Saint of the Day: St. Ignatius Loyola

Priest (1490-1556)

His life

+ Born in Spain, Ignatius became a soldier in the army of Navarre, but his military career was cut short when he was wounded in the siege of Pamplona.

+ During his day so recovery, he began reading the lives of the saints and a life of Christ. After making a pilgrimage to the famed Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat, he resolved to follow Christ.

+ With six companions Ignatius pronounced religious vows in 1534, establishing the Society of Jesus. The community was officially approved in 1540.

+ Saint Ignatius is especially honored for his contribution to contemplative prayer through his Spiritual Exercises and unique method of meditation.

+ Saint Ignatius Loyola died in 1556 and was canonized in 1622 in the same ceremony as Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Francis Xavier, and Saint Isidore the Farmer.

For prayer and reflection

“Those who carry God in their hearts bear heaven with them wherever they go.”—Saint Ignatius Loyola

Spiritual bonus

On this day we also remember Blessed Juan Bautista Egozcuezábal Aldaz, who was martyred during the Spanish Civil War. A member of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, he was arrested as he was leaving the hospital where he worked as a nurse assisting disabled children. Because he refused to deny his faith when ordered to do so, he was executed on July 29, 1936, in Barcelona, Spain. Blessed Juan Bautista was beatified with other martyrs of the Spanish Civil War in 1992.

Vocations

To learn more about the Society of Jesus: www.jesuits.org

Prayer

O God, who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in your Church
to further the greater glory of your name,
grant that by his help we may imitate him
in fighting the good fight on earth
and merit to receive with him a crown in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.