Daring the Audacity of the Improbable

Reflections on St. Ignatius of Loyola

Although the Chapter deals with matters concerning the Order, it does not exist or operate outside the Church—on the contrary, it lives at its heart. Therefore, its rhythm is determined not only by the daily schedule, but also by the liturgical calendar.

Today, as we commemorate St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, together with our brothers we turn our gaze to this saint and ask: what can we learn from him?

Today’s preacher, Brother André Tavares, Provincial of Brazil, based his reflections on two quotations. The first, “God wills, humans dream, the work is born” comes from the poem O infante by the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935).
The second is the words of Brother Bruno Cadoré, who in his homily opening the 36th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus in 2016 used the expression: “the audacity of the improbable.”

Expanding on these thoughts, Brother André said:

“In a complex context for the Church, in a changing society, in an era marked by the discovery of a completely new world, God needed bold people like Ignatius. Even today, in a time marked by war, inequality, and fears linked to new technologies, the Lord needs us to dare this “audacity of the improbable.” This audacity is not reasonable if we look only at our human strength; but grace makes the impossible possible when we allow ourselves to be strengthened and guided by the Gospel, which gives us the courage to dream of God’s will.

“God wills, humans dream, work is born.” The missionary’s dream is born from God’s will. It is not a question of human will. Quite the contrary. The work can only be born when individuals’ dreams come not from themselves, but from what God wills. Indeed, when it comes to “the audacity of the improbable,” to evangelical audacity, God’s will almost always demands human sacrifice. As Ignatius prayed: “May my only reward be to know that I am doing your will.”

The Daily Life of the Chapter

The preacher’s words resonated strongly in the context of the meetings and deliberations that invariably fill the daily schedule. As an Order, we face decisions every day which, although made in specific circumstances, about which much has already been said here, demand precisely this evangelical boldness from us: not to follow what is safe and predictable, but what is life-giving. To dare to look toward the horizon that God draws before us.

After all, our Dominican history also began with a dream—to preach the Gospel to everyone, everywhere, and in every way. Today, God invites us once again not to be afraid to dream. And not to be afraid to go where we have not yet been.

Prayer for the Chapter

Today marks exactly two weeks since brothers from all over the world arrived in Krakow for the General Chapter. We ask you to continue to pray for all the participants of the Chapter, for strength for them, and for the good fruits of this time of searching together for the paths that God, through St. Dominic, is sending us on.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us,
that we may dare to undertake this “audacity of the improbable.”