When St. Ignatius was injured by a cannonball hundreds of years ago, he started reading the lives of the saints. The reading he did while recovering helped lead to the transformation that led him closer to Jesus and ultimately to a whole new path for his life.
Getting to know the saints better can certainly be transformative. In fact, getting to know more about the life of St. Ignatius himself has had a tremendous impact on me.
When I started reading his autobiography, I wondered initially whether Ignatius and I would have been friends. In some ways, I was struck by how he could be a bit extreme and rather scrupulous.
But I also get got the sense that he knew how to surround himself with good people—and that they were eager to join him in answering God’s call. There was clearly something inspiring about being with Ignatius that made it possible for him to start the Society of Jesus—an order that has had an extraordinary global impact for hundreds of years.
It occurred to me that there must be something captivating about a man who feels called to live life most fully for God, responding completely to the call of Christ. I find it especially appealing that Ignatius struggled with discerning what God wanted him to do. What a beautiful reminder that saints are not perfect, but human. Just because they say “yes” to God does not mean the path is always clear or straightforward.
Ignatius thought he was supposed to serve in the Holy Land. When he finally realized that was not possible, he had to accept that he would be following a different path. Accepting that path and making the most of it led to the launch of the first Jesuit school—as the Jesuits’ first step took root. How beautiful that it wasn’t the obvious choice, and that Ignatius had to embrace that new option with conviction, determination, and faith.
I do love how Ignatius—and his brother Jesuits—invite us to embrace discernment, considering the options before us, remaining open to the possibilities that life presents. I also appreciate the practice of reflection, looking back on what we’ve experienced and learning from the past as we look ahead to tomorrow.
Mostly, though, I remain in awe of the way Ignatius invites us to walk more closely with Jesus in prayer. He encourages us to get to know Jesus better and to come to love him more completely. And he teaches us that we can find God in all things.
Getting to know Ignatius—or any saint—a little better can help us as we walk our own faith journeys. After all, there’s not much that we encounter that a saint hasn’t already dealt with before. And God loves us through all the confusion and missteps along the way, since what he wants for us most is what we want for ourselves: to be home with him in heaven one day. I’m grateful to St. Ignatius for helping keep that in the front of our minds, as well. AMDG.
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