy; it’s promised to be worth it. Prayer is worth the effort and every holy person we meet serves as proof that we too could be so holy. We too, can know God.
Here is my perception of Ignatius of Antioch’s two-part guide to knowing God:
- First, make an act of the will to place a particle of faith in God’s promise that knowing Him is worth the effort
- Second, offer God the same love a spouse or child longs for: time together
Saint Ignatius said it this way, “For Faith is the beginning and the end is love, and God is the two of them brought into unity. After these comes whatever else makes up a Christian”
After prayer comes the Word.
David Whitmarsh is one of Tepeyac Leadership's new Career Progression Advisors. Contact him at david@holyworkmovement.com
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