PEDROARRUPEBRIANGROGAN,SJAHEARTLARGERTHANTHEWORLD
ARRUPEPEDRO
Other Books by Brian Grogan,SJ, from Loyola Press
God Is Right in Front of You
God You’re Breaking My Heart Creation Walk
Finding God in a Leaf
Other Books by Brian Grogan,SJ, from Messenger Press
ARRUPEPEDROAHEARTLARGERTHANTHEWORLDBRIANGROGAN,SJ
© 2022 Brian Grogan,SJ
Back cover author photo: Piaras Jackson,SJ
All Coverrightsreserved.artcredit:Society ofJesus
ISBN: Library978-0-8294-5520-5ofCongressControl Number:2022935289
Printed in the United States ofAmerica. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Versa 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21
To all who find in Ignatianspirituality a graced energy to serve thepoor, who are the friends ofGod.
2 Always Choosing God ....................................................15
The Context / Family / Meeting Poverty in Madrid / “What Am I Doing Here?” / Cures in Lourdes / Vocation / The Closeness of God / Jesuit Formation, 1927–1938 / Tridentine Theology
IContentsNTRODUCTION.........................................................................xi
The Language of the Heart / Choices, Choices! / Contemplative in Action / A Demanding Love / Helping Those in Need / Trust in Providence
A Dream Fulfilled / History of Japan / Culture / Character / “You Do Not Lie!” / Solitary Confinement / Director of Novices / The Oven of Hiroshima / The Medic / Where Is God? / Provincial Superior
1 Pedro’s Spirituality
Encountering the Man / The Density of God / A Man in Love / The Hand of the Father / The Heart of the Son / The Vision of the Holy Spirit
3 Early Years, 1907–1938
4 Japan, 1938–1965 .........................................................49
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vii
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“If We Are Static, We Die” / Ireland / Change and Confusion / An Eye to Social Justice / A Time of Suffering / Final Visit Diary of a General
Resignation? / Faith and Justice / Solidarity with the Poor / Profession for All? / “Let the Matter Not Be Treated!” / Pedro’s Apology / In the Eye of the Storm / Spanish Jesuits / “Turn Back the Clock!” / Graced Conflict?
viiiPedro Arrupe
8 Globe-Trotter .............................................................107
.................139
Second Founder? / Inertia or Change? / “God Is Leading Us” / Institution and Charism / Pedro and Pope Paul VI Visionary Leader
5 Superior General, 1965–1983 ........................................69
Jesuit
...............................................129
Daily Routine / A Prayer-Filled Life / Talking with God / “Here I Am, Lord!” / Mystic with Open Eyes / “How to Do?” / Eucharist The Struggle for Justice
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10
Gifts and Limits / The One Who Gives Me Strength / Need for Renewal / Yesterday’s Answers / Jesuit Aggiornamento / Ignatian Spirituality / Corporate Discernment The Challenge of Renewal
The
.......................................................115
9
7
Men and Women for and with Others / “All Created Equal” / Integrated Life / Other Addresses / A Sign of Contradiction
The
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The 1971 Synod / Justice in the Church / Vatican Reaction / Jesuits and Justice / Leadership The 32nd General Congregation, 1974–1975
11
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.............219Contentsix
13 The Last Act
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16 Legacy .......................................................................203
...............................................................163
14 Life without Event, 1981–1991 .....................................175
The Duty of Suffering / Sickness as Gift / “Everything Broken, Everything Useless” / Nourishing the Spirit / Totally in God’s Hands / Conversations / Reconciliation / “The Enemies Were Wrong!”
