Free Republic

Vatican City — I can’t tell you how tremendous it was to stand in St. Peter’s Square and hear Pope Francis speak Spanish to the crowd, as Romans continued through the streets to hear their new Holy Father! And it is hard to describe to you the emotions in the square as the white smoke rose. Screaming. Crying. Cheering. Praying. Love. People talked about how blessed they were as they waited. Ready to welcome their “papa” — before even knowing who he was. Earlier this year I attended a conference on the Church in America, and one thing that became...

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola translated by Elder Mullan [1914] These are the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a plan of contemplation to be carried out over about a month. St. Ignatius of Loyola (1419-1556) was the founder of the Jesuits, and was canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. He published the Spiritual Exercises in 1548. The Exercises were intended for use during a retreat; and are a central part of the first year training of Jesuit novitiates. However, one does not have to be a Jesuit-in-training to take advantage of the Exercises:...

Sometime around the year 107 A.D., a short, sharp persecution of the Church of Christ resulted in the arrest of the bishop of Antioch in Syria. His name was Ignatius. According to one of the harsh penal practices of the Roman Empire of the day, the good bishop was condemned to be delivered up to wild beasts in the arena in the capital city. The insatiable public appetite for bloody spectacles meant a chronically short supply of victims; prisoners were thus sent off to Rome to help fill the need. So the second bishop of Antioch was sent to Rome...

On St. Ignatius of Antioch "Truly a Doctor of Unity" VATICAN CITY, MARCH 14, 2007 (ZENIT.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at the general audience today on St. Ignatius of Antioch. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, Like last Wednesday, today we are talking about the protagonists in the young Church. Last week, we spoke about Pope Clement I, third successor to St. Peter. Today, we will talk about St. Ignatius, who was "the third bishop of Antioch in Syria, from the year 70 to 107," the year of his martyrdom. At that time,...

October 17, 2005Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr Psalm: Monday 45 Reading IRom 4:20-25 Brothers and sisters:Abraham did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief;rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to Godand was fully convinced that what God had promisedhe was also able to do.That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.But it was not for him alone that it was writtenthat it was credited to him;it was also for us, to whom it will be credited,who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,who was handed over for...

October 17, 2003Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr Psalm: Friday 44 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IRom 4:1-8 Brothers and sisters:What can we say that Abraham found,our ancestor according to the flesh?Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works,he has reason to boast;but this was not so in the sight of God.For what does the Scripture say?Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.But when one does not work,yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly,his faith...

July 31, 2003Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest Psalm: Thursday 33 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IEx 40:16-21, 34-38 Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him.On the first day of the first month of the second yearthe Dwelling was erected.It was Moses who erected the Dwelling.He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars,and set up its columns.He spread the tent over the Dwellingand put the covering on top of the tent,as the LORD had commanded him.He took the commandments and put them in the ark;he placed poles alongside the ark and set...

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Virgin Mary Her friend Ignatius, to the Christ-bearing Mary. Thou oughtest to have comforted and consoled me who am a neophyte, and a disciple of thy [beloved] John. For I have heard things wonderful to tell respecting thy [son] Jesus, and I am astonished by such a report. But I desire with my whole heart to obtain information concerning the things which I have heard from thee, who wast always intimate and allied with Him, and who wast acquainted with [all] His secrets. I have also written to thee at another time, and have...