filipinoministry.org THE NOVENA TO ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA filipinoministry.org Short Biography St. Ignatius Loyola was born in 1491, one of 13 children of a family of minor nobility in northern Spain. As a young man Ignatius Loyola was inflamed by the ideals of courtly love and knighthood and dreamed of doing great deeds. But in 1521 Ignatius was gravely wounded in a battle with the French. While recuperating, Ignatius Loyola experienced a conversion. Reading the lives of Jesus and the saints made Ignatius happy and aroused desires to do great things. Ignatius realized that these feelings were clues to God’s direction for him. Over the years, Ignatius became expert in the art of spiritual direction. He collected his insights, prayers, and suggestions in his book the Spiritual Exercises, one of the most influential books on the spiritual life ever written. With a small group of friends, Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. Ignatius conceived the Jesuits as “contemplatives in action.” This also describes the many Christians who have been touched by Ignatian spirituality. filipinoministry.org The Ignatian Year (2021-2022) From May 2021 until July 2022, the Society of Jesus celebrates an Ignatian Year. What is an Ignatian Year? May 20, 2021 marks the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius’ conversion — that fateful day when Ignatius the soldier, struck by a cannonball, began his transformation into Ignatius the pilgrim. How might we grow in our relationship with God and our love for one another by meditating on this important moment in Ignatius’ life? 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines Filipino communities across the world also celebrates the arrival of the Catholic faith to Philippine five hundred years ago. Jesuits in the Philippines invites Filipino Catholics to experience a deeper conversion by “finding God in all things,” particularly the poorest of the poor. “God continues to invite each of us into a deepening relationship, to ongoing conversion. We believe that by embracing this invitation, we embrace God who calls us to act in new, bold ways that reconcile our world, bring justice, peace, and compassion. For this Ignatian year, we ask for the grace to see all things new in Christ”. filipinoministry.org 9-DAY ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA NOVENA Leader: In the Name of the Father, +and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Response: Amen. OPENING PRAYER - SUSCIPE Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, Response: My memory, my understanding and my entire will All I have and call my own. Thou hast given all to me, To Thee, O Lord, I return it. Everything belongs to Thee; do with it as Thou wilt. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace, That is enough for me. Amen. NOVENA PRAYER Leader: O glorious Patriarch, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Response: We humbly beseech thee to obtain for us from Almighty God, above all things else, deliverance from sin, which is the greatest of evils, and next, from those scourges wherewith the Lord chastises the sins of His people. filipinoministry.org Leader: And by thy glorious merits we beseech thy benevolent intercession before the throne of Almighty God, that He may grant us: [Pause for a moment and mention your intention(s) here...] Leader: May thine example, O Loyal Knight of Our Lady, enkindle in our hearts an effectual desire, Response: To employ ourselves continually in laboring for the greater glory of God and the good of our fellowmen; obtain for us, likewise, from the loving Heart of Jesus Our Lord, that grace which is the crown of all graces, that is to say, the grace of final perseverance and everlasting happiness. Amen. DAILY REFLECTIONS (See daily reflections after the closing prayer) Closing Prayer - Anima Christi Leader: Soul of Christ, Response: Sanctify me. Leader: Body of Christ, Response: Save me. Leader: Blood of Christ, Response: Inebriate me. Leader: Water from the side of Christ, Response: Wash me. filipinoministry.org Leader: Passion of Christ, Response: Strengthen me. Leader: O Good Jesus, Response: Hear me. Leader: Within Thy wounds, Response: Shelter me. Leader: Separated from Thee, Response: Let me never be. Leader: From the evil one, Response: Protect me. Leader: At the hour of my death, Response: Call me. Leader: Into Thy presence, Response: Lead me. Leader: That I may praise Thee, Response: With all Thy angels and saints, forever and ever. Amen. Leader: Praise be Jesus Christ Response: Now and forever. Amen. Leader: In the Name of the Father, + and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Response: Amen. filipinoministry.org DAILY REFLECTION Day 1- July 22 The moment you decided to use all your strength in praising, honoring, and serving God our Lord, that was the moment you entered battle with the world, raised your standards against it, and made yourself ready to reject all that is exalted by embracing all that is lowly. At the same time, you resolved to accept with indifference positions high or low, honor or dishonor, riches or poverty, to be loved or hated, to be appreciated or scorned—in short, the world’s glory or the injuries it could inflict upon you If we desire to live in honor and to be esteemed by our neighbors, then we shall never be solidly rooted in God our Lord, and it will be impossible for us to remain undisturbed when insults come our way. Day 2- July 23 You are much deceived in thinking that the cause of your unrest and little progress in following the way of the Lord comes from the place where you live, or your superiors, or your brethren. This unrest comes from within you, that is, it comes from your own lack of humility, obedience, and prayer, and finally from a want of mortification and fervor in advancing in the way of perfection. You could have a change in residence, of superiors, and of brethren, but if the interior man is not changed these other changes will do you no good. Everywhere will be the same for you, unless you become humble, obedient, devout, and you mortify your self-love. This is the change you should seek and no other [Ep. 8:328-329] filipinoministry.org DAILY REFLECTION Day 3 – July 24 The peace of our Lord is something interior, and it brings with it all the other gifts and graces necessary for salvation and eternal life. This peace makes us love our neighbor for the love of our Creator and Lord, and because of this same love we observe all the commandments of the law, as St. Paul says: “He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). He has fulfilled the law because he loves his Creator and Lord and loves his neighbor for his Lord’s sake [Ep. 1:162]. Day 4- July 25 I desire for you the joy and full consolation of soul that I desire for myself, and I sympathize with you in your trials. .but I consider this a very special gift of God our Lord for He is providing you with an occasion to practice patience, as well as faith and hope in Him [Ep. 6:161]. In the life which is eternal and without end God will reward your patience with indescribable joy and glory; there will be no trials, sadness, or discomfort—for there are none of these in heaven—but only the fulfillment of every joy and happiness [Ep. 6:161]. filipinoministry.org DAILY REFLECTION Day 5- July 26 We should praise all the laws of the Church, keeping our minds ever ready to seek reasons to defend them and not to oppose them [Spir. Exer., “Rules for Thinking with the Church”]. I must remind you to frequent the sacraments, to read spiritual books, and to pray with as much recollection as you possibly can. Every day set aside some time so that the soul will not be without its food and, thus, you will not be induced to complain like the one who said “My heart has withered because I have forgotten to eat my bread” (Psalm 102:4) [Ep. 6:524]. Day 6- July 27 If we desire to live in honor and to be esteemed by our neighbors, then we shall never be solidly rooted in God our Lord, and it will be impossible for us to remain undisturbed when insults come our way [Ep. 1:86]. If we find that we are without the patience to endure insults from others we, then, have greater reason to complain, not because of those who injure us, but because of our own sensuality and carnal inclinations, and because we are not as mortified or dead to the world as we should be. These people are offering us opportunities for gaining a treasure greater than anyone can win in this life, and riches more numerous than anyone can accumulate in this world [Ep. 1:86-87]. filipinoministry.org DAILY REFLECTION Day 7- July 28 If the devil praises us, we must humble ourselves reflecting on our sins and wretchedness. If he abases us and keeps us down, we must then lift ourselves up in true faith and hope in our Lord, recalling to mind the benefits we have received from Him and with how much love and affection He is waiting to save us. The enemy is totally unconcerned whether he speaks the truth or tells lies; his only desire is to overcome us [Ep. 1:102]. When you find yourself being tempted by the enemy of human nature. .you must fearlessly state and declare that you are a follower of the Lord and that you would rather die than leave His service [Ep.