15 Death and Beyond .......................................................195 Worldwide Tributes / Beyond Death
A Singular Figure / Selective Freedom? / Creativity or Fidelity? / Liberation Theology / Submission of Resignation
APPENDIX A: ARRUPE’S FINAL SPEECH TO THE DELEGATES OF THE 33RD GENERAL CONGREGATION, SEPTEMBER 3, 1983 ......................215
The Jesuit Refugee Service / “My Swan Song” / Cerebral Thrombosis / The Pope’s Letter of Sympathy / Marginalized / Jesuit Response / Paolo Dezza
12 Pope John Paul II
POSTSCRIPT: “FALL IN LOVE!” ..................................................211
APPENDIX B: PRAYER FOR BEATIFICATIONOF PEDRO ARRUPE
New Pathways / God Is Intimate / Creative Fidelity within the Church / Openness to Unfolding Reality / Mysticism of History / Hope-Filled Prophet of the Twenty-First Century / Pedro’s Influence on Pope Francis / Au Revoir
......................................262
Who Is Seeking Whom? / All Reality Seeks God / What Was Ignatius Like? Conquistadors / Enter God / Jesus Becomes His Lord
CHRONOLOGY OF PEDRO ARRUPE,SJ, 1907–1991 ........................221 AN EIGHT-DAY MINI-RETREATWITH PEDRO ARRUPE .........................229 DAY ONE / DAY TWO / DAY THREE / DAY FOUR / DAY FIVE / DAY SIX / DAY SEVEN / DAY EIGHT BIBLIOGRAPHY .....................................................................243 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...............................................................247 ENDNOTES ..........................................................................249 ABOUT THE AUTHOR ...............................................................261
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xPedro Arrupe
HOW GOD CAME IN SEARCHOF IGNATIUS
Introduction helivedthroughJapan’smilitaryturmoilinWorldWarII,threedaysofsolitaryconfinementonchargesofespionage;hebeganworkinginJapanin1938,onlytoendurethirty-hewasexpelledfromSpainwithhisfellowJesuitsin1931;atLourdes,whichledhimtojointheJesuitorderin1922;Hehadmanylife-shapingexperiences:hewitnessedmiraclescentury,notonlyinecclesiasticalaffairsbutalsoincivilones.recognizedasoneofthetoweringfiguresofthetwentietharefiredbyhisidealism,vision,andwayoflife.HeiswidelyafterVaticanII,andhisinfluenceenduresinthemanywhoinmanyways,ArrupeplayedacentralroleintheChurchtheSocietyofJesus,onFebruary5,2019.AremarkablemanlaunchedinRomebyFr.ArturoSosa,SJ,superiorgeneralofThecauseforthebeatificationofPedroArrupe,SJ,wasBorninBilbaoin1907,ArrupediedinRomein1991.
xi
bothindividualandcorporate.SoonaftertakingovertheincludingtheSpiritualExercisesandtheartofdiscernment,lifewhichhewasmarginalizedandspentthelastdecadeofhisSt.JohnPaulII.HesufferedastrokeinAugust1981,afterafewwithintheJesuitorderandtheVatican,includingPopeformany,duringhislifehewasasignofcontradictiontonotworldwide.AlthoughArrupeisabeaconoflightandhopefoundedtheJesuitRefugeeService,whichhassincespreadofVietnameserefugees,called“boatpeople”atthetime,heticeareinseparable,andin1980,inresponsetotheplightthatthepreachingofthegospelandthepromotionofjus-from1962to1965.In1975heledtheJesuitordertoaffirmmentingthedecreesoftheSecondVaticanCouncil,heldteenchallengingyearsastheChurchgrappledwithimple-numberingthirty-sixthousandmen,andledthemforsix-heart’sconcerns.oftheserealitieswaslostonhim;rather,theyallshapedhisandperiodicgenocidesofthelatertwentiethcentury.Nonedestruction.HelivedthroughtheendlessregionalconflictstheColdWar,andthenucleardoctrineofmutuallyassuredknewoftheHolocaust,theriseofcommunism,theeraoftheUSdroppedtheatomicbombonHiroshimain1945.HeincludingPearlHarbor;andhewasafirstresponderwhenIn1965hewaselectedsuperiorgeneraloftheJesuits,thenininnerdarknessandobscurity.Hediedin1991.ArrupepromotedtherediscoveryofIgnatianspirituality,
