(A guest editorial by the inimitable Mr. Screwtape)
The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, “Kemo Sabe, look towards sky, what you see?”
The Lone Ranger replies, “I see millions of stars.”
“What that tell you?” asked Tonto.
The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says:
“Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.
Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.
Chronologically, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning.
Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.
Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.
What’s it tell you, Tonto?”
“Someone stole tent.”
Impeccably illustrated above we have Ignatian discernment in practical application. Beyond utility in the wilderness of apostolic activity, the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola have been styled by several Sovereign Pontiffs as “the eighth Sacrament”. Whether in its fully potent original thirty day program or its modern abbreviated weekender edition the Exercises have provided an invaluable and incalculable service to the children of Mother Church in the awesome responsibility of discerning the inscrutable designs of Divine Providence. Therefore all pious esteemed recipients of these annoyingly alliterative entertainingly educational e-pistles are eminently exhorted to make an annual retreat (separate and distinct from vacation time, mind you) in order to maintain the necessary vigor in the unending spiritual combat in this vale of tears.
And you’ll even know when you were hoodwinked!
Mr. Screwtape
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