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from Woodstock Report No. 69, March 2002Letters of St. Ignatius on the Internet
Following the call of Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the Woodstock Center's mission is "theological reflection on the human problems of today." With this emphasis on issues facing contemporary society, one might imagine that a collection of letters from the 16th century would have little relevancy to the Center's work. However, a project recently undertaken by Woodstock Librarian Joseph N. Tylenda, S.J., reminds us that such is not the case; for even if the questions of the day appear new, the human nature in which we form our actions and decisions is as old and universal as humanity itself. The hopes and dreams, fear and jealousy, love and selflessness and courage that stir within the human heart today are the very same as they were 450 years ago; and in no century has there been an observer of human nature more astute and thoughtful than St. Ignatius of Loyola.
In 1985, Father Tylenda produced Counsels for Jesuits, which gathered forty of St. Ignatius' most interesting and engaging letters, along with Father Tylenda's historical commentary. The book was so enthusiastically received that a group in Rome asked him to expand it to its present form. It was only in November, 2001, though, that he envisioned a way for the thought of St. Ignatius to find an entirely new audience. With the assistance of Matthew Gladden, Woodstock's web site manager, Father Tylenda began to design a web site that would make this spiritual treasure available to people worldwide. The fruits of this effort can now be explored at:
woodstock.georgetown.edu/ignatius/Jesuit_texts.htm
During the site's first month, the letters of St. Ignatius were visited more than a thousand times. Especially popular were letters such as the wonderfully named "On the Gift of Tears," in which Ignatius consoles a young Jesuit priest who feels guilty that his compassion for others does not often produce tangible, physical tears. Other letters include St. Ignatius' instructions to priests leaving for the Council of Trent, and touching letters of guidance offered to Jesuit luminaries such as St. Peter Canisius.
Father Tylenda already plans to expand the site with more texts. So please be sure to check back regularly, and explore the ways in which the wisdom of yesterday sheds light on the human problems of today.