O God, who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in your Church
to further the greater glory of your name,
grant that by his help we may imitate him
in fighting the good fight on earth
and merit to receive with him a crown in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
St Ignatius founded the society of Jesus with six friends, following a prolonged recovery from a war wound. During his long confinement he read a book of scriptures and other texts as a result of which he changed from an atheistic life to one of devotion to God. This was in the times of Reformation when association with the Catholic faith was dangerous - Ignatius was imprisoned several times. He remained leader of the society until his death. The society continued to grow and of course became the Jesuits. One of their key practices is the Spiritual Exercises, a step by step retreat that can be followed by anyone - and indeed has become popular far beyond the Jesuit and indeed Catholic world.
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