xiiPedro Arrupe
Introductionxiii
andenthusiasmforhumankindhavebecomeembeddediningforandfindingGodinordinarylife.Arrupe’svisionthemselvesathomeinaspiritualitythatemphasizessearch-havetouchedtheheartsofinnumerablepeoplewhofindHehasinfluencedmanyreligiouscongregationsthatinturnaddressesinwhichhisvaluesandinspirationshinethrough.forus,ArrupehasleftbehindamultitudeofwritingsandaJesuit,isdeeplyrootedinthistradition,too.FortunatelyenrichedbyPedroArrupe.Thecurrentpope,Francis,alsoinourtimesbythelegacyoftheIgnatiantraditionasthethattheybenotonlywell-educatedbutengagecreativelyinNews.HisstartlingvisionforJesuitalumniworldwidewastheJesuitswouldtrytohelpandasadimensionoftheGoodmotedenculturationasasignofrespectforallthosewhomJapanoftherichnessofthecountry’sculturaldiversity,pro-ingthegospel.Pedro,convincedbyhistwenty-sevenyearsinthattheSocietymustalwaysworkforjusticewhileproclaim-thephrase“thefaiththatdoesjustice.”ThismissionmeanstheJesuitmissiontotheworld,whichcrystallizedaroundcernmentpavedthewayfortherenewalofJesuitlifeandgiventohim.TherestorationoftheIgnatianstyleofdis-forusandfortheSocietytoday,”andthatgracewasrichlyunderstandwhatthemanifestationmadetoIgnatiusmeansgovernanceoftheSociety,heaskedGodforthegrace“toworldasmenandwomenforandwithothers.TheChurchandsocietyatlargecontinuetobenourished
Arrupe
visionthatwereinnowaynaïvebutwerebasedonthebeliefofmanypeople,bothJesuitsandbeyond,withoptimismandtragediesofhumankind.Inthisway,PedroshapedthelivesheindeedhadapropheticgifttoofferinresponsetotheourworldasGod’s.Heprayedforthegiftofprophecy,andtenementapoormanshowinghimthesunset,awomaninaMadridthebarenecessitiesoflife.Healsodelightedinsimpleevents:asatinymanwholivedlikeaChurchmouse,happywithengagingsenseofhumor.ThosewhoknewPedroknewhimofuntiringprayer,hewasacharmingcompanionwithanpletededicationtotheJesuitwayofproceedingandalifemenwhojustwanttoservethepeople.”Apartfromhiscom-asimpleman.Afavoritelineofhiswas“WeJesuitsarepooracrosstheglobearenamedafterhim.ButPedrowasalwayshisthoughtisthefactthatmanyJesuitresidencesandworksandonesignofhisenduringinfluenceandthefreshnessofoftheSecondVaticanCouncil(knownwidelyasVaticanII),wholeworld.”tothewholeChurch:indeed,hebelongstothecouldsay:“HenolongerbelongstoJesuitsonly.Hebelongsimmediatelysucceededhimassuperiorgeneraloftheorder,Catholicthinking,suchthatPeter-HansKolvenbach,whoArrupespenthislifeworkingtoimplementthereformstellinghimthedetailsofherfamily’sdailylife.Therangeofhisconcernswaslimitless,becausehesaw xivPedro
approvalthroughtheedgedindifferentsectorsoftheChurch.AftertheHolySee’sfirmthatArrupe’sreputationforholinesshasbeenacknowl-helpthattheLordcaresforhispeopleandcallsgenerousheartstopeopleintheirneed.Eloquentandmovinglettersfromallovertheworldcon-
