View source for Magis

{{short description|Latin word that means "more" or "greater"}}
{{Italic title}}
{{About|the Latin motto|the organization founded by the Jesuit Robert Spitzer|Magis Institute}}{{Jesuit}}

'''{{lang|la|Magis}}''' (pronounced "màh-gis") is a [[Latin]] word that means "more" or "greater".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/magis|title=magis - Wiktionary|website=en.wiktionary.org|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2023}} It is related to {{lang|la|[[ad majorem Dei gloriam]]}}, a [[Latin]] phrase meaning "for the greater glory of [[God]]", the motto of the [[Society of Jesus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=36891|title=Dictionary: to the greater glory of God|website=www.catholicculture.org|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> {{lang|la|Magis}} refers to the [[philosophy]] of doing more for [[Jesus|Christ]], and therefore doing more for others. It is an expression of an aspiration and inspiration. It relates to forming the ideal society centered on [[Jesus Christ]].

== From Ignatian retreat ==
Modern use of the word is often traced to [[Saint Ignatius Loyola|St. Ignatius's]] [[Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius|Spiritual Exercises]] or [[Retreat (spiritual)|retreat]], where he would have the exercitant ask: "What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? and What ought I to do for Christ?"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://spex.ignatianspirituality.com/SpiritualExercises/Puhl|title=Louis J. Puhl, SJ Translation - The Spiritual Exercises {{!}} St. Ignatius of Loyola|website=spex.ignatianspirituality.com|access-date=2017-12-15|archive-date=2021-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318033614/http://spex.ignatianspirituality.com/SpiritualExercises/Puhl|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|53}} The ''more'' intimately the person comes to know Christ, according to St. Ignatius, the ''more'' the person will love him and the ''more'' closely the person will follow him.<ref name=":0" />{{rp|104}} Throughout the Exercises, a grace the person asks for is to follow Christ ''more'' closely<ref name=":0" />{{rp|109,130}} or to do what is ''more'' pleasing to God.<ref name=":0" />{{rp|151f}} This is frequently mentioned in the "points" for contemplating Christ's life which Ignatius proposes.<ref name=":0" />{{rp|95,97,168,179f}} Ignatius calls it the highest degree of humility for people to always want to be ''more'' like Christ in matters of poverty and worldly honors.<ref name=":0" />{{rp|167}} Also, in what Ignatius calls the "First Principle and Foundation of the Christian life", he concludes with the admonition: "our one desire and choice should be what is more conducive to the end for which we are created".<ref name=":0" />{{rp|23}} This concept of doing "more" occurs frequently throughout the Ignatian Exercises.<ref>E.g.: 13f,19,20,33,39,44,50,83-5,95,97,168f, </ref>

== Impact ==
Contemporary uses of {{lang|la|magis}} often have Ignatian roots. Beginning in 1997 Jesuits have invited students to a "{{lang|la|magis}} gathering", as before [[World Youth Day]] celebrations, to share the ideals which they learned in the Jesuit tradition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.magis2017.org/about_us|title=Magis Central Europe 2017|website=Magis Central Europe 2017|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> Additionally, the name "{{lang|la|Magis}}" has been used for a Jesuit journal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattleu.edu/education/sda/student-resources/magis-student-development-journal/|title=Magis Student Development Journal - Student Resources - Student Development Administration - College of Education - Seattle University|last=University|first=Seattle|website=www.seattleu.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> and newspaper<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sjmagis.com/|title=MAGIS|website=MAGIS|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> and on banners heralding Jesuit education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sju.edu/news-events/magazines/sju-magazine/sju-magazine-winter-2013/what-magis|title=What is Magis? {{!}} Saint Joseph's University|website=www.sju.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> The term is frequently central to the mission statement of Jesuit schools<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uofdjesuit.org/school-life/academics/magis|title=Magis - University of Detroit Jesuit High School|website=www.uofdjesuit.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brophyprep.org/page/ministry/living-the-magis|title=Living the Magis|website=www.brophyprep.org|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> and can serve as a name for a voluntary service program<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bc.edu/offices/ministry/socialjustice/MAGIS.html|title=Jamaica Magis - Campus Ministry - Boston College|website=www.bc.edu|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.luc.edu/gcce/Magis.shtml|title=JVC Magis: Andrew M. Greeley Center for Catholic Education: Loyola University Chicago|website=www.luc.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> or for an educational enhancement program for needy students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apply.loyno.edu/magis-program|title=Magis Program{{!}} Undergraduate Admissions {{!}} Loyola University New Orleans|website=apply.loyno.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.siprep.org/page.cfm?p=6821|title=St. Ignatius College Preparatory, San Francisco, CA: Magis|website=www.siprep.org|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ignatius.edu/get-involved/grade-school/reaching-magis|title=REACHing MAGIS|website=www.ignatius.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> A video produced by Jesuits points out that the "more" is a matter of depth and quality, rather than of quantity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/what-is-ignatian-spirituality/magis-video|title=Magis Video|last=lpignatian|work=Ignatian Spirituality|access-date=2017-12-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Usage in Jesuit higher education ==
The concept of {{lang|la|magis}} as an ideal of life is emphasized in many of the [[Jesuit universities]] across the globe. One of the 10 service organizations on campus at [[Loyola Marymount University]] uses Magis as its name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://studentaffairs.lmu.edu/activities/centerforserviceandaction/serviceorganizations/serviceorganizationoptions/|title=Service Organization Options - Loyola Marymount University|website=studentaffairs.lmu.edu|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref> The organization stands to allow students to be leaders and contribute in the greater Los Angeles Community in the areas of Homelessness and Education, citing their three pillars of Service, Diversity, and Spirituality on the strive for "The more" that is emphasized in the contemporary definition of the term.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lmumagis.com/|title=MAGIS Service Organization|website=MAGIS Service Organization|language=en|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Jesuits}}

[[Category:Ignatian spirituality]]
[[Category:Latin mottos]]
[[Category:Latin religious words and phrases]]
[[Category:Ignatius of Loyola]]