A Reading of Africae Munus in the Light of ‘Graces Asked for’ in The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Abstract

An important part of ecclesial life is to think about how a document of the Church is received. The importance of Church teachings depends a lot on how it becomes a sensusfidelium, that is, how a teaching is incarnated in the individual believer with the community of the faithful. With the publication of Africae Munus, it behooves on all to explore ways of assimilating its teachings. In one sense, this article makes a suggestion on how Ignatian Spirituality could be a viable framework through which the Holy Spirit could help African Christians respond to the call of their bishops to build an African Church that understands its mission as that of reconciliation, justice and peace. Given the vastness of Ignatian Spirituality, the article argues for and uses the theme of “graces asked for” in The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola as a conduit for reading Africae Munus. In another sense, this article is a reception of the Second Synod of Africa by someone who tries to live the Ignatian Spirituality