Feast Day of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

The First Principle and Foundation
St. Ignatius begins his Spiritual Exercises with the below.
(Paraphrased by David L. Fleming, S.J.)

For more Ignatian Prayers check out Prayers & Creeds blog....HERE.

The Goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God’s life
to flow into us without limit.

All the things in this world are gifts from God,
Presented to us so that we can know God more easily
and make a return of love more readily.
As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God
Insofar as they help us to develop as loving persons.
But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives,
They displace God
And so hinder our growth toward our goal.

In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance
Before all of these created gifts insofar as we have a choice
And are not bound by some obligation.
We should not fix our desires on health or sickness,
Wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or a short one.
For everything has the potential of calling forth in us
A deeper response to our life in God.

Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads
To God’s deepening his life in me.

Ignatian Prayers & Spirituality in July

In honor of the feast day of Saint Ignatius on July 31, the website Ignatian Spirituality is celebrating by highlighting a selection of articles, blog posts, and videos to help you explore the riches of Ignatian spirituality. You can click on the banner above to explore the daily offerings this July.

 I also share a selection of Ignatain prayers I have posted on Prayers & Creeds these past few years. These are either classic Ignatian prayers, prayers by Jesuits, or Ignatian-inspired prayers. You can check them out by clicking...HERE.

Or you can click on each individual prayer below. I will be posting additional Ignatian prayers throughout July.

The Examen of Consciousness

El Examen de Conciencia ~ Una oración a Dios

Anima Christi (English & Spanish)
A Favorite Prayer of Saint Ignatius

Anima Christi
Rephrasing of this ancient prayer by David L. Fleming, SJ

Prayer of Gratitude

Ignatian Prayer of Gratitude

Ignatian Prayer for Detachment

A Prayer for Spiritual Freedom