July 31 2020 - St. Ignatius of Loyola - From vanity to sanctity

Saint Ignatius was born at Loyola Spain in 1491, the youngest son of a noble and wealthy Basque family. In his autobiography, he described himself in that early part of his life as “a man given to the vanities of the world, whose chief delight consisted in martial exercises, with a great and vain desire to win renown.”

Vanity and the pursuit of renown animated his youth, but his life changed around the age of 30. For while defending the city of Pamploma from a French army, he was severely wounded in battle—his leg shattered by a cannonball.

And while he recovered, he had his great spiritual awakening. While convalescing, he read the life of Jesus and the lives of the saints.  He realized that his worldly pursuits, even though they involved courage and patriotism were to a large extent self-centered.  He saw how the Saints accomplished great deeds not for a worldly kingdom that will pass away, but for the eternal kingdom of God. He began to desire to emulate their radical poverty and humility and charity. 

And Ignatius noticed that as he resolved to imitate the holy austerities of the saints and to do penance for his sins, he was filled with a peace and happiness that he never experienced before.

Upon his recovery, he bade farewell to his family and made pilgrimage to Montserrat. He spent three days confessing the sins of his whole life. He hung his sword and dagger near the statue of the Virgin Mary as symbols of his abandoned worldly ambitions. And he clothed himself in sackcloth and spent the night in prayer. And for a number of months he lived as a beggar and practice those austere penances of the saints and attended mass daily.

After making pilgrimage to the Holy Land, then back to Rome, Venice, and Cyprus, he dedicated himself to study, that he might be able to help souls. He studied in Barcelona and then Paris, where he began to attract a small group of disciples, who took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, who would later go on to form the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.  “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam” was their motto—“for the greater glory of God”

Nearly 500 years later, his life, writings, and deep love of the Church, continue to inspire us to put our lives in the service of God’s glory. 

Like with Ignatius, there each of us have vain pursuits which leave us empty and sad, and holy penances and holy works which would bring us such happiness and fulfillment, if we but resolved, with God’s help to complete them. May whatever we do today, be done with the intention of serving not ourselves, but the heavenly kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Priest: 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.

July 31 2018 - St. Ignatius of Loyola - Discernment of Spirits and Daily Examen

While convalescing from a military injury, the young soldier Ignatius of Loyola discerned that the pursuits of the flesh, fame, wealth, power brought him emptiness and disappointment, where the pursuits of the spirit, as lived out in the lives of the saints and the famous spiritual volume, The imitation of Christ, brought him a sense of completeness and true peace.

Ignatius discerned well the logic of our Lord in the Gospel today: the Lord Jesus works to sow good seed in our hearts, which flourish to eternal life, where the enemy, the devil, sows seeds of corruption, which poison our souls, and lead to perdition. St. Paul echoed this sentiment in his letter to the galatians, when he wrote: “the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.”

Upon recovery, Ignatius rightly discerned to give his life over to the greater glory of God. AMDG, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam “for the greater glory of God”, became the motto of the Jesuit Order which he founded, which took the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, as well as a special fourth vow of unconditional obedience to the Holy Father: to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls.

How are each of us called to serve God’s glory? We do well to follow Ignatius’ rules of discernment. We should identify the vain pursuits which bring only temporary satisfaction, and seek rather the activity that brings lasting peace and joy. Like the young knight Ignatius, sometimes we discover that we’ve been deceiving ourselves about what matters most in life, and shy away from true and humble service.

Ignatius developed what is called the daily examen, a prayer at the end of the day, to reflect on the day’s activities, to review the events of the day and consider, did I follow God’s initiative or my own, did I sew in the field of the flesh, or the field of the spirit. Then, in silence and peace, to express thankfulness for the gifts and blessings of the day, and ask repentance for our failure to live up to our Christian identity. Then finally, to ask God to help us resolve to grow and trust in the loving guidance of God tomorrow.

May we know the prayerful intercession of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in our daily efforts to work for the spread of the Gospel, for the greater glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For deliverance from all disordered affections and attitudes, for detachment from earthly goods in order to value the goods of heaven, that the Holy Spirit may guide our discernment for God’s service. We pray.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, for the Society of Jesus, and that we may all be dedicated to the greater glory of God.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests.

