St.
Ignatius
Ignatius, by nation a Spaniard, was born of a noble family at Loyola, in Cantabria.
At first he attended the court of the Catholic king, and later on embraced a
military career. Having been wounded at the siege of Pampeluna, he chanced in
his illness to read some pious books, which kindled in his soul a wonderful
eagerness to follow in the footsteps of Christ and the saints. He went to
Montserrat, and hung up his arms before the altar of the Blessed Virgin; he
then watched the whole night in prayer, and thus entered upon his knighthood in
the army of Christ. Next he retired to Manresa, dressed as he was in sackcloth,
for he had a short time before given his costly garments to a beggar. Here he
stayed for a year, and during that time he lived on bread and water, given to
him in alms; he fasted every day except Sunday, subdued his flesh with a sharp
chain and a hair-shirt, slept on the ground, and scourged himself with iron
disciplines. God favored and refreshed him with such wonderful spiritual
lights, that afterwards he was wont to say that even if the Sacred Scriptures
did not exist, he would be ready to die for the faith, on account of those
revelations alone which the Lord had made to him at Manresa. It was at this
time that he, a man without education, composed that admirable book of
the Spiritual Exercises.
However, in order to make himself more fit for gaining souls, he
determined to procure the advantages of education, and began by studying
grammar among children. Meanwhile he relaxed nothing of his zeal for the
salvation of others, and it is marvelous what sufferings and insults he
patiently endured in every place, undergoing the hardest trials, even
imprisonment and beatings almost to death. But he ever desired to suffer far
more for the glory of his Lord. At Paris he was joined by nine companions from
that University, men of different nations, who had taken their degrees in Arts
and Theology; and there at Montmartre he laid the first foundations of the
order, which he was later on to institute at Rome. He added to the three usual
vows a fourth concerning missions, thus binding it closely to the Apostolic
See. Paul III first welcomed and approved the Society, as did later other
Pontiffs and the Council of Trent. Ignatius sent St. Francis Xavier to preach
the Gospel in the Indies, and dispersed others of his children to spread the
Christian faith in other parts of the world, thus declaring war against
paganism, superstition, and heresy. This war he carried on with such success
that it has always been the universal opinion, confirmed by the word of
pontiffs, that God raised up Ignatius and the Society founded by him to oppose
Luther and the heretics of his time, as formerly he had raised up other holy
men to oppose other heretics.
He made the restoration of piety among Catholics his first care.
He increased the beauty of the sacred buildings, the giving of catechetical
instructions, the frequency of sermons and of the sacraments. He everywhere
opened schools for the education of youth in piety and letters. He founded at
Rome the German College, refuges for women of evil life, and for young girls
who were in danger, houses for orphans and catechumens of both sexes, and many
other pious works. He devoted himself unweariedly to gaining souls to God. Once
he was heard saying that if he were given his choice he would rather live
uncertain of attaining the Beatific Vision, and in the meanwhile devote himself
to the service of God and the salvation of his neighbor, than die at once
certain of eternal glory. His power over the demons was wonderful. St. Philip
Neri and others saw his countenance shining with heavenly light. At length in
the sixty-fifth year of his age he passed to the embrace of his Lord, whose
greater glory he had ever preached and ever sought in all things. He was
celebrated for miracles and for his great services to the Church, and Gregory
XV enrolled him amongst the saints; while Pius XI, in response to the prayers
of the episcopate, declared him heavenly patron of all Spiritual
Exercises.
Excerpted from The
Liturgical Year, Abbot Gueranger O.S.B.
Patron: Basque country; Jesuit
Order; Jesuits; retreats; soldiers; Spiritual Exercises (by Pope Pius XI).
Symbols: Book; chausible; Holy
Communion; a rayed IHC or IHS; heart with crown of thorns; sword and lance upon
an altar; book with words Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam.
Things to Do:
- Learn
more about St. Ignatius and the Jesuit Order and/or
read this biography by John Farrow, St.
Ignatius of Loyola.
- If
you have never done so, consider making the Spiritual Exercises.
You can find it online here or you may purchase a copy
from Catholic First.
- The
Jesuits at Georgetown have a collection of St. Ignatius' Letters and
Instructions to his fellow Jesuits. Much of his spiritual teaching is
found in his letters and is considered an important source of Jesuit
spirituality. If you are interested in reading them click here.
- St.
Ignatius founded his Society to give the greatest possible service to the
Church and to the Pope. In addition to vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience, Jesuits take a special vow of loyalty to the Pope. Today would
be a good time to say a prayer for
Pope Francis.
- In
the Spiritual Exercise, St. Ignatius strongly recommends
making a daily examination of conscience. If this
is not part of your schedule today would be a good time to start.
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