Category Archives: Jesuit Saints

Faith, Jesuit Saints, patron saints, Saint of the Day, Spirituality, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Feast Day July 31

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St. Ignatius Loyola by Miguel Cabrera Public Domain Image
St. Ignatius Loyola by Miguel Cabrera

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ignatius of Loyola,

Feast Day July 31

The feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola is celebrated on July 31. St. Ignatius of Loyola was born the youngest of 13 children in a family castle in Guipuzcoa, Spain. Until he was 30, he served as a courtier and soldier in Spain.

St. Ignatius was wounded when a cannonball shattered his leg. While in the hospital he spent a great deal of time studying the lives of the saints. When he was finally released from the hospital, he decided he should try to imitate the saints. He went to confession, and then lived in a cave for about a year while caring for the poor and sick.

He entered school at the age of 35. After studying Latin and theology in several different schools, he received his degree in Paris. While in Paris, he met St. Francis Xavier who was one of his followers. Ignatius, with five followers founded the Order of the Society of Jesus, which came to be known as the Jesuits. They offered themselves to the Pope, for any work he wanted them to do. The Jesuits were known for their missionary work. They were a great influence during the Counter Reformation.

St. Ignatius was a mystic. He had several visions. His spirituality focused on the Trinity, Christ and the Eucharist. His motto was “All for the greater glory of God.”  In 1548, his book The Spiritual Exercises was printed. This introduces the concept of a 30-day retreat.

St. Ignatius died of Roman Fever, almost blind, at the age of 65 on July 31, 1556. St. Ignatius is the patron saint of Catholic soldiers, and retreats.

The Basilica of St Ignatius of Loyola was built next to the house where he was born in Azpeita, the Basque Country. The house itself is now a museum. St. Ignatius’ legacy includes many Jesuit schools and educational institutions. In the U.S. alone there are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities. There are more than 50 Jesuit secondary schools.

 

Lord Jesus Christ
take all my freedom
my memory
my understanding
and my will.
All that I have and cherish
You have given me.
I surrender it all
to be guided by Your will
Your grace and Your love
are wealth enough for me.
Give me these, Lord Jesus
and I ask for nothing more.

Prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

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Faith, Jesuit Saints, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Feast Day July 14

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St. Kateri Public Domain Image
St. Kateri

The feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha is celebrated on July 14.  St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the Patron of the environment and ecology. She was known as the “Lily of the Mohawks”.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in Auriesville, NY. She was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior and Catholic Algonquin. She is the first Native American to be declared a saint.

On Easter, 1676, Kateri was baptized by Jesuit missionary Father Jacques de Lambertville at the age of 20. She was devoted to prayer, penitential practices and the care of the sick and aged in Caughnawaga near Montreal. Her relics are now enshrined in Caughnawaga.

When Kateri was four years old smallpox attacked her family. Her mother and little brother died from the disease. Kateri’s face was scarred by the disease and she became partially blind. Her two Aunts and an Uncle adopted her. Because of her conversion, she incurred hostility from her tribe. She went to a new Christian colony in Indianan, Canada. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to “Christ crucified.” She spent much time praying before the Blessed Sacrament.

At the age of 23 Kateri died on Wednesday of Holy Week, at approximately 3 p.m. Within fifteen minutes after her death, her face, which was marked by smallpox, was healed and became beautiful. Father Cholone called others to see what had happened. Miraculous cures at the Sault Mission were frequent that year (1682) and attributed to Kateri. She appeared to many people after her death, always carrying a cross.

Blessed Kateri’s tomb is found at St. Francis Xavier Mission in the Mohawk Nation at Kahnaqake, near Montreal, Quebec. She is honored at the National Shrine of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha in Florida, NY and the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, NY.

 

 

 

Who can tell me what is most pleasing to God that I may do it?

Quote of St. Kateri Tekakwitha

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood.

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Incorruptible, Jesuit Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Bernadino, Feast Day July 2

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St. Bernadino
St. Bernadino

The feast day of St. Bernadino Realino is celebrated on July 2.

St. Bernadino was born to a noble family of Capri, Italy in 1530. He studied medicine and law at the University of Bologna. He received his doctorate in 1563. After attending a retreat giving by the Jesuits, Bernadino realized he had a religious calling. He joined the Society of Jesus and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1567. After ministering to the poor and the youth of Naples for several years he was sent to Lecce where he served for 42 years.

St. Bernadino was a powerful preacher and confessor. He was known for his acts of kindness and serving the poor. He died in 1616. His fame occurred after his death when his body was found to be partially incorrupt when his tomb was opened in 1711.

