Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. As you may well know, he suffered a life-altering injury when, as a soldier, he took a cannonball to his legs. His injury led to a yearlong convalescence, a period of great discernment, and a time significant conversion of heart and will, a process of conversion that would continue throughout his life. Following his convalescence, St. Ignatius readily pursued the life of a pilgrim, seeking to follow in the footsteps of Christ and emulate the lives of great saints.  Thenceforth, it was not a predictable journey but was one guided by a dogged desire to recognize and respond to God’s active invitations.

St. Ignatius’ was a life well lived, marked by incredible vision, a discerning spirit, great grace, and an abiding desire to collaborate with Christ in mission.  Yet, too often, I find myself romanticizing or glossing over the gritty realities of St. Ignatius’ pilgrim journey – his thwarted plans, his struggles – exterior and interior, his invitations to humility.  On his Feast this year, in our remembering and our celebrating, may we also acknowledge the complexity of St. Ignatius’ life and of our own lives, lovingly and ever so gently attending to the spaces in our lives that cry out “Woe to me, mother that you gave me birth!”, that question “Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?” May we – trusting in our identities as beloved pearls of great price and in the One who is indeed our refuge – turn to our God and hear – in the depths of our being – the abiding assurance “I am with you."