Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Ignatius was a military man; he had great passion for victory and triumphs on the battle field. On one occasion, he was wounded when a canon ball shattered his leg. He spent the next months in a hospital recovering.
While he was waiting to be healed, he read profusely. At first he read all the military and romance adventure stories. But, they ran out. All that was left to read was the life of Christ, and the lives of the Saints.
It is amazing how reading good things can lead to a better life. His conversion slowly took place, as he devoured the life of Christ and the stories about the lives of the saints.
What do we read? What do we watch? This could explain our staleness in goodness.
Ignatius began the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. His whole focus was "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" that is "all for the greater glory of God".
To do this the prominent virtue was obedience. It was in obedience to the Church and to God that Ignatius found true strength.
Strength rises in obedience.
All activity for him and the new society was to be guided by true love for the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father.
I wonder what the world would be like, how it might be different, if more people let all activity be guided by these two tenants: true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to God via the Holy Father.
Goodness would abound in all places, and the glory of God would rise to the Heavens.
St. Ignatius pray for us
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