On Monday, July 31, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. On this day, we join all the Jesuit works throughout the world in celebrating our Ignatian charism. This feast day provides us with time to take stock of where in our lives we find peace and consolation.
One Ignatian principle we might reflect upon today is gratitude. We might ask ourselves what in our lives we are most grateful for both personally and collectively? What God-given gifts and talents do we most appreciate in ourselves? Where do we find God in our interactions with fellow students, faculty, staff and administrators or within our own families? What do we have to be grateful for as a university?
After reflecting upon what we are most grateful for, we may be moved to pray the Suscipe Prayer, found in the fourth week of the Spiritual Exercises in the Contemplation on Divine Love:
“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.”
May God bless our Marquette community on this feast day.
AMDG,
Rev. John Thiede, S.J.
Acting Vice President for Mission and Ministry
