A cannonball to the leg is the best thing that ever happened to St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556).
Convalescing in a castle, he was bored. He asked for romance novels (tales of chivalry). There were none. The only books available were The Life of Christ and The Lives of the Saints. He read them. He noticed something:
- When he thought about romance and war, he felt excited but then empty.
- When he thought about serving God like St. Francis, he felt excited and then peaceful.
This was the beginning of Discernment of Spirits.
The Spiritual Exercises
He wrote a manual for spiritual warfare called the Spiritual Exercises. It is still the gold standard for retreats today. Key concepts:
- AMDG: Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God). Do everything for Him.
- The Examen: A daily prayer to review where God was in your day.
- Indifference: Not "I don't care," but "I am unbiased." I am okay with health or sickness, wealth or poverty, as long as I do God's will.
The Jesuits
He founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to be the Pope's "marines." They were missionaries, educators, and martyrs.
Find God in all things. Learn how to pray the Daily Examen on the MyPrayerTower app.
A Prayer for Grace
As you reflect on these spiritual truths, we invite you to join us in this prayer:
"Lord Jesus, we thank You for the wisdom of the Church and the witness of the saints. Grant us the grace to live out our faith with joy and perseverance. May our prayers be a sweet incense rising to Your throne, and may Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen."
Deepen Your Spiritual Journey
If you found this reflection helpful, we invite you to explore more ways to strengthen your faith with MyPrayerTower:
- Join our Prayer Wall: Share your intentions and pray for others in our global community.
- Light a Virtual Candle: Offer a symbolic light for your loved ones or special intentions.
- Get the MyPrayerTower App: The full spiritual experience on your Android device.
- Chat with our Telegram Bot: Get daily readings, saint stories, and prayer reminders directly on Telegram.
May God bless you and keep you always in His grace.