Three Spiritual Dispositions for Apostolic Planning: Joy, Imagination and Boldness

As Lay Colleagues and Jesuits from across the USA East Province approach our communal discernment about our shared apostolic future, we are happy to share with you a beautiful personal reflection that Fr. Matt Malone, SJ, has prepared for us: Three Spiritual Dispositions for Apostolic Planning: Joy, Imagination and Boldness. Fr. Malone quotes Pope Francis, “The ‘Church’s strength does not reside in herself and in her planning or organizational abilities,’ Pope Francis has said, ‘but rests hidden in the deep waters of God. And these waters stir up our aspirations and desires.’ The process of envisioning the future, in other words, of discerning our aspirations and desires, will come to nothing if it does not proceed from a living faith, from hearts that are seized by the name of Jesus.” Let us offer a prayer for ourselves that we might allow ourselves to be seized “by the name of Jesus.” We are encouraged to read and ruminate over how the dispositions of joy, imagination and boldness are present in our lives.