Before Pope Francis, James Martin was perhaps the best-loved Jesuit in American life. He’s followed the calling of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, to “find God in all things” — and in 21st-century forms. To delve into Fr. Martin’s way of being in the world is to discover the “spiritual exercises” St. Ignatius designed to be accessible to everyone more than six centuries ago. Also his thoughts on the “un-taming” Christmas.
Finding God in all things
“Inigo de Loyola,” Thomas Carlyle wrote, “was the poison fountain from which all the rivers of bitterness that now submerged the world have flowed.”
Inigo founded his “Company of Jesus,” as he originally called it, for one purpose: to be defender of the Church and the papacy. The Jesuits were the “Pope’s Men,” and nothing more for 465 years.
In 1965 that all changed.
There is more to this story.