The phrase ‘Finding God in all things’ has become synonymous with Ignatian Spirituality. The phrase itself was originally coined by Jeronimo Nadal, a contemporary of Ignatius, who described the great saint as follows: “He was wholly caught up in the presence of God and the love of all things spiritual: contemplative also in the midst of action which he used to express in this way: God is to be found in everything.” Arguably, the notion of contemplative in action was originated from St. Thomas Aquinas’ notion of a mixed life, which consists of both action and contemplation. (Conwell, Walking in the Spirit, 158)
To discover the Thomistic root of the famous phrase of St. Ignatius, one must revisit Aquinas’s treatment on the existence of God in things in the Prima Pars. In the Prima Pars, Aquinas argued that “God is in all things; not, indeed, as part of their essence, nor as an accident, but as an agent is present to that upon which it works….”(ST I, Q. 8, A. 1, corpus). Aquinas explains further that since God is being His own essence, therefore created being must be His proper effect, like to ignite is the proper effect of fire.
In short, Aquinas tried to use the argument of essence and being to explain God’s presence in all things. God must be in all things because all created beings are the proper effect of God. Aquinas did not stop at that in his argument on being and essence. He moved on to explain why God can be everywhere based on the following argument:
“[A]s He is in all things giving them being, power and operation: so He is in every place as giving it existence and locative power. Again, things placed are in place, inasmuch as they fill place and God fills every place; not, indeed, like a body, for a body is said to fill a place inasmuch as it excludes the co-presence of another body; whereas by God being in a place, others are not thereby excluded from it; indeed, by the very fact that He gives being to things that fill every place, He Himself fills every place.” (ST. I, Q. 8, A. 2, c.)
Here, Aquinas suggested that God can be everywhere by His co-presence among all other things. While in the previous argument, Aquinas explained God can be in everything based on his essence; now he argued that God could be everywhere by His presence. In other words, the existence of God in all things will take place by His essence and by His presence.
While there is strong evidence to suggest that the Ignatian phrase “Finding God in All Things” is inspired by St. Thomas, I have a speculation that St. Ignatius was also inspired by St. Paul who wrote “In all circumstances give thanks.” I cannot verify the validity of this argument from where St. Ignatius was inspired when he coined the phrase. But, I think that it is worth contemplating from the final portion of Paul’s letter to Philippians that we hear in the first reading today. The final part of Paul’s letter consists of a series of exhortations and extended words of thanks. First, St. Paul said, “I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content.” Here, Paul is a man who demonstrates great wisdom. Every state he finds himself in, he strives to be grateful. Second, he recalls a past favor from the Philippians as they were good to him, whether he was present or absent.
In his vision at La Storta, Ignatius heard Christ speak the words, Ego tibi Romae propitius ero (“I will be favorable to you in Rome”). St. Ignatius walked with confidence to Rome because of that promise. Presumably, his confidence was also coupled with the words from St. Paul to Philippians, “My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” He then walked with confidence to serve for the greater glory of God.