Notes on the Feast of All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus.

Today the Society of Jesus remembers all of our brothers who have become companions of the saints in heaven - both those who are recognized as saints and blessed of the Church, and those who have not received these honors but are nonetheless remembered by their brethren for their holiness and virtue. Preaching today at the community Mass, I emphasized the common heritage that the Jesuits of today share with the saints and blessed of the Society. Despite differences of language, culture, time and place, we are bound together by the shared vocabulary of Ignatian spirituality, our common experience of the Spiritual Exercises and the individual fruits of a transformative personal encounter with Christ. These gifts enabled the Jesuits who went before us to become saints, and they can do the same for us. That, in a nutshell, is what I told my brothers at Mass today. Given that today is National Jesuit Vocation Promotion Day, it seems quite appropriate that several visiting candidates were with us at the Mass. With its emphasis on the legacy of the Society's greatest lights and their contribution to our life today, I can't think of a better day to promote vocations. If you're feeling the pinch yourself, why don't you check out the Vocations section of the U.S. Jesuit Conference website for more information. AMDG.