Mission & Identity
Generosity in the New Year
Lord teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil and not to seek for rest; To labor and not to ask for reward Save that of knowing I do your will
Perhaps the most famous prayer associated with St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Prayer for Generosity, has also become well-known among Prep students in recent years with the entire community reciting the prayer at the close of each school day. While St. Ignatius himself may not have been the author of this prayer, it certainly captures the heart of his spirituality; the desire to know, love and serve God. Its sentiment can be found in Ignatius’ instructions before the Contemplation to Obtain Love, the exercise in the Spiritual Exercises where he reminds the retreatant that“ Love should consist more in deeds than in words.” Before this exercise the retreatant is instructed to“ ask the Lord for the grace to direct my thoughts, activities and deeds to the service and praise of His Divine Majesty”, echoing the words of the Generosity Prayer.
Evidence of Ignatius’ spirit of generosity has abounded at Fordham Prep in recent months. Our beautiful new chapel and group study center, constructed this past summer, are a testament to the generosity of our alumni. Our students once again shared so generously with our neighbors in the Bronx during the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, collecting a record-setting 41,000 food items. Our faculty and staff have not only given generously in their work with students each day, but have also given generously of their time to support colleagues with serious medical conditions. These and many other acts of generosity point to the spirit of Ignatius that continues to animate life here at the Prep.
What might this prayer mean for us in our own lives this new year? While the prayer may be rather simple, we know that living with a spirit of generosity is not always easy. Our lives can demand so much that at times it may seem we have nothing more to give. We can too easily find our days filled with long to-do lists and little time for generosity. Our culture, at times, can lead us to a self-centeredness that can leave little room for true generosity and service. Perhaps that is why this ancient prayer is needed more than ever these days. Its words are simple, but its message is profound as it calls us to seek the generosity in our lives that leads to genuine love and service. It reminds us to simply“ labor and not to ask for reward” knowing that we can indeed do God’ s will.
May God bless you and your families in 2018!
Brian Carney Vice President for Mission & Identity
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