Learning from the Masters

Contemplatio, Oblatio, Missio
Artwork by Schol. Jason K. Dy, S.J.
Loyola House of Studies
Ateneo de Manila University
Quezon City, Philippines


This year, Jesuits all around the world celebrate the Jubilee Year of the first three founders of the Society of Jesus -- St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, and Blessed Peter Favre. In these first three Jesuits, we recall that the Society of Jesus began in companionship. In each of them we see personal symbols of the essential aspects of the "original spirituality " of the Society

Ignatius and Loyola and apostolic spirituality. Ignatius' unique gift to the Society and the Church was an apostolic spirituality: a spirituality of labor with God, in God's labor in the world. Ignatius had a vision of a Trinitarian God at work in the world for the salvation of humanity. Christ for Ignatius is not so much a great figure of the past, but a living Lord, inviting men and women today to labor with him in his ongoing struggle against the enemy of human nature, in his ongoing project of filling the world with knowledge of the true life. Thus, for Ignatius, it was not sufficient to do some work for God. Ignatius wishes to insert himself into the very work of God.

Francis Xavier and mission. Francis Xavier, a man of intense missionary activity, stops at nothing to proclaim the good news. If Ignatius reminds us that it is God's work we participate in, Xavier symbolizes the human response to God's invitation. In Xavier, we see the passionate sense of urgency and the total giving of oneself in gratuity to the work of evangelization. We see in him that burning desire to "help souls," precisely because so many are deprived of their proper humanity and are plunged into misery.

Peter Faber and cura personalis. Peter Faber embodied the dimension of cura personalis. Not gifted for governance as was Ignatius or impelled toward great exploits as was Francis, Faber devoted himself to the spiritual companionship of a great number of people who were searching for God. Reflecting teh consoling ministry of the risen Christ, he accompanied people in a personal way, with delicacy, charity, and kindness, as friends are accustomed to console friends.

Reflecting on the charism of each of the first three companions, I always see myself lucky that I was called by God to enetr "this least Society." It makes me feel proud that this Society have been blessed by God to exist for about 500 years --thanks to these men who first responded to the call. At the same time, I am humbled because I know that great men have come before me, and my works in the Society are just mere shadows in the light of the work they have done for the Church. Lastly, I am encouraged because I know I still need to learn things --and I can always look at the examples of the first three companions and learn from the masters.

I want to share now one recipe I learned from a venerable Father in Xavier School, Fr. Santos Mena, S.J. He is a Spanish Jesuit who claims that one will not find any Sangria in the Philippines so tasty as his. I tried to infuse my own idea on his recipe and came up with this:

Santa Sangria

2 pcs medium oranges
2 pcs medium apples
2 cups mass wine (sweet red wine)
3-4 jiggers of gin
4 bottles of lime soda
2 bottles red table wine

Wash apples and oranges thoroughly and slice thinly. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Adjust sweetness by adding either more mass wine or sugar. Cover the pitcher and let the fruit slices steep for about 2 hours in the refrigerator to infuse the flavor. Best for cocktail parties.

According to Fr. Mena, this is the best way of putting your cheap and bad wines into use!

(I still have to take photos of my finished product. Meanwhile, I'm borrowing this photo from http://www.crepes.co.th )

Comments

Great to see you back J Haw! Thank you for the sangria recipe. Last time I had sangria was for my birthday, and I love the sweet and acidic complexity. I am learning from one of the best masters!
Jhaw, sj said…
Thanks PE! I really loved the fruity punch the first time i've tasted it, so the recipe is really trying to make the drink personal (and "holy" at that). You're one of my gurus too!
martin valencia said…
hello fr haw,

what was fr. sans (mena)'s original recipe?

martin
Jhaw, sj said…
Hi Martin.
I used Fr. Sans' recipe, i just added the "mompo".

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