My reflection for today: I enjoy being silent with my thoughts and reflections in order to know Jesus more clearly, to love him more dearly, to follow him more nearly. That is why I look forward every year to my Spiritual Exercises at a Jesuit retreat. For example, it was at an annual Jesuit retreat that my meditation led me to recognize that Jesus Christ was like me, a human, as well as my Lord and Creator, when He walked this Earth; and accordingly, to better know, understand and identify with Him. Why? Because I, the human, do not work miracles, as in turning water into wine or resurrecting anyone from death. But I, the human, do have the same feelings and experience the same emotions as did Jesus Christ as a human, as in love, pity and concern for others, as well pain, though not to the level He experienced in His Passion. The result? A much closer, personal relationship between my Lord and Creator and me, one in which I have little doubt my Lord and Creator knows and understands whatever happens in my life. It greatly facilitates our communication . Thank You. *** have a great day and take care St Ignatius Loyola, Priest, Founder of Society of Jesus ("Jesuits"), who we remember today Ignatius of Loyola (original name Inigo), born in 1491, was the youngest of eleven children of a Basque nobleman and was destined to become a soldier. During a battle against the French he was wounded at the siege of Pamplona in 1521. His broken leg was badly set and, very conscious of his appearance, insisted that it be broken again and re-set. However, the surgery was not well done and Ignatius was left with a limp for the rest of his life. During his long period of convalescence he was not able to get the knightly romances he craved and had to settle for a life of Christ and stories of saints, the only books available in the family castle. However, these books had a deep effect on him and the heroism he now dreamed of was that of saints like Francis of Assisi and Dominic. He pledged his loyalty to the Mother of God by visiting her shrine at the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat in Catalonia and then began a year of prayer and penance in the cave at Manresa not far away. Here he experienced both desolation and consolation and began to learn the causes for each. This led to the compiling his classic, the Spiritual Exercises.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:15:21 +0000
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