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REMEMBERING JESUIT SAINS AND FEAST DAYS

Readings and Reflections for Community Prayer

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"One of the significant triggers in the process of Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual conversion was the reading of and reflections on the biographies of saints. Our Saints and Blesseds “are the beacon that illuminates and guides us in our mission with the inspired light of Saint Ignatius. Imitating our saints and blessed and imploring their intercession will help us to better develop our vocation.” - Arturo Sosa, SJ, Foreword, Jesuit Saint and Blesseds, (2020).

Remembering Jesuit Saints and Feast Days’ is an unconventional Community Prayer book. The Prayer Services are compact and comprehensive – under 10 minutes. They are focused on reading and attentive listening, rather in alternate responding, as in Psalms and Litanies. Each mini-biography contains a mine of information on the Saint’s personality, spirituality, and ministry, from various perspectives. The Prayers and Petitions call our attention and provide cues to the relevance of the Saints today. They highlight the extensive range of values and charisms embedded in Ignatian spirituality, which the Saints emulated and bore witness to.

“Following the Jesuit Liturgical Calendar, the presentation of each of the Jesuits–as individuals or as groups of martyrs–is enriched by other texts: readings from the Bible, the Popes, older as well as more recent Fr. Generals, or from many other authors, Jesuits or other. In this way, as we pray with the Blessed or the Saint of the day, he becomes a classic, belonging to all times and not only to his own place or his time. And so, the Spirit of God continues to point to these men as mediators even now between God and ourselves. The vast knowledge of Hedwig Lewis, S.J. as a well-known spiritual author, is present within this book…” Fr Pascual Cebollada, SJ, General Postulator-SJ, Foreword

INFORMATION IN JIVAN, JANUARY 2025

What inspired you to write this book?

A spiritual challenge: to produce a significant work on Jesuit Saints that is strikingly unconventional, convincingly relevant, both spiritually and socially. I felt drawn to make it a ‘collaborative’ venture – with Our Lord, Our Lady and Our Saints themselves. I deeply experienced their presence and guidance all through my labours.

What are the contents of the book?

The essence and effects of Ignatian spirituality, from the Spiritual Exercises and Constitutions, as exemplified and explored by our 53 Saints and 157 Blessed of the Society of Jesus. The community prayer sessions are highly focused – under ten minutes.

How does the book help Jesuits?

The book is designed to steer Jesuits toward reviving interest in our Saints, systematically, feast day to feast day, through the year. It presents the Saints as fully human and vulnerable as we are, distinguished by their spiritual resilience in fighting the good fight, against all odds, whatever the cost, for the welfare of all. Their struggles and ventures are highly relatable to those we encounter today. The book is a learning-experience on how to grow in wholeness and holiness of life.