nihilobstat twenty-eighthanniversaryattheBasilicaofSt.JohnLateranonFebruary5,2019,thesionformallyopeninghiscauseforbeatificationtookplaceabsenceofobstaclesraisedbythePeopleofGod,theses-astheconsentoftheItalianEpiscopalConferenceandthe(ornoobjection),aswellofhisdeath.Thecurrentsuperiorgeneral,Fr.ArturoSosa,SJ,stated:IamconvincedthatthepersonofFatherPedroArrupewillinspireinJesuitsandinthose[with]whomwepart-nerinmissionagreaterdesireforunionandspiritualrenewal,andthathewillimpelustogreatercollaborationinthereconciliationofallthingsinChrist.Hewillguideus,undertheRomanPontiff,wherevertheSpiritleads.1
Introductionxv
allbutfourpriestsin1974,andin1981,thearchbishopofsomanychallenges.ThecommunistauthoritieshadexpelledtosearchfortheexactlocationofthatcountrythathasfacedSomalia.MypoorknowledgeofgeographymeantthatIhadprovincialsuperiorinvitedmetogoonashortmissiontoassignmentsandplanningamini-sabbaticalwhenmytotrueforyourself—youdon’thavetobeaJesuitorabelieverence,andasyoureadthesepages,Ihopeyoufindittobedynamicandlife-changingevent.Thiswasmyownexperi-AnencounterwithPedroArrupewasformanypeopleaenjoyhiscompany!Inthesummerof1981,Iwasayoungpriestbetween
1
1
PEDRO’S SPIRITUALITY
Encountering the Man
did.His“Go!”energizedmeandkeptmegoinginthescarieroperation,soItookhiscommandasfromGod,andgoIpersoninwhomtheHolySpirithadunrestrictedfreedomofthoughtofPedro,withhisfrailbodyandbroadsmile,asaoutatremblingarmatme,andshouted“Go!”IhadlongHiseyeslitup:hehalf-raisedhimselffromthecouch,stuckexplainedinstumblingSpanishwhereandwhyIwasgoing.wasingnewgroundandtogethisblessingfortheenterprise.ItnowwastocheerhimwiththenewsthattheJRSwasbreak-hadvisitedIrelandin1967,andIhadmethimsince:mytaskwhohadhadadevastatingstroketwomonthsearlier.PedroIrishmanandafriendofmine—invitedmetovisitPedro,therefromDublin,andoneofPedro’scloseadvisers—anweresown.wasinsuchanunlikelysituationthattheseedsforthisbookmanyofmycompanions,IwasenthusiasticabouttheJRS.ItwhichPedrohadinauguratedonlyayearearlier,andliketodosomefieldworkfortheJesuitRefugeeService(JRS),sentme.Themissionwouldbeanopportunity,Iwastold,himamantofindouthowthingsstood,andtheprovincialheaskedPedroArrupe,theJesuits’superiorgeneral,tosendSomalia’sauthoritiesmightreacttothereturnofpriests.SoMogadishu,whowaslaterassassinated,wantedtotesthowAweeklyplaneforMogadishuleftfromRome,soIflewtobemysixthandfinalmeetingwithhim.Inthedarkenedroomwherehewasconvalescing,I
2Pedro Arrupe
thisverybook,anigglingdoubtassailsme:myselfbackingawayfromdifficulties.Forexample,asIwritemomentsofthatdifficulttrip,anditstilldoeswhenIfind WhoamItotry to convey to others the mystery of this man’s extraordinarylife? teenagercallyreenergizetheSocietyofJesus,whichIhadjoinedasamomenthewaselectedgeneralin1965heworkedtoradi-Nooneshapedmylifemorethanhedid,becausefromtheingpeoplelikemeoutofourcomfortzonestodolikewise.alwaystryingtorespondtotheSpirit.Hespenthislifecoax-withhislimitlessenthusiasm,his“Go!”Pedrohimselfwasyou”(Jeremiah1:6–7).“Youshallgo!”ItseemstomethatwhomIsendyou,andyoushallspeakwhateverIcommandknowhowtospeak.”ButGodsaid,“Youshallgotoalltoyearsagotobeaprophet:“Ah,LordGod!TrulyIdonotJeremiah.GodhadcalledJeremiahoutofobscurity2,500generalin1965beganwithaquotationfromthebookofofanecdotesabouthimstillaboundwheneveroldergenerationshehasbequeathedtousareabundantandinspirational,andspeakforhimself,ofteninabbreviatedexcerpts.Thesourcesroomechoesagainforme.SofarasIcan,Ishalllethimandhiscommand“Go!”ofthirtyyearsagoinadarkRomanIbeginthispresententerprisebyaskingforPedro’shelp,Jesuitsgather.Arrupe’sacceptancespeechuponhiselectionassuperiorin1954.
