Quotes by Saint Ignatius

Above all, remember that God looks for solid virtues in us, such as patience, humility, obedience, abnegation of your own will - that is, the good will to serve Him and our neighbor in Him. His providence allows us other devotions only insofar as He sees that they are useful to us.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

For those who love, nothing is too difficult, especially when it is done for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

Teach us to give and not to count the cost.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

Realize that illness and other temporal setbacks often come to us from the hand of God our Lord, and are sent to help us know ourselves better, to free ourselves of the love of created things, and to reflect on the brevity of this life and, thus, to prepare ourselves for the life which is without end.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

I wish not merely to be called Christian, but also to be Christian.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

We should not have a petty regard for God's gifts, though we may and should despise our own imperfections.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

Be slow to speak, and only after having first listened quietly, so that you may understand the meaning, leanings, and wishes of those who do speak. Thus you will better know when to speak and when to be silent.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. It is certainly a higher virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one.

— Saint Ignatius

Success

It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

Occupy yourself in beholding and bewailing your own imperfections rather than contemplating the imperfections of others.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

One rare and exceptional deed is worth far more than a thousand commonplace ones.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

In the matter of learning, the difference between the earnest and the careless student stands out clearly. The same holds true in the mastering of passion and the weaknesses to which our nature is subject, as in the acquiring of virtue.

— Saint Ignatius

Education

True, I am in love with suffering, but I do not know if I deserve the honor.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

May the perfect grace and eternal love of Christ our Lord be our never-failing protection and help.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

If God has given you the world's goods in abundance, it is to help you gain those of Heaven and to be a good example of sound teaching to your sons, servants, and relatives.

— Saint Ignatius

Life

It is certain that, because the negligent do not struggle against self, they never achieve peace of soul or do so tardily, and never possess any virtue in its fullness, while the energetic and industrious make notable advances on both fronts.

— Saint Ignatius

Success

Even in the angels there is the subordination of one hierarchy to another, and in the heavens, and all the bodies that are moved, the lowest by the highest and the highest in their turn unto the Supreme Mover of all.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

Be generous to the poor orphans and those in need. The man to whom our Lord has been liberal ought not to be stingy. We shall one day find in Heaven as much rest and joy as we ourselves have dispensed in this life.

— Saint Ignatius

Happiness

In the light of the Divine Goodness, it seems to me, though others may think differently, that ingratitude is the most abominable of sins and that it should be detested in the sight of our Creator and Lord by all of His creatures who are capable of enjoying His divine and everlasting glory.

— Saint Ignatius

Happiness

God our Lord would have us look to the Giver and love Him more than His gift, keeping Him always before our eyes, in our hearts, and in our thoughts.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

Experience proves that in this life peace and satisfaction are had, not by the listless but by those who are fervent in God's service. And rightly so. For in their effort to overcome themselves and to rid themselves of self-love, they rid themselves of the roots of all passion and unrest.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

He who aims at making an entire and perfect oblation of himself, in addition to his will, must offer his understanding, which is a further and the highest degree of obedience.

— Saint Ignatius

Wisdom

Among the many signs of a lively faith and hope we have in eternal life, one of the surest is not being overly sad at the death of those whom we dearly love in our Lord.

— Saint Ignatius

Love

Up to his twenty-sixth year, the heart of Ignatius was enthralled by the vanities of the world. His special delight was in the military life, and he seemed led by a strong and empty desire of gaining for himself a great name.

— Saint Ignatius

Love