Each July, Loyola Press (the company I work for) offers a series of daily reflections/resources/activities, all leading up to the Feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, July 31st. These days will be extra-special this year, because 2021 marks the 500th anniversary of this amazing saint’s battle injury which ushered in his epic conversion.
Please join people from around the world in participating in these 31 Days With St. Ignatius. You’ll be glad you did!
A prayer to celebrate the Ignatian Year from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States
God of all people,
You were there when the cannonball shattered the leg of St. Ignatius, shattered his dreams, and shattered what he assumed his life would be. Even in a moment of pain and uncertainty, doubt and darkness, you spoke to Ignatius a word of peace and light. You showed him the path to you and the person he might become.
We may not be soldiers, standing in the path of a literal cannonball. And yet, we’ve been hit all the same. Cannonballs shatter our own hopes and dreams and expectations.
Like Ignatius, may we hear the compassionate voice of your Son in the aftermath of these cannonball blasts. May we seek the face of Christ even when our dreams are shattered. May we turn and follow Jesus with the courage it takes to change and grow.
As we journey through this Ignatian Year, may we be shown the path to you, God of all people, and live out our vocation, becoming the person you have invited us to be. Give us the grace to work for reconciliation every day: with you, with others and with your creation. Open our eyes so we might see all things new in Christ.
Amen.