How to Live

Deanna Bartalini gives us a quote from St. Ignatius of Loyola to help focus our priorities in life so as to put God first.

July 31 is the feast day of Ignatius of Loyola; however, this year that falls on a Sunday, so it may not be noticed by many people. I notice each year, no matter what day it falls on because St. Ignatius is one of my go-to saints. If you were to search for quotes of his online, you would find many. I think one reason why is that he is practical and his writings are straightforward and understandable, even though they were written in the early 1500s.

On my desk, I have a prayer card with a quote of his I turn to often: “Human beings are created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord and by means of doing this save our souls.” It comes from the Spiritual Exercises and continues with these words: “the other things on the face of the earth are created for the human beings, to help them in the pursuit of the end for which they are created.”

If you have wondered how you are to live out your daily life, there is your answer! I know, bold of me to say that, but I think it’s all there. We are provided a way here to order our life. We are created by and for God and all the things of this world are meant to help us get to God. The created things of this world can help us reach God, if used to praise, reverence, and serve Him.

The things in this world that stop us from getting to God, we need to get rid of them or not participate in the activity. We call what prevents us from getting to God "sin." Sin needs to go. What also needs to go is attachment. When we are overly attached to our life, possessions, way of doing things—all that is about me—we sin.

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If we want to root out sin, we can start by doing what Ignatius says to do: praise God, give Him reverence and serve Him. In that order. #catholicmom

If we want to root out sin, we can start by doing what Ignatius says to do: praise God, give Him reverence and serve Him. In that order. In writing the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius left us a means to root out sin and turn more fully to God.

Consider learning more about the Spiritual Exercises with one of these books: The Spiritual Exercises with Commentary by Fr. Joseph Tetlow, S.J., The Ignatian Workout by Tim Muldoon, or Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner.

If you have a favorite Ignatian book, drop the title in the comment section for us!

Copyright 2022 Deanna Bartalini
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