The wisdom of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a man destined for fame and glory.  The youngest of 11 children, his parents dedicated him to the service of the Church, a customary practice at the time.  But Ignatius had other ideas and soon was trained for the knighthood, for battle and triumph.   God had other plans.  He was wounded severely when a cannonball tore apart his leg.  It was during his convalescence that he began to read in earnest the life of Jesus and the lives of the saints.  Reportedly he had a vision of the Blessed Mother with the child Jesus and his conversion led to a life dedicated to God and the Church.  Soon he was giving away his wealth to the poor, living on the kindness of others, and deepening a life a solitude and prayer.

 

Ignatius writes that those were the happiest days of his life.  He experienced true peace and great joy in his decision to give himself over to God completely. He undertook the study of philosophy and theology and soon found himself the leader of a group of others seeking to grow in their faith and in a life of service and prayer.  They would gain the approval of Rome for their new religious community named the Society of Jesus, known more commonly as Jesuits.   It is said that the name came from those who heard Ignatius and his companions preach as the name of Jesus was spoken over and over again.

 

But what bears reflection today on his feast is the particular spirit that marked the life and mission of Ignatius.   He taught and lived that spirit and it was attractive to others.   It was marked by a desire to SEEK GOD IN ALL THINGS.  He invites each of us, in whatever vocation we find ourselves, to come to experience the presence of God who is with us, in our midst, in the everyday things of life.  As we find ourselves living an world that is more and more secularized and devoid of the divine, his teaching seems more important than ever.  His motto for living became FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD.  It is not enough for us to just do good things.  We must do them for the right reason.  What we do is not for our glory and success, but only to bring to God the praise and glory that He deserves.  Ignatius knew that the obstacle to holiness was selfishness, pride and desire to live only for oneself.  This is another particular danger in the times in which we live today where so many worry only about "what is in it for me" and "what I need to do for my own happiness."  For Ignatius, the answer is SERVICE.  We can only achieve happiness and peace in this life when we embrace authentic charity, a selfless kind of life that imitates the Lord himself.  There is no greater gift one can give than laying down one's life for one's friends.  Self-emptying, living for others, being the least of the brethren in service to God and to Church.  That is the pathway to blessedness and to eternal salvation. 

 

Detachment and obedience were two particularly important disciplines in Ignatius' spirituality.  The struggle between sin and grace can only be won when we seek to detach ourselves from the passions and pleasures of this world to make room for God and things of heaven.  Prayer, fasting and works of mercy were the means to become detached so that we can grow in our obedience to the will of God alone.  His Spiritual Exercises remain as the means through which we can journey toward the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.  We must seek everyday to encounter the living presence of Jesus Christ - through our life of prayer and service, in obedience to the will of God.  Seek first the Kingdom of God and all else will be given besides.

 

One of my favorite prayers from Saint Ignatius is a testimony to his spirituality:  “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my whole will, all that I have and all that I possess. You gave it all to me, Lord; I give it all back to you.”  Amen.