Saint Ignatius
Saint Ignatius
NationalitySpanish
ProfessionSaint
Date of Birth24 December 1491
CountrySpain
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
deed far
One rare and exceptional deed is worth far more than a thousand commonplace ones.
achieve advances against both certain energetic notable peace possess virtue
It is certain that, because the negligent do not struggle against self, they never achieve peace of soul or do so tardily, and never possess any virtue in its fullness, while the energetic and industrious make notable advances on both fronts.