The Washington times., 1901-08-05
FEAST OF SAINT IGNATIUS.
The Founder of the Jesuits Com
pared With Martin Luther.


At St Aloysius Church special services
Were held yesterday in commemoration OF
St. Ignatius' feast which was universally
observed by the Catholics and especially
the Jesuits, last Wednesday. 1gnauus
Loyola was the founder of the Society OF
Jesus. a solemn high mass was cele-
brated at 1880 a. m, with Father O'Con-
nell, s J., as celebrant; the Rev. p J.
Casey, deacon, and Mr.. kreis, S. j., SUBJ
deacon. The sermon. which was pane
gyric of St. lgnatius, was delivered by
the Rev. Michael Mahoney, S. j., pro
fessor of rhetoric at Fordham College.
New York. An augmented choir, under
the direction of Pref. Kuebel. rendered
an elaborate musical programme. with a
number of solos. The sanctuary was pro
fusely adorned with plants, palms, and
blooming flowers, and myriad of lights
shed a mellow lustre over the inspiring
scene.
Father Mahoney took for the text OF
his sermon Romans viii:14: "Whosoever
are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God" In the course of his
sermon the speaker said: our Lord
came into this world not merely to be our
Redeemer, but he came to be also our
guide, as he alone was able to tell US
What is truth? God wanted the truth
never to vanish, and therefore he raised
up among his people those who were
inspired with the Spirit of God and who
taught the truth. And among those great
and nlustrious saints, who have blessed
us with their teachings of the truth, is
that St. Ignatius of Loyola.
'Ignatius in his younger years was
soldier, but he was not a saint. He was
courageou chivalric, and brave. While
courageously defending Bambanola
against the French he was dangerously
wounded. He fell upon the battlement
and SO did the hopes of the defenders.
While on the bed of convaleseence he
called for books of romance or chivalry
to while away his time and entertain his
mind, but there were no books of this
character to be had. He was handed some
books describing the lives of the saints,
by whose devotion to the cause of God
and whose chivalry he was completely
captivated.
Just as Martin Luther raised the stand
ard of revolt in Germany, st. Ignatius
sacrificed his earthly ambitions TO God
and hung his sword on the statue Of the
virgin, and resolved to give his life TO
Gods work. To give ones soul to the
Sacrifice of God. to yield up one entire
goods and fortunes TO God. and to place
ones will in the hands of his Maker. that
is greater sacrifice than sacrificing one $
life for his country. Over and above, such
a sacrifice requires the grace OF God in
order to give il success and perseverance.
1t was the greatest sacrifice that could be
made by a human being. st. Ignatius was
| merely converted. He wished to do what
God wanted him to do. God wishes the
| good, he permits the evil, and so 1t is
| that without the fall of our first parents
| the fountain of love that springs from
| the sacred heart of Jesus would never
have been revealed.
Without Martin Luther in Germany
| We should, perhaps, not have had a St.
| Ignatius in Spain. In the midst of all
| the confusions of his time God prepared
| St. Ignatius to do battle for him. He was
| inspired with obedience of viii. purity of
| soul, but withal God formed in st. Igna-
| thus an intense desire to do everything
! for the greater glory of God This was
! his war cry. He sought the greater glory
| of God all the time and everywhere.
'Ignatius, by seeking the glory of God.
was led by the Holy Spirit. When thirty
| years old he sat on the school bench with
| boys to study the Latin language, for
! he knew that without knowledge he could
never learn God and his love and works.
| ST. 1gnatus gained more in the East for
| the Church than he lost during the Re
| formation. He brought the gospel TO
! China, Japan, West India, and even Turk
/ istan and other far-off countries If we
wish to initiate st. Ignatius We must
offer ourselves completely up to God