11. Living-out the Fifth Week
Hedwig Lewis SJ
During
the Fourth Week of the Exercises the focus is on Jesus as the Risen Lord. He
goes about comforting, strengthening, and consoling his disciples. The retreatant,
too, experience the presence and power of Jesus in his life. Before his
Ascension, Jesus entrusts his disciples with the task of carrying on his
mission. St Ignatius asks the retreatants to make Christ’s mission their
lifelong commitment, in continuation of the graces received during the Retreat.
So, the rest of our lives that follow the retreat is generally referred to as
the “Fifth Week” of the Exercises.
St
Ignatius and his first companions spent the Fifth Week, after the example of
the Risen Christ, in “the ministry of consolation.” They brought strength,
peace and solace to the peoples throughout Europe
through preaching, lecturing, spiritual conversation, and the sacraments of
Penance and Eucharist.
When we consider our lives as the
Fifth Week of our Retreat, we will experience Jesus’ Presence whenever we
gather in his Name, respond to his Word, and in the Eucharistic Breaking of
Bread; but especially when we practice “the ministry of consolation” and
re-live the charism of our founding fathers.
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