Pedro’s Spirituality3
The Density of God
Christ,heusedthetermforyou.Hewastransparent:whenwritingonthepersonofatyouwithhisbigeyes,youknewhehadspaceinhisheartdominating,hewasalwayswelcoming,andwhenhelookedPedrowasatinymanwithagreatheart.Neverthreateningor luminoustranscendence HeGarciawasArrupe’sdriveronhislocaltripsaroundRome.thatcannoteasilybeexplainedaway.ForyearsBr.Pedroopennessofheart.Pedro,too,radiatedanenergyandhope18:6).TobeinJesus’presencewaslifegivingtothosewithlaterhisarrestsquadfelltothegroundbeforehim(Johnhimsay,“Neverhasanyonespokenlikethis”(John7:46);us—andologyaddsthatitisGodwhobreathesthatenergyintoareinterconnectedbundlesofmatterandenergy,andthe-speakofas“thedensityofGod.”Sciencesaysthathumansradiatedaninnerglow;hehadsomethingofwhatHindusJesus,andthesametermcouldbeappliedtohimself.Pedrotorefertotome,Pedroverifiesthesethings.Jesusembodiedamagnetismthatmadethosesenttoarrestrecallsthefollowingincident:Ifhedidn’thavetospeakwithsomeoneelse,healwayssatupfrontbesideme.Andwhenhewantedtotakeadvan-tageofthetimetopray,hewouldfirstaskmypermission.PerhapsthemostimportantexperienceIhadwithhimwasthedayoneoftheassistantshadjusttoldhimthathe
4Pedro Arrupe
A Man in Love
Pedro’s Spirituality5
thisfactalonemakessenseofallthattranspiredinhislife.itywasprofoundlycenteredonthethreedivinePersons,andallhisadultchoices.Itwastheairhebreathed.Hisspiritual-Rather,itinformedhislifefromanearlyageandinfluencedGod—cannotbeseenasanadd-onchaptertohisbiography.life.Hisspirituality—hislifeasheliveditoutbeforementseclipsethe“secretscripture”ofhisbusyandeventfulPedrotick,lesttherecordofhisouterstrugglesandachieve-Itisimportantfromtheoutsettoemphasizewhatmade
idealater.butenrichinginfluenceonourchoices.We’llreturntothisus,asenergizingtherestofusandexercisinganunobtrusiveglowingevenmorebrightlythanhedidwhenhelivedamongofPedronotsimplyasafascinatingfigureofthepastbutasweakdescriptionofhowitmustnowbewithhim:Ithinkenergyhasfreeplayinhim.“Restinginpeace”issurelyaNowthatPedrohaspassedbeyonddeath,God’sinfinitedeathtoexpresswhatIfelt,butIcansaythatatthehourofmymittedasupernaturalfaithandpeace.Idon’tknowhowhim:notonlywashenotannoyedorworriedbuthetrans-someplaceinthecar.Therewassomethingspecialaboutwasleavingtheorder.Afewminuteslater,ItookArrupeIwillrememberthathalfhour.2
6Pedro Arrupe
calkeys,andheacknowledgesthatinhisprayerandatMassity,whichhedescribesasliketheharmonyofthreemusi-IgnatiustellsusthathecouldnotstoptalkingabouttheTrin-Loyola,founderoftheJesuitsinthesixteenthcentury.tellswhatwentoninsecretbetweenGodandIgnatiusofTrinitarianInspirationoftheIgnatianCharism,”theaddressonlyayearbeforeastrokeincapacitatedhim.Titled“Theenceinhislife,Pedrowrotearemarkableaddressin1980,Asiftohelpustocatchontothepowerofthedivinepres-littlefromtimespentwiththis“innercabinet”!Hespeaksofhishecrisscrossedtheglobe.Hiswordsandactionsemergedalsotraveledwithhim,unobtrusivebutalwaysavailable,asEachdayhespenthoursinconversationwiththem,andtheysmallprivatechapelinRomethathecalledhis“cathedral.”Son,andHolySpirit,whomhemetinhis“backoffice,”thehiminprivate.OfthesethemainonesweretheFather,thealsohadanarrayofconsultants,an“innercabinet,”toadviseWhilePedrohadapublicsidethatdelightedthemedia,heoratoryasthefountainofincalculablepoweranddynamismforthewholeSociety,aplaceofinspiration,consolationandstrength...wheretheMaster’sglanceandminecrosseachother,whereonelearnsmuchinsilence...ThegeneralwouldhavetheLordallthetime,everyday,nexttohim,withjustapartitionbetweenthem.3
Godgivemeaningtowhatgoesonintheworld.Giventhatcontemplation.PedrodidjustthisinhislongdailyhoursofsilentmorecloselyourLord,whohasbecomehumanforthem.divinePersonsandtobegforthegracetofollowandimitateRetreatantsarethentothinkoverwhattosaytothethreetemplatetheirworldinitsneedanddecidehowtorespond.retreatantstositwiththethreedivinePersonsastheycon-inspiration.IntheSpiritualExercises(101)Ignatiusinvitesofreference:helookedtothemforsupport,guidance,andThethreedivinePersonssteadilybecamehisprimarypointeverysituationandeverydecision,fromadivineviewpoint.itself,andsohetriedtovieweverypersonheencountered,humankind.Forhim,tobeintouchwiththemwaslifeheartofallrealityandwhohavekindpurposesforalloftheluminousmysteryofthethreePersonswhodwellattheintotheencirclinglifeoftheTrinity.Heisenrapturedbytofillsthegap,anditisatestamentnotonlytoIgnatiusbutalsobookontheTrinitythatsadlyhasbeenlost;Pedro’saddresshewasintimatelyintouchwiththeTrinity.IgnatiuswroteaPedro’sownpersonalspirituality.InPedro’senthusiasticstyleherevealshowheiscaughtForArrupe,onlythedynamicsofdivinerelationships is waitedonthethreedivinePersons,metthem,wasconsoledgathereveryoneandallthingsintolovingrelationships.Sohecommunity,heacceptedthatthedivineprojectisto
Pedro’s Spirituality7
The HandoftheFather
municatingacknowledgedthat“themostimportantthinginlifeiscom-years,whenhefeltthathewas“nouseforanything,”hetheseveresttrials.Evenmuchlaterinhislife,inhisdecliningrelationshipwithGodasFather,whichneverfaltereddespiteFromhisearlyyearsPedroenjoyedasustainingandintimatewithGod.”4In1977,withseveralothershecelebratedhisgoldenjubileeasaJesuit.RecallinghisearlyyearsintheSociety,Pedrosaidwithemotionthateachofourpersonalhistorieshasathreadrunningthroughit—andeachthreadisoriginalanddifferent:Whenwehearthesepersonalhistories,weperceivethatsomethingisleftunsaidinallofthembecauseitcannotbespoken:itisapersonalsecretthateventhepersons
8Pedro Arrupe
personwewillsketchinhisownwordshisrelationshipwitheachwhichshapedthedetailsofPedro’slifefromyouthonward,consolationenduring—accordingtotheirdesire.ThisiswhatIgnatianPedrowastohavetheinnersensethathewasacting—orthetaskstheygavehim.Whatmatteredaboveallelsetobytheircompany,andwasilluminatedandstrengthenedbymeanttohim.Toilluminatetheimmensehorizonsofthisperspective,oftheTrinity.
