Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits and the writer of one of the most profound documents in Christian Spirituality, the Spiritual Exercises. Coming to know Ignatius through reading, retreats and incorporating his prayer methods into my daily life has greatly strengthened my relationship with God and the people around me. I’ve become aware that we can find God in all things, and at every moment God never ceases to be with us on our own journey. I’m very grateful to the people who introduced me to Ignatius.
Vinita Hampton Wright from Loyola Press wrote this prayer to celebrate today’s feast. I hope it strengthens you for your own journey.
Creator God, who loves pilgrims everywhere,
thank you for the journey of your saint, Ignatius of Loyola,
who marked the path for those of us who follow his example in following Jesus.
Thank you for drawing Ignatius to your grace and to a life of spiritual discovery.
Thank you for teaching him about prayer so that he could teach us.
Thank you for using a person so obviously imperfect,
so that we could have hope for ourselves.
May we continue on our journeys—as individuals and as the Church—
following Ignatius’s example of persistence, humility, courage, and gratitude.
May we grow to love you more dearly with every step we take.
May we invite others to walk with us,
and may we become loving and faithful companions to all who journey toward you.
Amen.
If you have the chance, get outside and take a walk or a drive. Open your eyes to the beauty of God’s creative actions, which never cease.
