Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) was a Basque soldier whose leg was shattered by a cannonball at the Battle of Pamplona; during his long recovery, reading about the lives of Christ and the saints converted his heart. He went on to write the Spiritual Exercises and, with a small band of companions, founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1540, which he led from Rome until his death.
Ignatius shows that God can turn our deepest wounds into the very place where grace enters, and that a life once aimed at worldly glory can be redirected entirely to the glory of God. His motto, 'Ad maiorem Dei gloriam' — for the greater glory of God — invites us to find God in all things, even in suffering and loss.
Lord, as You taught Saint Ignatius, teach us to give and not to count the cost, and to seek You in all things. Through his intercession, turn our wounds into wellsprings of grace. Amen.Enter today’s Mass → All saints →