# Magis

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Latin word that means "more" or "greater"

This article is about the Latin motto. For the organization founded by the Jesuit Robert Spitzer, see [Magis Institute](/source/Magis_Institute).

Part of a series on the Society of Jesus History Regimini militantis Congregatio de Auxiliis Suppression Ratio Studiorum Hierarchy General Congregation Superior General Spirituality Spiritual Exercises Ad maiorem Dei gloriam Training Magis Works Educational institutions List of sites Jesuit Refugee Service Bollandists Notable Jesuits Ignatius of Loyola Francis Xavier Peter Faber Pedro Arrupe Luis de Molina John Berchmans Francisco Suárez Robert Bellarmine Peter Canisius Edmund Campion Pierre-Jean De Smet Aloysius Gonzaga Henri de Lubac Karl Rahner Frederick Copleston Pope Francis Jesuit saints Jesuit theologians Jesuit philosophers v t e

***Magis*** (pronounced "màh-gis") is a [Latin](/source/Latin) word that means "more" or "greater".[1][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] It is related to *[ad majorem Dei gloriam](/source/Ad_majorem_Dei_gloriam)*, a [Latin](/source/Latin) phrase meaning "for the greater glory of [God](/source/God)", the motto of the [Society of Jesus](/source/Society_of_Jesus).[2] *Magis* refers to the [philosophy](/source/Philosophy) of doing more for [Christ](/source/Jesus), 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](/source/Jesus_Christ).

## From Ignatian retreat

Modern use of the word is often traced to [St. Ignatius's](/source/Saint_Ignatius_Loyola) [Spiritual Exercises](/source/Spiritual_Exercises_of_St._Ignatius) or [retreat](/source/Retreat_(spiritual)), 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?"[3]: 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.[3]: 104 Throughout the Exercises, a grace the person asks for is to follow Christ *more* closely[3]: 109, 130 or to do what is *more* pleasing to God.[3]: 151f This is frequently mentioned in the "points" for contemplating Christ's life which Ignatius proposes.[3]: 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.[3]: 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".[3]: 23 This concept of doing "more" occurs frequently throughout the Ignatian Exercises.[4]

## Impact

Contemporary uses of *magis* often have Ignatian roots. Beginning in 1997 Jesuits have invited students to a "*magis* gathering", as before [World Youth Day](/source/World_Youth_Day) celebrations, to share the ideals which they learned in the Jesuit tradition.[5] Additionally, the name "*Magis*" has been used for a Jesuit journal[6] and newspaper[7] and on banners heralding Jesuit education.[8] The term is frequently central to the mission statement of Jesuit schools[9][10] and can serve as a name for a voluntary service program[11][12] or for an educational enhancement program for needy students.[13][14][15] A video produced by Jesuits points out that the "more" is a matter of depth and quality, rather than of quantity.[16]

## Usage in Jesuit higher education

The concept of *magis* as an ideal of life is emphasized in many of the [Jesuit universities](/source/Jesuit_universities) across the globe. One of the 10 service organizations on campus at [Loyola Marymount University](/source/Loyola_Marymount_University) uses Magis as its name.[17] 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.[18]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["magis - Wiktionary"](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/magis). *en.wiktionary.org*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Dictionary: to the greater glory of God"](https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=36891). *www.catholicculture.org*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:0_3-6) ["Louis J. Puhl, SJ Translation - The Spiritual Exercises | St. Ignatius of Loyola"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210318033614/http://spex.ignatianspirituality.com/SpiritualExercises/Puhl). *spex.ignatianspirituality.com*. Archived from [the original](http://spex.ignatianspirituality.com/SpiritualExercises/Puhl) on 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** E.g.: 13f,19,20,33,39,44,50,83-5,95,97,168f,

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Magis Central Europe 2017"](https://www.magis2017.org/about_us). *Magis Central Europe 2017*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** University, Seattle. ["Magis Student Development Journal - Student Resources - Student Development Administration - College of Education - Seattle University"](https://www.seattleu.edu/education/sda/student-resources/magis-student-development-journal/). *www.seattleu.edu*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["MAGIS"](https://sjmagis.com/). *MAGIS*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["What is Magis? | Saint Joseph's University"](https://www.sju.edu/news-events/magazines/sju-magazine/sju-magazine-winter-2013/what-magis). *www.sju.edu*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Magis - University of Detroit Jesuit High School"](http://www.uofdjesuit.org/school-life/academics/magis). *www.uofdjesuit.org*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Living the Magis"](https://www.brophyprep.org/page/ministry/living-the-magis). *www.brophyprep.org*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Jamaica Magis - Campus Ministry - Boston College"](http://www.bc.edu/offices/ministry/socialjustice/MAGIS.html). *www.bc.edu*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["JVC Magis: Andrew M. Greeley Center for Catholic Education: Loyola University Chicago"](https://www.luc.edu/gcce/Magis.shtml). *www.luc.edu*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Magis Program| Undergraduate Admissions | Loyola University New Orleans"](http://apply.loyno.edu/magis-program). *apply.loyno.edu*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["St. Ignatius College Preparatory, San Francisco, CA: Magis"](http://www.siprep.org/page.cfm?p=6821). *www.siprep.org*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["REACHing MAGIS"](https://www.ignatius.edu/get-involved/grade-school/reaching-magis). *www.ignatius.edu*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** lpignatian. ["Magis Video"](https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/what-is-ignatian-spirituality/magis-video). *Ignatian Spirituality*. Retrieved 2017-12-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Service Organization Options - Loyola Marymount University"](https://studentaffairs.lmu.edu/activities/centerforserviceandaction/serviceorganizations/serviceorganizationoptions/). *studentaffairs.lmu.edu*. Retrieved 2019-03-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["MAGIS Service Organization"](http://www.lmumagis.com/). *MAGIS Service Organization*. Retrieved 2019-03-18.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Magis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.