Magis in everything, everywhere
More. Greater. Beyond. Magis is the Latin word for more or greater. It is a central philosophy in Ignatian spirituality that encourages individuals to seek the greater good in all things. Rather than doing more in a quantitative way, like adding more tasks to a schedule, it is a qualitative call to strive for depth, excellence, and intentionality in service to God and others. It focuses on actions that manifest God’s truth, beauty, and wisdom in the world. When choosing from among several good options, magis calls for selecting the one that serves the widest impact or the greater common good. It is not about busyness or overachieving for personal success. Instead, it emphasizes doing fewer things exceptionally well to better serve a higher purpose. Living it involves constant reflection to align one’s unique talents, circumstances, and skills with where there is the most need. It is a call to live more authentically. It is not a religious justification for pursuing the highest-paying job or accumulating material wealth. Magis does not mean doing more until utter exhaustion. In fact, sometimes, it might actually mean doing less or choosing rest to be more effective in the long run. In reality, it focuses on the depth and quality of one’s actions and being.
Magis is the driver for both students and teachers to reach their full potential. Beyond academic excellence, it focuses on holistic character formation. In Jesuit schools, it is instrumental in transforming students into men and women for others,* fully alive and engaged with the world. It encourages students and teachers to move beyond abstract concepts (in science, technology, and society) of citizenship and live them through effort, flexibility, and generosity in addressing social injustices. Magis fosters independent and critical thinkers in a learning sanctuary. It involves educators meeting learners where they are, acknowledging their unique backgrounds and tailoring instruction to their specific needs. It encourages educators to move beyond mediocrity, apply innovative teaching methodologies, foster collaboration, and share best practices.
In a leadership context, magis transforms a leader from a simple manager into an astute visionary who aspires to change the status quo. Leaders find “gold” in current opportunities rather than wait for ideal circumstances. With it, leaders use persuasion and personal growth rather than formal authority to inspire others. Leaders choose to dwell in hope, possibility, and courage to connect a system to its positive essence.
Magis encourages entrepreneurs to create ventures that serve a greater good and provide meaningful and fulfilling work for employees. These ventures emphasize doing better, not just more. It’s about the quality of work and making an impact that transcends financial profit. In a business context, it calls for leading with integrity, choosing the right decisions over popular ones, and treating everyone with respect.
Through the lens of magis, leadership is not viewed as a position of power, but as a responsibility for a more efficient and effective service to the community, most especially the marginalized. It challenges leaders to move beyond minimal compliance with the law toward a deeper commitment to integrity, accountability, and service. It encourages going beyond expected roles to foster ethical decision-making. Applied to governance, magis guides the identification and reform of systems and structures that cause suffering. It promotes solidarity and ensures that rights and duties are distributed to help everyone flourish. Instead of serving the narrow interests of political fiefdoms, magis urges leaders to discern what choice will have the widest impact on the most people.
Doing magis at home is about finding deeper meaning and intentionality in everyday activities. Instead of just doing more chores to get them done, magis focuses on performing tasks with greater love and care for the family. It is about striving to be fully present with family members, listening more deeply, and responding with greater patience and kindness. It is about stewardship—treating the environment and resources (our common home) with utmost respect, and making choices that promote the greater good for future generations.
In human relations, it is the restless desire to grow into a more loving and whole person for others. It is about moving beyond just tolerating others to actively seeking their dignity and flourishing. This involves some form of holy restlessness that refuses to settle for mediocrity in how we care for others. Magis is seeing every interaction as an opportunity to touch the lives of others and encounter the Divine.
*Originally coined by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ in 1973, “men and women for others” is a foundational motto in Jesuit education, defining a person whose life is dedicated to service, social justice, and the welfare of the marginalized.
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Dr. Joel Tiu Maquiling may be reached at jmaquiling@ateneo.edu
