[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-431257-105":59,"doc-detail-431257-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","what-magis-really-means-and-why-it-matters","What Magis Really Means and Why It Matters","","Many definitions of “magis” circulate in Jesuit circles, yet they are not always clear or helpful. The most practical and faithful description, aligned with Ignatian sources and themes, is identified as “the more universal good,” closely connected to the Society of Jesus motto “For the Greater Glory of God.” The paper examines problems created by competing definitions, including confusion, guilt, resentment, and difficulties in real-world application and broad applicability.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":45,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/religion-spirituality/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/what-magis-really-means-and-why-it-matters/431257/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/what-magis-really-means-and-why-it-matters/431257.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"jay","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-15","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":39},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the paper’s preferred definition of magis?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The paper argues that the best definition, for practicality and fidelity to sources, is “the more universal good.”","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Why does the author say the magis has a problem despite its popularity?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The author notes that people are not sure what the term means, and the wide range of definitions leads to confusion in Jesuit settings.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What difficulties arise when definitions are applied in real situations?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The paper explains that labels like “generosity” or “excellence” may not align in practice, and even well-intended choices may fail to serve the greater good.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},431257,1791098318,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":44,"category_name":45,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":39,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":36},3985747858866,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","What Magis Really Means and Why It Matters  \nFr. Barton T. Geger, SJ  \nRegis University  \n([bgeger@regis.edu](bgeger@regis.edu))  \nAbstract  \nMany definitions of the magis are proffered in Jesuit circles, not all of which are clear or helpful. The best definition, in terms of practicality, fidelity to the sources, and correspondence to other Ignatian themes, is“the more universal good.” It is closely linked to the unofficial motto of the Society of Jesus,“For the Greater Glory of God.”  \nI. The Problem  \nNo term appears more popular in the parlance of Jesuit institutions today than the magis. Originally a Latin adverb that meant “more” or “to a greater degree,” it is now commonly used as a proper noun to denote a key element ofIgnatian spirituality. Especially in Jesuit schools,“Magis Student Groups,” “Magis Classes,” “Magis Retreats,” “Magis Scholarships,” “Magis Auctions,”“Magis Institutes” and “Magis Committees” are ubiquitous. The term appears in official decrees of General Congregations of the Society of Jesus, and also in the writings and allocutions of Jesuit Superiors General. Dictionaries and introductions to Ignatian and/or Jesuit spirituality endeavor to explain the magis at greater or lesser length.1  \nFor all its popularity, however, the magis has a problem. No one seems quite sure what it means. Some say “excellence,” others “generosity.”  \nThese are two quite different ideas, both of which appear harmless enough at first glance. Others say“the more universal good,” that is, discerning choices based on what will make the widest positive impact on people (a criterion that St. Ignatius Loyola identified in the Jesuit Constitutions as characteristic of the Society’s way of proceeding) .2 Other definitions include“magnanimity,” “greater efficiency,” “creative fidelity,” “choosing the harder option,” and even“choosing that which no one else will do.”  \nOne might argue that multiple definitions are a benefit. If the definitions are not synonymous, neither do they appear irreconcilable, and  \ntherefore, all should be allowed to illuminate the dynamic character of the Ignatian “more.” In the same vein, if a wide variety of texts are cited to explain the magis--everything from the tales of chivalry that Ignatius read as a youth to the Ratio Studiorum, a manual for Jesuit schools written forty years after the saint’s death--it only shows how deeply the magis permeated Ignatius’ spirituality.  \nUnfortunately, however, the variety of definitions cannot be justified so easily, for at least four reasons. First, if anecdotal evidence is any indication, ambiguity about the magis can breed confusion and guilt among Jesuits and their colleagues.3 In 2011, for example, I was speaking to the faculty of a high school about Ignatian spirituality when a teacher raised his hand.“I want to serve the magis, I really do,” he said.“But I have small kids at home. I can’t give any more without burning out.” Clearly the poor man thought he was supposed to be working harder than he already was.  \nOn another occasion, administrators at a university in the eastern U.S. were citing the magisin an effort to persuade the faculty to take on new projects. Not surprisingly, some of the faculty grew resentful, since, by implication, their resistance to the requests meant that they did not understand or embrace the Jesuit mission.  \nSome years ago, the president of a university in the western U.S. informed a department that it would not receive increased funding the following year. In response, a professor pointed angrily atthe president and said,“I thought this place was  \nsupposed to be about the magis!” His response might seem amusingly unsophisticated. But was it? What if he had been told that the magis means“excellence” or “greater efficiency”?  \nA second problem is that “reconcilable in theory”is insufficient when the definitions are put into practice. That a teacher labors “generously” does not necessarily mean that he labors “excellently”; and th","cbCaifBfd3enwczg","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifBfd3enwczg","pdf",342206,16,"English","# Abstract\n# I. The Problem\n## Popularity and competing definitions\n## Why ambiguity causes confusion and guilt\n## Limitations when translating theory into practice\n## Applicability across persons and roles","[{\"question\":\"What is the paper’s preferred definition of magis?\",\"answer\":\"The paper argues that the best definition, for practicality and fidelity to sources, is “the more universal good.”\"},{\"question\":\"Why does the author say the magis has a problem despite its popularity?\",\"answer\":\"The author notes that people are not sure what the term means, and the wide range of definitions leads to confusion in Jesuit settings.\"},{\"question\":\"What difficulties arise when definitions are applied in real situations?\",\"answer\":\"The paper explains that labels like “generosity” or “excellence” may not align in practice, and even well-intended choices may fail to serve the greater good.\"}]","What Magis Really Means and Why It Matters | PDF",1790654943]