A group of students intending to enter the Society had formed a community in
Louvain. Ignatius wrote them a letter in 1547. In his letter we read about community
life:
„You have laid upon yourselves a heavy obligation to live holy and pious lives:
having separated yourselves from others in your residence and way of life, you will
be under everyone’s observation and on everyone’s tongue. Nevertheless, I have
confidence you will do this in him from whom comes every good and perfect gift
(Jas 1:17), to whom you have consecrated yourselves, and from whose goodness
you have your vocation and holy desires as a more-than-common pledge. But
I also believe you yourselves will derive great benefit from your common life:
brother will lift up brother when he falls, support him when he wavers, spur him
on by word and example when he flags; in the end, as you administer to each
other the grace you receive (1 Pet. 4:10), you will prepare yourselves for fresh
grace from the Father of Lights.” MHSI, Ep. I, 659-660
God our Maker,
we praise you for the gift of community,
and thank you for the communities in
which we work and live.
Thank you for the community that is
your Body, the Church.
Fill us with Your Spirit today so that, as
one, we reflect your light and love to
each other and to the world. This we
ask through Christ our Lord.
Amen.