Jesuit Journeys
Fall 2002
BY MARIE SCHWAN, CSJ
For the past decade or more, four
questions have woven their way
through my prayer and through
my ministry. The first is the question
that Jesus asked of his disciples as they
walked together along the way, “But who
do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29)
And from that question, like a flower
opening up, the query: “Who does your
life say that I am?” and “What would it
mean if you were as fascinated with Me
as you are with yourself?” And always at
the periphery of awareness is the question,
“Am I – Jesus Christ – enough?”
Each question continues to probe my
spirit, haunt my heart.
If I speak of these questions as the
warp of my life, then the woof of the
tapestry is a contemporary form of a
prayer that was close to the heart of
Ignatius, the “Anima Christi,” found in
the first pages of each edition of the
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
As I, in preparation for this article,
began to reflect on this prayer as I first
learned it, I was flooded with memories
from my childhood and young adulthood.
I do not think there was a prayer
book that did not include the “Anima
Christi,” most frequently as part of personal
and private thanksgiving at the
end of Mass after the reception of Holy
Communion. There was also, I recall, a
simple, popular hymn based on the
words of this prayer.
As I revisit the prayer, I am amazed
by the concreteness of each phrase. The
prayer is real. The need that prompts it
is deeply felt. The words are the urgent,
impassioned plea of a newly called disciple;
the words are no less the heartfelt
expression flowing from the seasoned
spirituality of a mystic grown old in
loving service.
I read and make each phrase my own.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Perhaps
the Latin words, Anima Christi, better
hold the dynamism of the human heart
stretched open and wide to receive the
spirit of Christ.
Breathe your spirit into me; energize
me; be the life of my life.
Body of Christ, save me. The words
are grounded in the flesh and blood life
of Jesus, in his historical reality. His
body gestated in the womb, was born,
grew into a strong man of integrity, one
who wept and laughed, who reached out
in compassion, who embraced death
with fear and in trust. Save me. I need
You, O Lord. I cannot make this journey
without you. How else accept the poverty
of my creaturehood?
Water from the side of Christ, wash
me. Cooling, refreshing, cleansing.
Mystery of birth and baptism. All are
held in these words.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
May your passion be my own, your compassion
pour through me.
O good Jesus, hear me.We so need
and want someone to really hear our
deepest selves.
O good Jesus, hear me.We so need
and want someone to really hear our
deepest selves.
Within thy wounds hide me. Let me
disappear into you.
 From the Wicked
Foe defend
me. Evil is
real; be
my shield
and my
protector.
In the
hour of
death call me and bid me come to you,
that with your saints I may praise you
forever and ever. Amen. St. John of the
Cross reminds us that “at the end of
life, we will be judged on love.” There
is a child within each of us that looks
forward to the end of the story, “they
lived happily ever after.”
Each of us brings to these words
his/her own hunger and need.
Some years ago when I discovered
Fr. Dave Fleming’s inspired paraphrase
of the “Anima Christi,” I committed it
to memory. In its contemporary
form the prayer has not only touched
my heart but expresses my own
deepest desires for intimacy with
God in Christ.
A friend once suggested that a fresh
way of looking at a psalm or other
prayer is to concentrate either on the
verbs or on the nouns.
I chose to focus on the nouns,
and am touched by how the question
of who Jesus is to me surfaced.
Jesus Christ is, in truth, food and
drink, strength and life, light and
love – forever.
“Soul of Christ, sanctify me. May
all that is Jesus flow into me.” This is
my prayer, my deepest desire, even as
the four questions I mentioned at the
start of this article continue to weave
their way through my days and
through my nights.
The long-time associate director at the
Oshkosh Jesuit Retreat House,
Sr.Marie Schwan, CSJ is presently
formation director for the Sisters of
St. Joseph Medaille, 1200 Mirabeau Ave.,
New Orleans, LA 70122.
Tel: 504-283-7522
E-mail mschwancsj@aol.com
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