unfoldedsionthatmylifeiswritteninasinglesentence:IthasIgnatiusofLoyola.Heconcludessimply:“Ihavetheimpres-thatfueledhisspiritasitdidthatofhisgreatmentor,withthatinexpressiblefactor,thatidealofever-greaterservicePedroisspeakingoutofpersonalexperiencehere,wrestlingirresistible,ofeachpersoninawaythatisunexpected,inexpressible,tarianlovethatirrupts,whenitsodesires,intothelifeitinallofhistory.Itisthesecretofthemarveloustrini-auniqueresponse,fortherewillbenootherresponselikeway,andthepersonwhointhedepthoftheirbeinggivesGodwhoislove,andwholoveseachpersoninadifferentfoundandpersonal.Itistheclosecorrelationbetweeninterestingpart,becauseitiswhatismostintimate,pro-themselvescannotfullyperceive.Thisisthemosttrulybutatthesametimemarvelousanddecisive.5accordingtothewillofGod.”6HehadasensethatthehandofGodwasatplayinallthedecisiveturns,bothpositiveandnegativeones,thatshapedhislife.Reflectingontheelementsofthisenduringpatternhesaid:MyvocationtotheSocietyofJesusinthemiddleofmymedicalstudiesthatsointerestedme;myvocationtoJapanwhichsuperiorsdeniedmefortenyearswhiletheypreparedmetobeaprofessorofmoraltheology;mypres-enceinHiroshimaoverwhichexplodedthefirstatomicbomb;myelectionasgeneraloftheSociety—thesehave
Pedro’s Spirituality9
God,giverofbreathandbreadJesuitpoetGerardManleyHopkins:“Thoumasteringme/ingrealityofGodforhim,wemightborrowthelinesoftheenceoffallinginlovewithGod.Todescribetheoverpower-Pedro’sdynamismwasfiredbyapersonalandlivingexperi-Afterus.manifestitspresenceandabsolutedominionovereachofirruptionswherebyGod’slovingprovidenceispleasedtoreallyconsideredthem,andstillconsiderthem,asthosethesametimebornethemarkofGodsoclearlythatIhavebeenquiteunexpectedandabruptevents,buttheyhaveat7beingincapacitatedbyastroke,Pedrostated:MorethaneverIfindmyselfinthehandsofGod.ThisiswhatIhavewantedallmylifefrommyyouth.Butnowthereisadifference;theinitiativeisentirelywithGod.ItisindeedaprofoundspiritualexperiencetoknowandfeelmyselfsototallyinGod’shands.8/...Lordoflivinganddead/...Dostthoutouchmeafresh?/OveragainIfeelthyfin-gerandfindthee.”9Again,asIgnatiusspeaksofhimselfasbeing“ablazewithGod”—infact,arecentbiographerdescribedhimas“amanledbyAnother”—thesamewastrueforPedro,whowouldhavemadehisownthelinefromtheRenaissancepoetPhilipSidney:“Mytruelovehathmyheart,andIhavehis.”WhencelebratinghisgoldenjubileeintheSociety,Pedroremarked
10Pedro Arrupe
Pedro’s Spirituality11
courseimmeasurablegracesIhavereceivedeachdayduringthemomentsofmylife,butaboveallfortheuninterruptedandonhisamazementandgratitude“notonlyfortheprivilegedofeverydaylife.”10
The Heart of the Son
ety.WhileheacceptsthatthewordHeart,whichforvariousreasonswaswaningacrosstheSoci-hestronglycommendedareneweddevotiontotheSacredrevealedacrosshiswritings,butespeciallywhen,in1973,ThedepthofPedro’srelationshipwiththeSonofGodis sacred mightbedropped, hedescribestheword heart heChristexpressesthefundamentalrealityofbeinginlovewithmeaningandsentiment.Forhim,devotiontotheHeartofasaprimaryword,packedwithwhoisalreadylimitlesslyinlovewithus:ItcouldbesaidthateverylineoftheGospel,everywordofit,isthrobbingwiththeboundlessloveofChrist,whoisburningwithloveforeachhumanbeing...TheWordofGoddwellsintheinnermostdepthsofourheart.Augustine(says):IfyouwishtolovethewholeChrist,youmustopenyourheartwide.For...hispresenceextendstothewholeworldinhismembers,thatis,ineachhumanbeing.11SpeakingtotheSon,hesays:
posedprayersforthegiftofdiscernment.Hisaddress“ThePedrolivedincloseharmonywiththeHolySpiritandcom-
