Fr. Salvador Wee, SJ
The spirit of Ateneo education is based on what St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote in the Spiritual Exercises. He described two groups or camps in the world, under their respective standards or flags. This is the strategy or approach of one side:
“Consider the address the leader of the enemy makes, how he admonishes them to set up snares and chains, how first they should tempt people to covet riches, so that they may easily come to vain honor from the world, and finally to surging pride. From these three steps the enemy entices them to all the other vices.”
Ignatius then presented the strategy of the other camp, the Godly side:
“Consider the address which Christ makes to all his servants and friends. He recommends that they endeavor to aid all persons by attracting them first, to the most perfect spiritual poverty, even to a degree of actual poverty, and second, by attracting them to a desire of reproaches and contempt, since from these results humility.
“The three steps: first, poverty in opposition to riches; second, reproaches or contempt in opposition to honor from the world; and third, humility in opposition to pride. From these three steps they should induce people to all the other virtues.”
In modern terms, this is what St. Ignatius described:
| The Worldly Approach | The Godly Approach |
| Focus is on wealth, prestige and pride | Focus is on poverty, simplicity and humility |
| Materialistic | Non-materialistic or spiritual |
| What can I have, get and keep? | How can I contribute and share? |
| Self-centered; focus on self-interest | Other-centered; focus on the common good |
| Focused only on I, me, myself | Women and men for others |
| Focus on appearances, possessions and things | Focus on values, character and integrity |
| Superficial, fleeting and shallow priorities | Deep, lasting and eternal virtues |
| A culture of narcissistic selfies or selfishness | A culture of awareness and concern for others |
| Illusionary vanity | Truth and reality |
| An attitude of delusional superiority | An attitude of humble service |
| Apathy, unconcern (walang paki) | Involvement in relevant issues |
| Wala akong paki | Pro Deo et Patria, Para sa Dios at Bayan |
| B.S.S. = Believe sa Sarili, Believe sa Status. | Magis = More Ardent, Generous,
Inspired Service. |
| A carbon footprint of consumption and waste | A carbon footprint of respect and care |
Where do we find ourselves?