Martial Metaphors in Ignatian Spirituality: A Somatic, Comparative Approach

Martial imagery appears to favor the language of fighting evil, resisting evil, and defeating evil, but arguably the focus of Christianity is the transformation of evil. The present paper aims to recover the language of martial metaphors for the purpose of transforming evil by examining the spirituality of Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) and Chen Weiming (陳微明 1881-1958), two fighters intent on spiritual development. The comparison yields a fresh look at martial training as a means for the transformation of evil. A comparative reading of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises with Chen’s martial practice serves to revive Loyola’s martial tradition in Christian spirituality. Far from proposing a recipe for Christian triumphalism or militarism, the reading demonstrates that the transformation of evil in Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises can be deepened through martial practice.