Join us in praying a novena to St. Ignatius, ending on his feast day, July 31!

Day 8, July 30 – The Third and Fourth Weeks

Reflect: The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are broken down into four weeks. The third week is generally focused on contemplating the passion and death of our Lord on the Cross, wherein St. Ignatius invites us “to ask for sorrow, regret, and confusion, because the Lord is going to His passion for my sins.” The fourth week is then generally focused on contemplating the resurrection of Christ, wherein Ignatius invites us “to ask for the grace to be glad and to rejoice intensely because of the great glory and joy of Christ our Lord.” Thus, we see Ignatius leading us into some deep emotion: sorrow, regret, and even real confusion over having sinned against God. He invites us to really sit in these, to grow in sincere sorrow at having offended Christ. Yet, Ignatius then quickly reminds us that we are sons and daughters of God, espoused to Christ, who has been raised and has restored us to life! Let us take time today to recall our own failings with sorrow and regret. Then let us also reflect on the life and glory we have in Christ, with gladness and gratitude.

Pray: The Suscipe

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.