The Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola is marked on July 31 each year.
Opening Prayer: Suspice St. Ignatius Loyola
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
Reflection: (by Carol Ann Smith, SHCJ and Eugene F. Merz, SJ. Copyright ©2000 by Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus and Society of the Holy Child Jesus—American Province. Used with permission of the publisher Ave Maria Press®, Inc., P.O. Box 428, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556,
www.avemariapress.com.)
Scripture: John 21:15-19 Jesus Reinstates Peter
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!
Desire: To be so grateful for the gifts I have received that I will want to share them in service
Spiritual Exercises: I beg for the gift of an intimate knowledge of all the goods which God lovingly shares with me. Filled with gratitude, I want to be empowered to respond just as totally in my love and service (Spiritual Exercises 233)
Questions for Reflection:
What do I want to do to remain open to God’s continuing faithful love for me?
As I grow in awareness and appreciation of God’s goodness to me, in what practical ways will I continue to stay focused on Jesus as the ground of my being?
Closing Prayer: PRAYER FOR GENEROSITY St. Ignatius Loyola
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous;
Teach me to serve you as you deserve,
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to heed the wounds,
To toil and not to seek for rest,
To labor and not to ask for reward,
Save that of knowing
I am doing your will.
Amen.
