It is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola! As a work of the Society of Jesus, JRS every 31 July celebrates the founder of the Society, a spiritual pioneer whose vision continues to shape the Church and the Society of Jesus.

St. Ignatius, the Basque soldier turned “soldier of Christ,” was a man transformed by grace and life’s experiences. His “cannonball moment” at Pamplona in 1521 was a major catalyst in the radical reorientation of the trajectory of his life. The profound experience of conversion during his convalescence inspired the Spiritual Exercises, which, till today, offer a timeless roadmap for “finding God in all things.” His spirituality invites us all to be deeply engaged with the work of God in the world – a “contemplation in action.”

Today, we continue to stay true to the Ignatian ideal. We are called to be “companions of Jesus,” to be “men and women for others,” ready to go wherever the needs are the greatest, in service of “the greater glory of God.”

On this Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, we join the Society of Jesus in prayer. We pray that our mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the most vulnerable may bring about the needed change in these complex times.

Join us in prayer.

Prayer for Generosity

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labor and not to ask for any reward,
except to know that I am doing Your will. 

– St. Ignatius of Loyola

*The original article was published by the Society of Jesus.