Saint Ignatius
Saint Ignatius
NationalitySpanish
ProfessionSaint
Date of Birth24 December 1491
CountrySpain
created earth god lord man reach save serve
Man was created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord and in this way to save his soul. The other things on Earth were created for man's use, to help him reach the end for which he was created.
example gain given god good goods heaven sound teaching
If God has given you the world's goods in abundance, it is to help you gain those of Heaven and to be a good example of sound teaching to your sons, servants, and relatives.
charity effective enjoy felt god good greater higher indeed itself mean melt motion others seeing tears
Some indeed have tears naturally, when the higher motion of the soul makes itself felt in the lower, or because God our Lord, seeing that it would be good for them, allows them to melt into tears. But this does not mean that they have greater charity or that they are more effective than others who enjoy no tears.
effort experience fervent god life overcome passion peace proves rid rightly roots themselves
Experience proves that in this life peace and satisfaction are had, not by the listless but by those who are fervent in God's service. And rightly so. For in their effort to overcome themselves and to rid themselves of self-love, they rid themselves of the roots of all passion and unrest.
god
What St. Francis and St. Dominic have done, that, by God's grace, I will do.
advance god insofar itself life love loves man praise sake service tries
I can love a person in this life only insofar as he tries to advance in the praise and service of God our Lord; for the man who loves anything for itself and not for the sake of God, does not love God with his whole heart.
adopted approved began consider course enter fitted god order remain save study understood
When Ignatius understood that God did not wish him to remain at Jerusalem, he began to consider what he should do. The plan he approved and adopted was to enter upon a course of study in order to be better fitted to save souls.
apostles faithfully god love loved served
We esteem, honor, and love the apostles more than the other saints, because they served God more faithfully and because they loved Him more perfectly.
came god recognize spirits
Little by little he came to recognize the difference between the spirits that agitated him, one from the enemy and one from God.
alone god greater healthy mind prepared soul
It is not the soul alone that should be healthy; if the mind is healthy in a healthy body, all will be healthy and much better prepared to give God greater service.
delight desire empty gaining great himself led life military seemed special strong
Up to his twenty-sixth year, the heart of Ignatius was enthralled by the vanities of the world. His special delight was in the military life, and he seemed led by a strong and empty desire of gaining for himself a great name.
delusion draw great subject superior tries understanding whose
It is a great delusion in those whose understanding has been darkened by self-love, to think that there is any obedience in the subject who tries to draw the superior to what he wishes.
acquiring careless difference earnest holds learning mastering matter nature stands student true weaknesses
In the matter of learning, the difference between the earnest and the careless student stands out clearly. The same holds true in the mastering of passion and the weaknesses to which our nature is subject, as in the acquiring of virtue.
bestow concerning eager love receive share supreme
I have no doubt concerning that Supreme Goodness, who is so eager to share His blessings, or of that everlasting love which makes Him more eager to bestow perfection on us than we are to receive it.