He is the treasure—he is the pearl of great price. We learn that if we truly wish to possess this pearl of great price, we must sell all that we have. That means, in order to possess this pearl, we must set aside our pride, we must set aside our attachment to our way of doing things, we must detach from our idea of the good life, and do everything in our power to strive after union with Christ.
The source of our world’s sadness is that it does not know Christ. It assumes it knows Christ without truly knowing him. The source of the Church’s joy, the joy of the saints, is that she does know him, she does possess him, she is united with him, in his suffering, in his dying, and in his rising.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, whom we honor today, spoke of how this truth when he wrote, “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to him and if they were to allow his grace to mold them accordingly."
Ignatius, a knight for the king of Spain, was wounded in battle—a cannonball shattered his leg. And while convalescing he read the lives of the saints. He began to notice how the heroic sufferings of the saints for the Gospel brought him much joy, while thoughts of worldly pursuits which were to a large extent self-centered, left him inwardly dry and discontented.
He made a decision: to seek the pearl of great price, to abandon himself unreservedly to seek the greater glory of God—ad maiorem Dei gloriam, which became the motto of the Jesuit Order which he founded.
To strive after holiness, to focus on our personal holiness is not prideful, but necessary. This means we seeking to overcome our vices, our self-centeredness, the effects that sin has had in our life, and strive to greater love today than we exercised yesterday.
Christ is the greatest of treasures, and to find him, we must strive daily to find Him by imitating His love, His Obedience to God, His embrace of the Cross for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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We unite our prayers today with St Ignatius of Loyola and with all the community of saints.
For Pope Francis, himself a member of the Jesuit Order, for wisdom and courage as he leads and guides our Church, and that all members of the Society of Jesus may strive for fidelity to Christ in all of their ministerial endeavors.
That all Christians may strive daily for sanctity. For a rekindling of faith for the lukewarm, hope for the despairing, belief for the unbelieving.
For the safety and success of all missionaries.
That our young people may turn away from the empty promises of the world and from all self-centeredness, for blessings upon all Christian families, for the protection of the unborn.
That the sick and suffering may find comfort in the promises of Christ and the consolation of the Spirit.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the souls in purgatory, deceased bishops, priests, and religious, those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered.
Hear Our Prayers, O Lord, and through the intercession of St. Ignatius, help us to live for your greater glory. Through the same Christ Our Lord.
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