Memorial of Saint
Ignatius, priest
(Exodus 34:29-35; Matthew 13:44-46)
Today the Church honors not just St. Ignatius but also
the legacy he left. Ignatius gave up a
military career after he was injured and experienced conversion. He prayed intensely and studied
theology. At the university he joined a
group of scholars to form the Company of Jesus, the Jesuits. They were ordained and soon spearheaded the
Catholic Counter-Reformation. The Jesuits
have become the Church’s most prominent religious congregation. Seven years ago, for the first time, a Jesuit
was elected pope.
Ignatius’ conversion could be compared to the merchant’s
finding a pearl in today’s gospel. In reading
and praying, Ignatius found Christ in a much deeper way than in his Catholic
upbringing. He gave up his sword and everything
else to be like his Lord. As the first leader
of the Jesuits, he awoke the attention of the world to Jesus’ love.
Today’s collect remembers Ignatius as a soldier-saint by recognizing
the need of discipline in the quest for holiness. We must take to heart the lesson. We train ourselves to put aside earthly
vanities by keeping our eyes on the Lord.
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