The Feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola | Wednesday 31 July 2024

Today is Wednesday 31 July, the feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, in the 17th week of Ordinary Time.

The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing the canticle: O all you works of the Lord, O bless the Lord.

Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

1 Cor 10:31-11:1

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offence to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Today is the Feast Day of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. One of the mottos for the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, is: For the Greater Glory of God. Ignatius follows St Paul’s prompting to the Corinthians in urging us to do everything for the greater glory of God . . .

One of the ways Ignatius encouraged this was ‘spiritual conversation’. Avoiding gossip and negative talk; seeking first to understand who we are talking with; listening before speaking. And when we speak, doing so kindly, truthfully and helpfully. St Ignatius thought this kind listening and speaking was a way of gently proclaiming the Gospel. For the greater glory of God, might you commit to more of this spiritual conversation?

Ignatius thought that every act, offered with love, brought glory to God. How does the example of Ignatius and Paul speak to you today?

At the end of many of his own letters, St Ignatius would often write the following prayer. Might you pray it with him today?

“May it please your supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace ever to know your most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

Amen: for the greater glory of God.”

You have given all to me, to you, Lord I return it. Everything is Yours: do with it what you will, give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me. Amen.