Sch. Harvey Mateo
Letter from the Editor
July 31, 2015
Health care does not immediately come to mind when one thinks of the ministries of the Society of Jesus. For this reason, I hesitated to devote an entire issue of the Windhover to the theme of health and well-being because it might appear contrived or out-of-place. Not so, it turns out. There is an interesting interplay between spiritual and physical wellness in the life and prayer of many Jesuits and lay collaborators. This became evident even as the typical health-related articles one would expect were cancelled or postponed, for one reason or another.
Just as Ignatius’ retreat manual for spiritual fitness was named the “Exercises,” the spiritual and the physical aspects of wellness complement each other; one aspect cannot simply be dissociated from the other. After all, our bodies are not mere temporal vessels of the spirit. Nor are they in opposition with what is divine in us—a thinking that completely disregards our dignity as having been made in the likeness and image of God. Christianity insists on the sacramental concept of the human body. It is through real flesh, blood, and bone that all of us are touched by God.
This gives us much to think about. The teachings of the Church as regards our bodies have been misinterpreted all too frequently, especially in the light of recent events like the gender reassignment surgery of Bruce Jenner or the recent American ruling on same-sex marriage. Despite the history of the development of Christian thought on the meaning of the human body, this understanding remains unappreciated by many of us, regardless of which side of the arguments we take.
In this issue, stories about life and death serve as bookends to our collection of wellness articles. We asked Archbishop Ledesma to write about their efforts in Cagayan de Oro to help couples achieve their desired family size through natural means. With much gratitude to Fr. Bernhard Kieser, SJ, of the Indonesian Province, the last two entries are about Mary Jane Veloso and they give us a glimpse of how she faced the prospect of dying, particularly during the days leading up to her near-execution.
Physiology, pathology, and spirituality come together in reflections by three Jesuit priests. Fr. RV Baylon draws from his medical background and likens spiritual growth to the phenomenon of bone remodeling, reminding us that we are all God’s works in progress. We also share a homily given by Fr. Arnel Aquino on Jesus’ gut-wrenching compassion for a man-suffering from demonic possession. The Greek word to describe it is splanchnizomai and to give you an idea of how visceral that sounds, modern medical terminology still uses “splanchnic” in reference to the abdominal organs. Fr. Rudy Fernandez may be losing his peripheral vision to glaucoma but this condition has also widened his perspective on what it means to be connected. It’s amazing how even in sickness and debilitation our bodies can lead us to realities beyond what we can experience materially. Lest we forget, St. Ignatius’ own conversion began with an extended convalescence at home from a leg injury and a broken spirit.
It’s harder to pray when our bodies are tired or restless. “Sleep much, eat well, and pray a little” is an oft-repeated retreat instruction. In this issue we begin a new photo series on our retreat houses across the country. I liken these centers for spiritual renewal to “spirituality spas”—places to slow down and unplug, relax and re-energize. First to be featured are the two largest and oldest: Mirador Jesuit Villa in Baguio and Sacred Heart Retreat House and Seminar Center in Novaliches. In addition, we feature Mirador’s new grotto chapel of healing and reconciliation.
One final thing. The Church has a long and rich tradition of corporal works of mercy as extensions of God’s compassion to those who suffer. Christians have always been called to get their hands dirty and serve the neighbor: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick. We may experience what it means for Christianity to be incarnational but we are also challenged to dig deeper and return to the source. In all this, the Sacred Heart of Jesus gives us a powerful image of incarnated love—a heart that points to the Paschal Sacrifice as the proof of God’s desire to be vulnerable to us, that we in turn may belong to Him. It is a heart that is pierced and exposed; self-emptying and conformed to the will of the Father.
We pray that our hearts, too, may beat to the same rhythm.
The Windhover is now available in Tanging Yaman Stores, Jesuit Communications (Seminary Drive, AdMU Campus, Quezon City), Loyola House of Studies (Seminary Drive, AdMU Campus, Quezon City), and in the PJAA Office (3rd Floor CLC Bldg, AdMU Campus, Quezon City).
Nanette Abas on June 27, 2016 AT 05 am
There was an announcement that Windhover is available on-line… will you still continue releasing printed version as well? what is the difference between the on-line and printed versions?
Pinoy Jesuits on June 28, 2016 AT 02 am
Hi, Nanette. Thanks for the message. Windhover is not available online. There is a Windhover Facebook group, the contents of which have little do do with what sees print in the magazine. Some articles from the printed magazine are sometimes shared online, usually months or years after they originally appeared in print. These are usually shared on the phjesuits.org website or on the Windhover facebook page. In short, the printed magazine will continue to exist but we are looking into ways by which we share more of its content with online readers. Thanks and God bless!
Christy on November 10, 2017 AT 12 am
Hello po, How much is the subscription of the Windhover: the philippine jesuit magazine??
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