Celebrating the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola 2018

Happy Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola! 

by Seán Patrick Sanford

Today we celebrate this dynamic, insightful, and holy man, whose legacy includes the Spiritual Exercises and the founding of the Society of Jesus, two great gifts to the universal church. 

What drove him? His singular desire to be a companion of Christ. Ignatius wanted nothing more than to know, love, and follow Christ, and to inspire others to do the same. 

We know, of course, that such desire did not take root in his heart until he was in his early 30's. Up to that point, he lived the life of a courtier and soldier; he was known to be vain, proud, and motivated by a burning desire for fame. 

But after his dramatic conversion, St. Ignatius gave over his entire life to God, and spent the next 35 years in a process of maturing, deepening, and strengthening his commitment. He sought to know and to do God's will in every situation, all for the greater glory of God. 

We who find our inspiration in St. Ignatius are called to that same level of commitment, ever seeking to know, love, and follow Christ, in all the particulars of our lives. 

May God bless us with whatever conversion we need, and on this feast day of St. Ignatius, give us the grace to follow in his footsteps. 

St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us.