The Feast of the Founder of the Society of Jesus, St Ignatius Loyola.

"At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 10-11).

Saturday 31st July 2021, 17th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Ignatius Loyola, SJ (1491 - 1556). Priest. Spanish. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus. (Jesuits). Today is the patronal feast of the Society of Jesus.  The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola has been a potent force for spiritual renewal of individuals and groups in the Church. It is still very popular after 500 years. It has become a pillar of the apostolic ministry of the Society of Jesus today.

Our key Scripture for today from the Entrance Antiphon from the feast of St Ignatius speaks to the incredible love and attachment of Ignatius to the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, Jesus Christ our Lord and to His name, Jesus. The personal motto of St Ignatius Loyola, Everything "For the Greater Glory of God" became the motto of the Society of Jesus.

What did St Ignatius Loyola bequeath the Church?
#1. Spiritual Exercises
#2. Methods of examination of conscience
#3. Principles of Discernment of Spirits.
#4. Methodology of Education

This prayer of St Ignatius Loyola shows the inner principles that drove him:

"Lord Jesus, grant that I may know Your heart intimately, love You passionately and follow You everywhere." Amen.

These lofty ideals produced giants of our faith like: Saints Francis Xavier, Peter Canisius, Robert Berllamine, Paul Miki, Edmund Campion, Aloysius Gonzaga, Claude de la Colombière, Peter Clavier, Miguel Pro and so many others.

St Ignatius is the patron saint of soldiers and retreat masters.

Motto: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam: For the Greater Glory of God.

"In 2007, Our Lord and Our Lady began to speak to the heart of a priest who was greatly in need of their intervention—something that could truthfully be said of all of us in our spiritual poverty. The priest was prompted to write down what he heard, first and most obviously for his own benefit, but increasingly, for the benefit of others who would be touched by these words and find light and strength in them." (IN SINU JESU page v Introduction).

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