The Contemplation to Attain Divine Love… a contemplation designed to help us understand God’s love for us.

First, remember “with deep affection how much God our Lord has done for me” and “how much he has given me of what he possesses.”

Second, think about the way that God “dwells” in all his creatures. In the elements, God gives them existence. In the plants, life. In the animals, sensation. In human beings, intelligence. And in yourself, in whom God dwells, “giving me existence, life, sensation, and intelligence; and even further, making me his temple… How does God “dwell” in you?

Third, consider how God labors in all of creation. God labors on our behalf and on behalf of all creatures, “giving them their existence, conserving them,” helping them to grow and be themselves.

Finally, think of how all these gifts—and others, like justice, goodness, piety, and mercy—descend from God “as the rays come down from the sun, or the rains from their source.” God is at work, with you, and for you. All these images are beautiful invitations to think about and experience God’s love for you.

But there’s more. Within that final contemplation is one of the most famous, and perhaps most difficult, of all Ignatian prayers… the Suscipe. The Suscipe prayer is an offering to God. Like many of the Ignatian ideals— including indifference, detachment, humility—this prayer is a goal.

"Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and all my will— all that I have and possess. You, Lord, have given all that to me. I now give it back to you, O Lord. All of it is yours. Dispose of it according to your will. Give me love of yourself along with grace, for that is enough for me."

It is a prayer of total surrender. I offer you everything, God. All I need is your love and grace. This is all I need to be “yes, alive.” The spiritual life is a constant journey. Ignatius said, it’s enough to have the desire for the desire. It’s enough to want that freedom. God will take care of the rest.

#quote #JamesMartin #TheJesuitGuideToAlmostEverything take, Lord, receive… amen. (“,)

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