Feast of St. Ignatius
31 July 2026
AMDG. Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam, To the Greater Glory of God. These four words comprise the Jesuit motto. We frequently use AMDG at the beginning or end of a letter. My vow ring is engraved with it.
Ignatius of Loyola was a complex man. Born in 1491or 1492, his youth was spent learning to be a soldier and a member of the royal court. He admits to being very vain regarding his appearance in his younger years, preferring the 16th century equivalent of skinny jeans so as to look good. Though mostly uneducated, he could read and had very fine penmanship. At twenty-two years of age the hot-headed Basque was injured while leading his overmatched men in the Battle of Pamplona. It was one of the most blessed injuries in the history of war.
While convalescing in the castle of Loyola he was gradually drawn to the desire to follow in the footsteps of Christ, he discerned a call to do great things for the Greater Glory of God. It is a fascinating story.
Because he had not had an adequate education he went back to the equivalent of junior high school in his twenties to learn the Latin and Greek he needed to go to University.
Ignatius was charismatic. A group of men gathered around him at university to do the Spiritual Exercises that he composed while in Manresa following his conversion. Some of these men, including Sts. Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, were among the original nine companions when the Society of Jesus was established in 1540.
Two days ago we heard the well known Gospel narrative of Martha and Mary. Mary at prayer as she sat at Jesus' feet, Martha grumbling and whining as she did the work of preparing the meal. In St. Ignatius we see a combination of Mary's contemplation of Jesus' word and Martha's busy-ness in response to demands of work without the complaining.
The totality of Ignatius’ presence to Jesus word was like Mary’s. Like Martha he had many distractions. He wrote 7000 letters, was composing the Jesuit Constitutions, missioning men throughout the world, and answering hundreds of questions as the Society grew. At times he had to put his foot down. All novices read his famous letter on obedience, a 4000 word missive that he wrote to young Jesuits in Portugal who were in a rebellious mood. But it was the fruit of his prayer that influenced world history in ways that can never be overestimated.
Despite the enormous demands of the rapidly growing Society, establishing schools, dealing with hostility from other orders and the occasional pope, missioning men throughout the world, and writing the constitutions for the Society, he was disposed to hear and contemplate the word of God in the midst of and despite many distractions,
His health was not good. Yet, he continued to pray and work without grumbling, always to the Greater Glory of God. Ignatius died in 1556, age 65. He had been named the first general of the Society in 1541 and was still holding that office at the time of his death. Jesuits pray a number of prayers written by Holy Father Ignatius. One of these is the Prayer for Generosity that outlines how to live AMDG.
"O Lord, teach me to be generous
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 reward
Save that of knowing I do your holy will."
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| The injured Ignatius at Pamplona. The French were so impressed with his tenacity that they helped transport him back to the castle of Loyola. |
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| Parts of the castle and the dome of the basilica. Took this because of the trees. Ya' don't see these in Northern New England |
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| Sometimes I get distracted by something small, like a flower. |
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| Statue of Ignatius situated way above the main altar. Could only get this with a 150 mm lens and standing almost directly below it. |
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| The castle and the dome of the basilica. Loyola was a photo bonanza both in the basilica as well as the landsccape. |
Happy Feast!
Fr. Jack, SJ, MD
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