Manresa Retreat

Novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola

Divine Mercy Parish will pray the Novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola from July 22-30.  This is in anticipation of the Feast of St. Ignatius on July 31st. 

Throughout the novena we will  pray on several themes from Ignatian Spirituality, and will include several prayers found in the writings of St. Ignatius.  There will also be an opportunity to pray for St. Ignatius’ intercession.  As a compliment to the novena prayers, our Pastor, Fr. John Sullivan, S.J, will give several short reflections over the course of the nine days.  You will find the links to the reflections below the material for Reading and Reflection.

A novena is nine days of prayer and meditation usually to ask God for special prayer requests. Novenas are often used to ask specific saints to pray for us.  A novena is an imitation of the Lord’s command to the Apostles to pray for nine days in anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:14). This pattern of 9 days of prayer is the basis for the novenas we pray today.

All you need to do is say the daily prayers with a sincere heart. The daily prayers can be found below.

ABOUT ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA:

As a young man, Ignatius of Loyola was a soldier in the Basque region of Spain. He had a great conversion while recovering from a battle injury, which led him to becoming a Catholic priest and theologian. He went on to found the religious order of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits). He envisioned the purpose of the Society to be missionaries – to go where sent in service of Christ and His Church. In addition to the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, Ignatius instituted a fourth vow for Jesuits of obedience to the Pope⁠—to engage in projects ordained by the pontiff. Ignatius later wrote the Spiritual Exercises, which is a set of meditations and spiritual practices used as formation for his companions. Even today, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are the foundation of the Society of Jesus and all Jesuit apostolates. Ignatius died in 1556, was beatified in 1609, and canonized 1622. 

 
 
 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen +

Our Father……….

(Read and Reflect on the scheduled day)

The Suscipe:

Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will.  All I have and call my own.  You have given it all to me, To You, O Lord, I return it.  Everything belongs to You; do with it as You will.  Give me only Your love and Your grace, that is enough for me.  Amen

(Mention your request here…)

 

Heavenly Father, hear my request brought to You by Your servant Ignatius, if it be for Your glory.  Grant me the same grace that You gave to St. Ignatius so that I may share his zeal for Christ and for building up Your kingdom. But, if what I seek is not for the glory of God and the good of my soul, grant, I pray, what is more conducive to both.  I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us. 

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O Good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from thee. From the malignant enemy defend me. And bid me come unto Thee, That with all Thy saints I may praise Thee forever and ever, Amen.

Glory be………

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen +

 
 
 
 
 
 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – For the Greater Glory of God

You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket.  Instead, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:14-16)

  • Do I have the glory of God in mind when I go through even the smallest of acts in my day?
  • Do I tend to dwell on the past or am I anxious about the future instead of living in the present moment where I am invited to glorify God?
  • How can I can offer my life to the glory of God through the beautiful and simple experiences of everyday life.
 
 
 
 

Contemplatives in Action

I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.  (John 15:5)

 How often through the day do I stop to contemplate the love that Christ has for us in each moment?

  • How is my prayer: do I treat it as a bookend for the beginning and end of each day, or does it spontaneously flow from where I meet the Lord throughout the day?
  • Follow Ignatius’ example contemplating the love of Jesus and His presence with us when we interact with our family, friends, coworkers, neighbours and strangers and when we are completing even the simplest of tasks in our day?
 
 
 

Finding God in All Things

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go to the heavens you are there?  (Psalm 139: 7-9)

 

  • Reflect on times when you have had the experience of God’s active presence in your life and all of creation, finding the sacred in everyday moments, ordinary tasks and in every person you meet.
  • Are you able to recognize God’s nearness both in great joys and daily struggles?
  • Spend some time each day with the Lord, looking back to recognize where you felt God’s presence, felt gratitude, or missed the mark.
 

Generosity of Spirit

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.(2 Corinthians 9:7)

 

  • Describe a “cheerful giver”?
  • What are some of the obstacles which make my generosity reluctant or compulsive?
  • How does my relationship with Christ embolden a generosity of spirit with in you?
 

1st Reflection from Fr. John .