For freedom from inclement weather and any violent incidents or dangerous accidents during our upcoming parish festival, and that those who come to our parish grounds may know the goodness of God reflected in the charity and kindness of our parishioners.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests, religious, especially for all deceased Jesuits who have served our local Church, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

July 31, 2017 - St. Ignatius of Loyola - For the greater glory of God

Saint Ignatius was born at Loyola Spain in 1491 to a Basque noble family. He served the King of Spain as a knight. He was on his way to military fame and fortune when at the age of 30, he was severely wounded in battle—his leg shattered by a cannonball. During his recovery, he read The Life of Christ and the lives of the saints.

As he read and pondered these books, he noticed a change taking place within him. Daydreams of serving the king as a valiant knight and winning the love a noble lady, though at first enticing, ultimately left him feeling inwardly dry and discontented. By contrast, when he imagined devoting his life to the service of God and others, similar to the saints he was reading about, Ignatius experienced a deep sense of joy.

So he realized that his worldly pursuits, even though they involved courage and patriotism were to a large extent self-centered.  So, he began to follow that unshakable urge to accomplish great deeds for the kingdom of God by radically embracing poverty and charitable service for the glory of God.

AMDG - Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, became the motto of the Society of Jesus, which he founded. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam “for the greater glory of God”.  In addition to the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, professed members of the Jesuits would take a special fourth vow of unconditional obedience to the Holy Father: to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls.

How are each of us called to serve God’s glory? We do well to engage Ignatius’ rules of discernment. We should identify the vain pursuits which bring only temporary satisfaction, and seek rather the activity that brings lasting peace and joy. Like the young knight Ignatius, sometimes we discover that we’ve been deceiving ourselves about what matters most in life, and shy away from what true and humble service.

Ignatius wrote a powerful prayer of surrender to God.  You may have come across this before: “Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.”

What great holiness we would attain if we sought first God’s will over our own earthly attractions! May we know the prayerful intercession of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in our daily efforts to work for the spread of the Gospel, for the greater glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For our Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of July: that our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the faith, through our prayer and witness to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness of the Lord and the beauty of the Christian life. We pray.

For deliverance from all disordered affections and attitudes, for detachment from earthly goods in order to value the goods of heaven, that the Holy Spirit may guide our discernment for God’s service. We pray.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, for the Society of Jesus, and that we may all be dedicated to the greater glory of God.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering. We pray.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests, religious, especially for all deceased Jesuits who have served our local Church, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

Homily: Epiphany 2013 - Servants of the grace that invites all people to Christ

Happy Epiphany. Today is really the last of the great Christmas Celebrations, when we celebrate the three wise men from the east following the start of Bethlehem and adoring the newborn savior of the world presenting him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Epiphany comes from the Greek word which means “Revelation”.  At Christmas, Jesus was proclaimed as the long-awaited Messiah of the beloved people of Israel.  Today is the day when we celebrate the Epiphany, the Revelation that Jesus is the Savior of the entire world.  We recall those three wise men from the east, who tradition names Melchior, Balthezar, and Caspar: how the Christ Child was revealed to them as Savior of all people, all lands, all times, all places. Jesus is the universal savior.

In many parts of the world, the feast of the epiphany is celebrated with as much solemnity as Christmas.  For, today, in many countries, is the day gifts are exchanged, recalling the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought in honor of the new born King.

Having followed the star from the east, to Jerusalem, they met with Herod, whose evil intentions towards the Christ Child were veiled, but evident.  The wise men then continued to Bethlehem where they found the newborn Savior, they worshipped him and adored him.  Then in a dream an angel told them that Herod had terribly vicious designs to kill the Messiah, to kill baby Jesus.  So as we just heard, they departed for their country by another way, the went home another route.

A deep spiritual meaning is contained in that line: “they went home another route”. They searched for the savior, they found him, and upon finding him, were changed forever.  There is the important spiritual truth: Once you meet Jesus Christ, once you adore Him, once his identity is revealed to you, once you have the epiphany, once you place your faith in Him, your life is changed forever. Once you meet Him, you go through life a different route.