himinterview,“WhoisJesusChristforyou?”thequestiontookInhislaterlifePedrorecalledthatwhenaskedinatelevisionintoare,sinceyourimagechangesthosewithwhomyoucomeandmaledisciples.IwouldliketomeetyouasyoureallyheartoftherichyoungmanandtheheartsofyourfemaleyouglancedatPeterafterhisdenial,asyoupenetratedthemortallife...Teachmeyourwayoflookingatpeople:asthatImayliveallofmylifeexactlyasyoudidduringyourmethatgrace,thatsenseofyou,yourveryheartbeat,sowayofacting.ForthisreasonIfixmyeyesonyou.GiveIhavediscoveredthattheidealofourwayofactingisyourcontact.12bysurprise.Heanswereditspontaneously:FormeJesusChristiseverything...FormeJesusChristis everything SocietywouldnolongerbetheonethatSt.Ignatiusfounded,thelifeofaJesuit.WithoutthisloveforChrist,theSocietywithJesusChristisanessentialconditionfortheapostolicsomeonehadremovedtheskeletothingwouldcollapse,likeahumanbodyfromwhich....TakeJesusChristfrommylifeandevery-n...TheencounterofJesus.13
The Vision of the Holy Spirit
12Pedro Arrupe
Pedro’s Spirituality13
horizons—andnotboundedbyIgnatius’spersonalpreconceptionsorlimitedifso,how.ThespiritualityoffindingGodinallthingswastodiscernwhetherGodwerecallinghimtointervene,andhisowntimes,askedinprayer:“WhatoughtIdo?”andtriedmuchlikeIgnatius,who,whenfacedwiththechallengesofsignsofthetimesastheyunfoldedaroundhim.PedrowasthatsearchedendlesslyforthepresenceoftheSpiritinthehourstoprayeronevenabusyday,hehadafine-tunedheartChurch.Butasamanaccustomedtogivingasmanyasfourworship,spirituality,anddecision-makingprocessesofthedidthelong-eclipsedSpiritbegintofeatureexplicitlyintheoftenmentiontheSpirit,itisbecauseonlywithVaticanIIwhateverGodwantedandatwhatevercost.IfhedoesnotHelivedbydiscernmentbecausehisabidingdesirewastodoprayerTrinitarianInspirationoftheIgnatianCharism”includesatoseetheworldasGoddoes:Grantme,OLord,toseeeverythingnowwithneweyes,todiscernandtestthespiritsthathelpmereadthesignsofthetimes,torelishthethingsthatareyours,andtocommunicatethemtoothers.GivemetheclarityofunderstandingthatyougaveIgnatius.14thesamecanbesaidofPedro.
birthday,ReflectingonhislifeontheoccasionofhisseventiethheaffirmsthepoweroftheSpirit:Therearehistoricmoments—andapost-conciliareraisalwayssuch—inwhichthebreakthroughoftheSpiritpro-ducessuchanimpactintheworldthatitbecomeslikeacityafteranearthquakeoratornado...thosehouseswithweakerfoundationscollapse,butthatmakesitpos-sibletorebuildthecityalongmorebeautifullines.ThesefirstyearsafterVaticanIIhavelefttheimpressionintheChurchofa“typhoon”thatsweptupinitspathevery-thingthatwasweakorobsolete.TheChurchhasbeenairedout,...invigorated,andwecanlooktothefuturewithgreatjoyandbreadthofspirit.15
14Pedro Arrupe
DR. BRIAN GROGAN, SJ, is a former president of Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Dublin, Ireland. He was also director and editor of the website Sacred Space. Grogan, who knew Fr. Arrupe personally, has written extensively on Ignatian spirituality and has led workshops for many years. Currently, he is superior of the Jesuit House of Writers in Dublin.
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / RELIGIOUS “[PEDRO ARRUPE] WAS A MAN OF PRAYER AND A MAN WHO FOUGHT WITH GOD EVERY DAY.”—POPE FRANCIS ISBN: 978-0-8294-5520-5 $19.99 U.S.
And while the specific events that drove him to devote his life to service were unique and traumatic, the need for ordinary people to step forward and do the right thing—the compassionate thing—is as urgent as ever.
Born in Spain in 1907, Arrupe felt an irrepressible urge to help and serve others whenever possible, eventually joining the Jesuits at age twenty. But it was his extraordinary experiences responding to the aftermath of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, that engraved on his heart his dedication to justice and service.
This highly readable biography of Pedro Arrupe unpacks his life, times, and spirituality and helps readers answer the question: “What difference can I make?”
THE TERM “MODERN-DAY SAINT” is thrown around lightly these days, but rarely does it describe a person as well as it does Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ. Often referred to as “the second founder” of the Jesuits, Arrupe led the Society of Jesus beginning in 1965 during a time of profound transformation. He coined the phrase “men for others” and inspired educators at Jesuit Institutions to instruct “men and women for others.”