Obedience and Mission’ are two deeply inter-related religious realities. Even more, this dyad is at the core of the life of the person called to be a companion of Jesus in his incarnate salvific mission. ‘Mission’ takes shape in persistent and generous service through obedience. And ‘Obedience’ of an adult person and community discovers its meaning... Read more...

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The cherry blossom is one of the symbols of Japanese culture and beauty. The essence of enjoying the cherry blossoms is that it goes away in one week. The cherries just flourish suddenly two or three days. It is a magnificent experience. But everybody knows it is going to be there just for one week because it rains and gets cold and then it’s like snow when the petals start falling. And then you have a carpet. It is beautiful. It goes through different stages. But if the weather is too steady and it lasts more than a week, the Japanese get anxious. They start getting uneasy. What’s wrong with the universe?

This is a very important experience. Everything is changing, everything. Now that is why we need ongoing spiritual discernment. I was elected one year ago as General of the Society of Jesus. I see things quite differently now than I did one year ago. It is only one year. Our priorities have not changed, but the way I look at those priorities is changing. As I visit different parts of the world, I see that my appreciation was very limited. I needed to change, because reality is not the same everywhere.

Fr.General Adolfo Nicolás, S.J.
speaking to participants in the Course/workshop on Common Apostolic Discernment
Rome, January 19th 2009