As we approach Pentecost, Philip Shano, SJ, considers one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in relation to Ignatian spirituality:
Saint Ignatius of Loyola invites us to pray for an “intimate knowledge” of Jesus Christ. He is not inviting us to research Jesus Christ on Google until we get to the very heart of who Jesus is. This knowledge is not about the mere accumulation of facts. A person can read theology books and every word of sacred scripture, but if that person is without a heartfelt understanding, they don’t really have knowledge of God.
Knowledge goes deeper than a collection of facts, and as Shano sees it, helps us in our pursuit of finding God in all things and practicing radical freedom. How might the other gifts of the Holy Spirit help in our encountering God?
