Saint Ignatius
Saint Ignatius
NationalitySpanish
ProfessionSaint
Date of Birth24 December 1491
CountrySpain
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.
certainly enjoy greater higher lord peace places ready soul virtue whatever wish work
Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. It is certainly a higher virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one.
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.
according completing decided enter life religious
While studying at Barcelona, Ignatius was in doubt whether, after completing his studies, he should enter some Religious Order, or go from place to place, according to his custom. He decided to enter upon the religious life.
subjects throughout wellbeing
The wellbeing of the head resounds throughout the whole body, and as are the Superiors, so, in turn, will their subjects be.
god
What St. Francis and St. Dominic have done, that, by God's grace, I will do.
add afford belongs cannot creator ill lord low raise
If I cannot add to my own low level of understanding, I could ill afford to try to raise that of others, seeing that it belongs to our Creator and Lord to give much or little.
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.
body creator help helpful insofar love obedient praise service since
We should love the body insofar as it is obedient and helpful to the soul, since the soul, with the body's help and service, is better disposed for the service and praise of our Creator and Lord.
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.
cause danger fallen judges prefer setting since themselves
In the fallen there is danger of pride and vainglory, since they prefer their own judgment to the judgment of everyone else, usurping what is not their own by setting themselves up as judges in their own cause when the rightful judge is their superior.
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.