By. Sister Nancy Linenkugel
Ministering at Xavier University, a Jesuit institution, is giving me the opportunity to experience the world of Jesuit identity and values. This world is very compatible and complementary to my more familiar Franciscan identity world.
An interesting contrast to me is the Franciscan value of "Minores" and the Jesuit value of "Magis".
Our Franciscan call to emulate St. Francis, whose life actually emulated Christ, encourages us to feel the minores (minority, humility), or the letting God take over in our lives. In the often-quoted words of St. John the Baptist from John 3 we read, "I must decrease, he must increase."
So for a Franciscan, I want to live in such a way that God is the visible one rather than me, that whatever I do manifests God rather than me, and that who I am advances and honors God rather than me.
The Jesuit value of "Magis" defines that Latin word as "the more". It arises from the phrase, "Ad majorem Dei gloriam" or "For the greater honor and glory of God". The Jesuits co-founder St. Ignatius of Loyola places Magis in this context: What have I done for God? What am I doing for God? What MORE can I do for him? So the idea is that by doing THE MORE, or more for God, one also does more for others as well.
Did you know that St. Francis of Assisi and St. Ignatius of Loyola have the same middle name? Yes, you guessed it--their middle name is "of". Both saints understood that when you are "of something", you have internalized it, you've accepted it, you've fully integrated it, and so you live it out. Both men were passionate about their following of Jesus and setting forth an example for their followers, the Franciscans and the Jesuits. And both saints have left us a legacy that is really more similar than different.
For Francis, following Christ meant a total focus on Christ and less focus on oneself in doing good works. For Ignatius, following Christ meant a total focus on Christ and more focus on what more can be done in Christ's name.
These two pathways--doing for God while not looking for personal glory, and doing more and more for God because God is worthy of our efforts--lead to the same outcome: God is glorified. So I think that these two great saints have more or less the same outlook and message for us.