St. Ignatius of Loyola, CONFESSOR, A.D. 1556.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday July 31, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
Peter Paul Rubens: Miracle of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
"It was now, during these last days of a glorious life, that the saint expressed his happiness that, by the holy thought of those Loreto fathers who were on a mission at Macerata, the people had been attracted from an immodest play acting at the theater to the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in a church which was magnificently decorated for the occasion. This was during the carnival, when mirth often degenerated into excess and sin; and this was the origin of the forty hours' exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, which is now commonly made during the last days of Shrovetide. The saint ordered the practice to be continued in all the houses of the Society. It was one of the last expressions of his will that was to be given to his children." The Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola By Gertrude Parsons
Souls detached from Earth: God takes special care to detach those whom He loves with special predilection from the passing pleasures of this world, by sending them desires after heavenly bliss, and by the Sorrows and bitterness of the present life. (Light from the Altar, p 268)
Patience in sufferings: If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for these is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity. (Light from the Altar p 264)
"He was born at Loyola, of a noble family in Spain; and having for some time followed the court, and afterwards the camp, he received a fortunate wound in a siege, which obliged him to retirement. Here it was, that by reading pious books which Providence put into his hands, he began to entertain thoughts of engaging in a better cause. These he improved so far, that throwing up his arms he put on sackcloth, confined himself to bread and water, lay on the ground, and was even cruel to himself in the severity of most rigorous mortification: but these were all sweetened by the refreshment of heavenly comforts.
Pray for all who are engaged in a sinful and worldly life, that God would touch their hearts, and make them sensible of their errors. Accustom yourself to the reading of pious books, and be constant in this exercise. Recommend the same to all under your care; and pray that it may bring forth fruit. Learn from this saint the method of a true conversion. Trust to no signs of repentance, unless they be accompanied with a change of life. And how can this be changed, if you throw not by your arms, and renounce not all the occasions of your sins? Let some mortification follow your repentance: there cannot easily be a true sense of past crimes, if you do not think the offender deserving of punishment. How can your resolutions be sincere of keeping peace with God, if you do not take effectual means for overcoming your passions, and bringing the inward man into subjection? And how can this be without mortification? Rebellious tempers are not to be reduced but by force; first weaken them, and then you may command them.
Being now inflamed with a zeal of doing good to others, and having qualified himself with sufficient learning, beginning with the first rudiments in his riper years, he laid the foundation of the Society of Jesus, with nine companions, men of piety and learning. Thus he declared war against infidelity and error, and with wonderful charity studied by every means to do good to the faithful, in promoting all kinds of instruction, by preaching and catechizing, erecting schools, and making provision for orphans and all others, whose necessitous condition exposed them to danger. In these exercises he spent his life; and having seen his endeavors blessed with unspeakable success in the conversion of nations, and the reformation of great abuses among believers, he was called to the reward of his labors on the last day of July, 1556.
Give thanks to God for the apostolic spirit of this holy man, and pray for all his followers, that the same spirit may rest on them, and the blessing of heaven attend them in all their pious and charitable undertakings." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
