You are joining 240 people now in prayer on Divine Office.org

This is a screen-reader optimized version of our Liturgy of the Hours.

About Today for

July 31

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Memorial

“Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.”[1]

St. Ignatius was born in 1491 at the castle of Loyola to a noble Basque family. In his teens, he became a knight. An injured leg left him in rehabilitation for months, where his reading of Scripture and saintly literature led to his conversion. Ignatius left Loyola for the sanctuary of Montserrat where he laid down his sword and gave his rich clothes to the poor. He fasted, confessed, sought penance and ultimately, became ordained in 1537. His intelligence and fervor attracted many followers as did his work, The Spiritual Exercises. In 1539, he founded the Society of Jesus. As Father General of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius formed the Order’s focus on a vow of obedience to the pope, strong spiritual formation, foreign missions, and education of youth regardless of class. Jesuits were highly educated and created universities and schools across the globe. St. Ignatius was canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. [2][3]

Written by Sarah Ciotti
Reviewed by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB, STD

[1] St. Ignatius, The Spiritual Exercises,1, www.ccel.org.
[2] Catholicpedia: The Original Catholic Encyclopedia (1917) for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. s.v. “St. Ignatius of Loyola.”
[3] Benedict XVI, Address to the Fathers and Brothers of the Society of Jesus, April 22, 2006.

Liturgy of the Hours for July 31 -