Happy Feast of St. Ignatius!

I have a lovely reflection about how and why I have come to love St. Ignatius.  In my head.  Which is also full of a cold.  So, I've rounded up some links and things for you to enjoy instead!

1.  Six Characteristics of Ignatian Spirituality

2.  A Way to pray the Examen

3.

Church of St. Ignatius in Rome

4.  

St. Edward in Palm Beach, FL which was built by Jesuits

5.  A roundup of quotes

6  The book that began my Ignatian Journey.  Thank You, Mona!

7.  If you are on Twitter follow Iggy @FindIggy

8.  A #findiggy post from Margaret Felice

9.  A fun website, Find Your Inner Iggy,  with all the #findIggy posts, tweets and swag.

If you are unfamiliar with Ignatius, learn about him.  He was what the Church needed back in the 1500's and he is what we need today!  

For those who love, nothing is too difficult,                                                               especially when it is done for the love of  our Lord Jesus Christ.                                   St. Ignatius Loyola

St. Ignatius Novena

St. Ignatius in Rome; 

July 31 is the feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola.  He is someone I turn to often for inspiration and guidance.  I will be praying a novena to ask for his intercession on a few special intentions.  Please join me and know that I will pray not only for my intentions but yours as well.

St. Ignatius Novena and Podcast  from Discerning Hearts.  This website is full of information about many saints, prayers, great books and more.  One draw for me is that many of the prayer podcasts  have text you can read if you prefer.  I also have the app on my phone and can listen to talks on my commute.

7 Quick Takes about eyes, cars and what I'm praying and thinking about

1.  Last Friday I had an eye doctor appointment to check on a partial tear/hole in my macular.  Sounds serious, it's not.  At least mine isn't.  My appointment was longer than usual and my eyes were dilated longer than usual and it all gave me a huge headache.  I'm not sure it was the eye dilation or the technician who kept speaking in French when she said things like "look straight ahead" and "stay still" while doing my exam.  And then she kept dabbing the drops running down my face instead of handing me the tissue, like she was my mother!  So very odd.  Actually, my mom would not do that, unless for some reason I did not have the use of my arms!

2.My car is still not repaired.  It is being worked on and should be done in a few weeks.  I've had the rental car so long it needed an oil change so I took it to the car rental place and they took care of it.  They said I could keep the car or get a new one.  I kept the car.  But then I started to think, what if we could do that all the time, car needs an oil change, trade it for a new one; needs gas, get one with a full tank; dirty, go pick up a clean one.  You know, like the library, we could have a big lot where you just borrow cars, exchanging them like we do library books, only cars.

3.  I am an extrovert.  Why am I telling you this?  because in the summer work is very, very quiet.  Weeks can go by without a phone call or email, let alone an actual person coming to my office.  I think that's why I like social media so much.  I can be social with folks all over the place.  But you know what, I still miss being with people.

4.  Quote I really love and that has given me much to ponder:

I made this using Canva

5.  Today is the first day of the Pentecost Novena. Go to Pray more Novenas to get it delivered to you each day!

6.  St. Ignatius is one of my favorite saints.  The Prayer for Generosity is beautiful (no matter who wrote it) and dotMagis, the blog of Ignatian Spiritualy did a reflection on each line, take a look at it!  

Lord, 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 that I do your will.

7.  Next week is the last week of school.  I need to get started on my husband do list for summer.  Who am I kidding, I can just give him last year's!  

More fun Quick takes at Conversion Diary!

St. Ignatius Loyola

I am reading a biography of St. Ignatius Loyola and learning all sorts of things about him.  He was sickly all his life, yet persisted in living a life of poverty eventhough his health could have been improved if he'd chosen otherwise.  He did penance for many sinners and many converted their lives of sin because of his example.  In many pictures, he is dressed as a soldier, but he wore a simple habit, probably something similar to what St. Francis wore.  He was subjected to the Inquisition in Spain more than once.  He gave his Spiritual Exercise to both religious and lay people before he was a priest. When he was ordained, he waited over a year to prepare himself to celebrate his first Mass. 
Another thing I found astonishing was that Church authorities thought he and his followers were to familiar with the sacraments, especially the Eucharist because they received every Sunday.  In his time, people received only once or twice a year. As someone who receives almost daily, it is so difficult to understand the Church's position at that time.
"Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous.  Teach me to serve Thee as Thou deservest; to give and not count the cost; to fight and not heed the wounds; to toil and not seek for rest; to labor and not to seek reward, save that of knowing that I do thy will, O God.  St. Ignatius