(There is a fresco by Giovanni da Modena of the magi returning home, not on camels, but in a large ship, perhaps a prefigurement of the Church founded by Christ.)

Throughout the centuries of the Church we have stories of people from all over the world who begin life one way, and upon encounter Christ their lives are changed forever.

Think of those first called by Christ, Peter, Paul, Andrew, and James.  They began life as fishermen, but meeting Christ, encountering him, their lives were changed forever.  They went from local ordinary fishermen, to miracle working world missionaries and martyrs!

I think too about Saint Paul.  While a very stringent adherent of the Jewish law, he was putting Christians to death.  But upon the road to Damascas, and he encountered the Risen Christ, his life was changed forever.  Saint Paul definitely went home a different route.

I came across a book a few years ago, entitled “Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil-Worshippers Who Became Saints.”  Men and women who begin life one way, encounter the Revelation, the Epiphany that Jesus Christ is Lord and calls them to newness of life, and follow Him, and depart from that encounter changed forever.

Men like Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who begins life, arrogant, full of himself, seeking fame through war, full of ambition, vain about his appearance, addicted to gambling and dissolute in his dealings with women.  He went everywhere armed, looking for a fight, obsessed with proving himself in battle. But an epiphany occurred in his life, which changed him forever.

After rushing into battle, his legs were shattered and wounded by a cannonball.  And as he lay convalescing in bed, his sister-in-law gave him two books, a life of Christ and a collection of the lives of the Saints.  There in his solace, shattered, broken, he met Christ.  He repented of letting his vanity, and his pride, and lust, and violence rule his life.  He began to pray, and dedicated himself to Christ.  He founded the Jesuit Order and became a soldier in quite a different sense, soldiers in spreading the Gospel throughout the world—to the darkest jungles and most foreign lands.

We think of the Great Saint Augustine, who rebelled as a teenager from the faith of his mother, monica.  While in college he flirted with the popular heretical faiths of his day, and embarked on a life of promiscuity, he even fell into thievery.  Yet, through his studies he continued to search for the Truth.  And he met him one day, through the preaching of the Archbishop of Milan, the great Saint Ambrose.  Inspired by Ambrose to take and read the scriptures, Augustine came upon a powerful line from Saint Paul: “ Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness . . . . But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof."  And Augustine said, that upon coming to the end of that sentence, it was the light of faith flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled.  That’s a life changing epiphany—an encounter with the Lord Jesus through his Word.  Augustine was baptized, and ordained a priest and was later consecrated a bishop.  Come to find out his mother had been praying many many years for his conversion.

Our Church history, our parish history is full of stories of such men and women, who come to encounter Christ through the prayers and faith of others and whose lives are changed forever.  Our prayers for people’s conversion matter, as do our little acts of kindness.  I think particularly of the men and women in our RCIA who have sought after Christ and found him here in the Catholic Church.  And it is so often because of a book given to them or a conversation they have with a Catholic that God uses to bring them home.

But epiphanies  are not just for the uninitiated.  God wants to continue to reveal himself in epiphany moments in our lives as well.  Our daily prayer, when we kneel, humbly before God with our desires for conversation and for peace and healing—those are meant to be epiphany moments.

Vatican II called Sunday Mass the source and summit of the Christian life: like the wise men who encountered the Christ child, we too who encounter Christ in word and sacrament and should return home a different route.  Do you come to Mass desiring that, hoping for that, open to that epiphany moment, where your encounter with the Lord Jesus at Mass changes you, so that you go home a different person than when you came…

Priests and religious pray one of the Psalms every day that goes “if today you hear his voice, hardened not your hearts.”  Because when the Lord does speak to you, in prayer, and in your service, harden not your hearts so you do not miss the opportunity to be changed, to grow in holiness and sanctity.

After encountering the Lord in the Eucharist today, the priest or deacon is going to send you forth into the world from Mass. Do not go home the same route you came, but think of how the Lord is calling you to change, that you can give better witness to the Lord to those you meet this week, to be more responsive to the ways the Lord is calling you to be servants of the grace which invites all peoples to Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.