By Susan Ciancio
On July 31, we celebrate the feast of a man whose life drastically changed after he was hit by a cannonball. His life is proof that, if we are open to God’s assistance, He will help us turn tragedies into blessings.
St. Ignatius of Loyola was born in Spain in 1491. As a child and young adult, he dreamed of becoming a knight, serving the king, and fighting in battles. And for a while, he did just that as an officer in the military. But during the Battle of Pamplona, a cannonball ricocheted off the wall of the citadel that he and his fellow military men had taken refuge in. The cannonball hit him, shattering his right leg and badly injuring his left.
As he lay in bed recuperating, Ignatius asked for books about knights and stories of gallantry, but none were available. Instead, he was given books about the life of Christ and about the saints. He began to read voraciously, and he realized that his dreams about the life he thought he wanted left him unfulfilled. Yet the dreams he had about following Christ left him filled with joy.
Ignatius then changed his life and his dreams, no longer wanting to serve an earthly king but a heavenly one. He decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to walk where Jesus walked. On his way, he gave his expensive clothes to a poor man, and he stopped at a town called Manresa, where he planned to stay just a few days. He ended up staying 10 months in prayer and discernment.
Ignatius eventually made it to the Holy Land but remained there only a short time. He returned to Spain and learned enough Latin to enroll at the University of Paris, where he met Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, who shared a similar passion for spreading the gospel. Together, these three would form the order known as the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.
St. Ignatius once said that we should “go forth and set the world aflame” with love of God and the faith, and that is what they did. In fact, it is said that Francis Xavier is second only to St. Paul with the number of people he brought to the Catholic Church.
The charge to set the world aflame is one we should all joyfully seek to accomplish, and that starts in our homes. But we cannot do that without a knowledge of our faith and a deep love of God. That’s why the Culture of Life Studies Program creates booklets for families so that we can all learn pro-life values together.
As we prepare to celebrate St. Ignatius, we want to introduce you to two incredible lesson booklets—one for middle school and one for high school—that explore the life of St. Ignatius and the Ignatian concept of cura personalis, care for the whole person (heart, soul, mind, and body).
In the middle school booklet entitled St. Ignatius: Loving and Caring for the Whole Person, kids will learn about the life of St. Ignatius and explore how to apply the concept of cura personalis to their own lives.
In St. Ignatius: Cura Personalis, high schoolers will learn about caring for themselves and others wholly and will come to understand why the “you do you” mentality is unhealthy.
Both booklets are vital for our kids’ faith formation.
Ignatius once said, “I shall not only be called a Christian, but also prove to be one.” What he meant by that was that he would live as a Christian so that others could see and emulate his behaviors. In doing so, he would lead others to Christ.
This is how God wants us to live. Every action we take should glorify God, and everything we do should lead others to Him. So let us heed Ignatius’ words and not only “go forth and set the world aflame” but teach the young people in our lives to do so as well.