St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius of Loyola is the founder of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He was pursuing a career in the military when a cannonball shattered his leg. While recovering, he discovered that reflecting on the things of this world, such as fame and romance, only brought him temporary pleasure. Reading about the lives of the saints and thinking about serving Jesus Christ brought him lasting happiness.

Ignatian spirituality teaches that God speaks to us in our everyday lives through our feelings. St. Ignatius published a book called the Spiritual Exercises which is meant as a guide for retreat masters to help retreatants discover where God is leading them.

The motto of the Jesuits is Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (AMDG) and means "For the greater glory of God".

His feast day is July 31.

Patron Saint of ...

He is the patron saint of retreats.

Daily Mass Readings for the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

In addition to the suggested readings below, the readings may also be taken from the weekday readings, the Common of Pastors, or the Common of Holy Men and Women.

• First Reading - 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1:"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."
• Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 34: "I will bless the Lord at all times."
• Gospel - Luke 14:25-33: "Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."

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How to Pray the Daily Examen

The Daily Examen is a powerful prayer developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola. It encourages us to look at our day and reflect how God is speaking to us in our experiences and emotions.

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Pray By Putting Yourself in a Gospel Scene

St. Ignatius of Loyola believed that God gave us our imaginations and could use this gift to speak to us. One method of praying in the tradition called Ignatian Contemplation, by putting yourself in a gospel scene

Read About One Of The Saints

Saints are our Catholic heroes. They aren’t perfect, but they are beautiful examples of the path to holiness. So try reading about some of the saints. Our Catholic children need good role models.

Ignatian Contemplation

In this video, Fr. James Martin describes the method of prayer known as Ignatian contemplation. It is a method of praying with scripture. In this method of prayer, you use your imagination to place yourself in a scene from the Bible and become aware of how the Holy Spirit moves you in that experience.