St. Bernadino Realino was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947.

 

It has hands to help others.

It has feet to hasten to the poor and the needy.

It has eyes to see misery and want.

It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of women and men.

That is what love looks like.

Quote of St. Augustine; Feast day August 28

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

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Faith, Jesuit Saints, patron saints, Saint of the Day, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Feast Day June 21

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St. Aloysius Gonzaga Public Domain Image St. Aloysius Gonzaga

 

The feast day of St. Aloysius Gonzaga is celebrated on June 21.   He was a Jesuit Deacon who lived in Italy and Rome from 1568-1591.  He is the patron saint of youth and plague victims.

St. Aloysius was born in Castiglione, Italy in 1568. He was one of seven children and lived in a castle. He was expected to follow his father into the military, but by the early age of nine Aloysius had decided he had a religious calling. He received his 1st communion from St. Charles Borromeo, who was a Cardinal.

St. Aloysius’ family was living in Florence when Aloysius came down with kidney disease. He spent his time while he was ill reading the lives of the saints. After reading about Jesuit missionaries in India he became determined to join the Society of Jesus.  Against the will of his father he joined the Jesuits at the age of 18. He gave up his right to an inheritance.

In 1590 Aloysius returned to Rome. While he was in Rome he had a vision of Archangel Gabriel who told him he would die within a year. In 1591, a plague broke out in Rome. Aloysius volunteered to serve in the hospital. It was not long before he came down with the plague himself.  After receiving another vision, St. Aloysius told several people he would die on the Feast of Corpus Christi, (Body of Christ). The Feast  of Corpus Christi fell on June 21 that year. In the morning he seemed fine but he grew weaker quickly. St. Bellarmine gave him the last rites and he died just before midnight at the age of 23.

St. Aloysius was known for his purity. He had taken a vow of perpetual virginity while very young, safeguarding himself from temptation by always looking downward when in the presence of women. His prayers included the Office of Mary and the Psalms. St. Aloysius had been ordained a deacon but was never ordained a priest.

A Carmelite mystic, St. Maria Magdalena de Pezzi claimed to have had a vision of St. Aloysius on April 4, 1600. She described him as radiant in glory because of his interior works and said he was a hidden martyr for his great love of God.

Pious legend tells us his first words were the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.  Before his death, his final words were “Into Thy hands.”

St. Aloysius was canonized on Dec. 31, 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII.

 

I am but a crooked piece of iron,

and have come into religion to be made straight

by the hammer of mortification and penance.

Quote of St. Aloysius Gonzaga

 

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Faith, Jesuit Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Francis Regis, Feast Day June 16

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St. John Francis Regis

 

The feast day of St. John Francis Regis is celebrated on June 16. He was a Jesuit priest from France.

St. John Francis Regis was born into a wealthy family in southern France. He entered the Society of Jesus at age 19. After his ordination as a Jesuit priest he became a missionary working in various French towns. He would walk from town to town preaching from the heart. His speaking style was simple but poetic. He was easy to understand and his zeal attracted many people. He usually heard confessions in the morning and visited prisons and hospitals in the afternoon. His preaching missions successfully converted many people and brought others back to the faith.

St. John Francis Regis was well known for his work with at-risk women and orphans. He established safe houses and helped the unemployed find work. He led many to be trained as lace makers, giving them a stable income.

While serving on a mission in 1640, St. John Francis Regis died. He spent his last day meditating on the crucifix. His last works were:

“Into thy hand I commend my spirit”.

St. John Francis Regis was canonized in 1737. Regis Societies were formed throughout France to provide services for the poor and marginalized.

 

The incomparable heart of the Mother of the Redeemer  is a glorious heaven,

a paradise of delights for the Most Holy Trinity.

Quote of St. John Eudes; Feast day August 19

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Faith, Jesuit Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Francis de Laval, Feast Day May 6

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St. Francis de Laval Public Domain Image
St. Francis de Laval

The feast day of St. Francis de Laval is celebrated on May 6.

St. Francis de Laval was born in Normandy, France in 1628. He wished to become a priest at an early age. His Father placed him with the Jesuits where he lived for 14 years.

He eventually became the first bishop of New France, (Quebec). He served as Bishop for over 30 years before resigning due to age. He was known for living a holy and simple life, believing in a spirit of poverty. Under his leadership many new schools and churches were opened.

St. Francis de Laval died in 1708 from an ulcer which became progressively worse.

 

Trust the past to the mercy of God; the present o His Love, and the future to His Providence.

Quote of St. Augustine; Feast day August 28

 

May is the Month of Our Lady.

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