Gospel of the Day (Matthew 14,13-21)
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."
(Jesus) said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves."
But they said to him, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have here."
Then he said, "Bring them here to me,"
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over --twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
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Today (July 31) we celebrate Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a courageous soldier turned spiritual master whose total surrender to Christ led to the founding of the Jesuits and a profound renewal of the Church.
Quick facts every Catholic should know about Saint Ignatius of Loyola:
1️⃣ Born December 24, 1491, in Spain, he founded the Society of Jesus in 1540 and died in Rome on July 31, 1556.
2️⃣ In 1521, a severe battle injury to his leg forced a long recovery, during which reading the lives of Christ and the saints sparked his conversion.
3️⃣ He received papal approval for the Society of Jesus, a religious order known for its "fourth vow" of direct obedience to the Pope regarding missions.
4️⃣ He is the official patron of soldiers, retreats, and spiritual exercises, and established the famous motto "Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam" (For the greater glory of God).
His life shows us that God can transform our greatest earthly defeats into beautiful spiritual victories. By trading his military ambitions for the armor of faith, Ignatius learned to find God in all things and developed a path of spiritual discernment that still guides millions today. May his intercession inspire us to surrender our own plans to the Lord, live entirely for the greater glory of God, and answer the call to mission with generous hearts.
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Happy Ignatius Day to all Jesuits, colleagues and friends! To celebrate, take our 15-question Feast Day Quiz and see how well you know St. Ignatius.
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