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Novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola

Day 5

10 min
Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola

Opening prayer:

Glorious St. Ignatius, who once sought the glory of earthly kings and then gave your whole life to the King of Heaven, obtain for me a generous heart. Teach me to desire nothing but the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 5: The First Principle and Foundation

Ignatius taught that we are created to praise, reverence, and serve God, and so to save our souls, and that all else upon the earth is given to help us toward that end. We are therefore to use creatures only insofar as they bring us to God, and to let go of them insofar as they hinder us. He frees us by teaching holy indifference, a heart so anchored in God that it desires nothing but His will.

O Saint Ignatius, who taught that we are made to praise, reverence, and serve God, obtain for me a heart of holy indifference. Let me use the gifts of this world only as they lead me to Him, and let me desire nothing apart from His holy will. Amen.

Today's intention:

For freedom of heart to desire only what leads me to God.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

St. Ignatius, faithful soldier of Christ, help me to set the world rightly in my heart, choosing always what leads me closer to God. With you I pray: take, Lord, all that I have, for You have given it; give me only Your love and Your grace, and that is enough for me. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

About this prayer

A nine-day novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola, soldier turned saint, founder of the Society of Jesus, author of the Spiritual Exercises, who taught the Church to seek the greater glory of God in all things.

History

Born in 1491 in the Basque country, Ignatius was a worldly soldier until a cannonball shattered his leg at Pamplona in 1521. During his recovery he read the life of Christ and the saints, and a deeper ambition was born in him. After a long conversion at Manresa he composed the Spiritual Exercises, founded the Jesuits in 1540, and sent his sons across the world for the salvation of souls.

How to pray it

Pray once each day for nine consecutive days. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and the opening prayer, prayerfully read the meditation and offer the day's intention, then conclude with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, and the closing prayer.

Portuguese text of the Suscipe quoted on day 9 and in the closing prayer: St. Ignatius, *Exercícios Espirituais*, tr. Fr. R. Paiva, SJ (São Paulo: Loyola, 7th ed., 2013), as quoted in Sandra Regina de Sousa, *Contemplação para alcançar amor* (FAJE, 2015) — [faculdadejesuita.edu.br](https://faculdadejesuita.edu.br/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CONTEMPLACAO-PARA-ALCANCAR-AMOR-EXPERIENCIA-DO-DEUS-TRINO-NA-ORACAO-CAMINHO-TRANSFORMADOR-DA-PRAXIS-CRISTA.pdf)

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