July 31 is the feast day for St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). He is one of the founders, along with six of his friends, of the Society of Jesus (commonly known as the Jesuits) in 1540. This Catholic religious order has had great influence over the centuries since its founding.
He is also well known for his Spiritual Exercises, published in 1548. This series of meditations and prayers are designed to be used over a course of 28 to 30 days and are popular for use on retreats. These exercises are still in print today and are used by many other Christian denominations besides Catholics.
The prayers below are designed for use with an Anglican rosary and are all mostly taken from his Spiritual Exercises, with a few exceptions for other prayers that are either attributed to him or were favorites of his. The sources for each passage are listed below the prayers.
May these prayers of devotion inspire a deepening of your own commitment to God.
| Cross: | Lord, grant that I may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. |
| Invitatory bead: | Eternal Lord of all things, I come before your infinite goodness, and before your glorious mother and all saints of the heavenly court, to make my offering, with your help and favor: it is my wish, desire and determination, provided that it would be for your greater service and praise, to imitate you in suffering injury, insults and poverty, actual as well as spiritual, should your most holy majesty choose to receive me in such a way of life. Amen. |
| Cruciform beads: | I ask God, the Father, to give me an intimate knowledge of the many gifts I have received, so that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty. Amen. |
| Week bead 1: | Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. |
| Week bead 2: | Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. |
| Week bead 3: | Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O Good Jesus, hear me. |
| Week bead 4: | Within your wounds, shelter me. From turning away, keep me. |
| Week bead 5: | From the evil one, protect me. At the hour of my death, call me. |
| Week bead 6: | Into your presence lead me, To praise you with all your saints, |
| Week bead 7: | Forever and ever. Amen. |
| Invitatory bead: | 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. Amen. |
| Cross: | Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God, Teach me true generosity, Teach me to serve you as you deserve, To give without counting the cost, To fight heedless of wounds, To labor without seeking rest, To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward, Save the knowledge that I have done your will. Amen. |
Sources of prayers used above:
Opening Cross: prayer from his Spiritual Exercises #104, found on Catholic-Resources.org
First Invitatory bead: prayer from his Spiritual Exercises #98, found on Catholic-Resources.org
Cruciform beads: prayer from his Spiritual Exercises #233, found on Catholic-Resources.org
Week beads: Anima Christi prayer (a favorite of St. Ignatius), found on Catholic-Resources.org
Last Invitatory bead: Suscipe prayer from his Spiritual Exercises #234, found on Xavier University’s website
Closing Cross: prayer attributed to St. Ignatius, found on Xavier University’s website
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