Saint Ignatius of Loyola, born in 1491 and died in 1556, is undoubtedly one of the great figures in the history of the Church. His holiness, the founding of the Society of Jesus, and his authorship of the Spiritual Exercises are particularly noteworthy.

There are books that, even after many years, retain their value or even increase it. They are so valuable that they must be discovered or rediscovered today. For many readers, they will be, in the best sense of the word, like a true and profound revolution within their souls, an immense novelty, a new Mediterranean, a fantastic discovery, a true treasure. That such works exist is a great reason to give thanks to God and to rejoice in the Lord.

Of all the books published since the beginning of time, the book “Spiritual Exercises” by St. Ignatius of Loyola occupies a very special place. The Doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales, said of this little book: it has made more saints than it contains. As the Jesuit priest Ricardo García-Villoslada reminded us, the book of “Spiritual Exercises” is, according to Pope Pius XI, “the wisest and most universal code for the spiritual direction of souls.” The book’s diminutive size is striking. But, at the same time, the explanation and commentary on this materially small publication is so immense and monumental that it seems almost incomprehensible. Countless souls have received immense good from going directly to the reading of this little book.

Therefore, on the occasion of the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, I intend now only to offer a first glimpse, which may serve in some way as an introduction to the book of Spiritual Exercises of this saint, and I will do so through some of its passages. But let us now give the floor to St. Ignatius, in the famous text of his Spiritual Exercises entitled “Principle and Foundation”:

“Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul; and all other things on the face of the earth are created for man and to help him achieve the end for which he was created. From this it follows that man should use them insofar as they help him toward his end, and should abstain from them insofar as they hinder him from it. Therefore, it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things, in all that falls under the free determination of our liberty and is not forbidden to us; in such a way that we do not desire, on our part, health more than sickness, wealth more than poverty, honor more than dishonor, a long life more than a short one, and so on in all other things, desiring and choosing only that which best leads us to the end for which we were created.”

This concise text places before our eyes our ultimate end, what truly matters. We were created solely to love God. It thus puts us on guard, reminding us that in our lives God must always come first. Therefore, “the Lord of all things” is preferable to “the things of the Lord.” We must not turn “means” into “ends,” but rather “the means” must be subordinated to “the ends.” What matters is holiness.

Often, we may choose something simply because we see it as good, believing we are doing the right thing. But sometimes, in doing so, we may be doing only our own will, rather than God’s. St. Ignatius, however, clarifies that it is not a matter of doing “this or that,” but rather what God wills, whether that be “this” or “that,” whether it be “honor” or “dishonor.” In fact, God desires our good more than we desire it ourselves.

This saint was well aware that human beings are more inclined to pleasure, honor, health, wealth, and a long life than to pain, dishonor, illness, poverty, and a short life. But, although health is preferable to illness in itself, it was thanks to illness that Iñigo became Saint Ignatius. For, since there were no books of chivalry in the house where he was recovering from his wounds, they gave him, to distract him, the life of Christ and the lives of saints, and it was through reading these that he was converted.

Knowing that we are more inclined to want health than sickness, wealth than poverty, etc., this saint wants us to maintain a balance, a state of freedom from our attachments, so that we can choose in an orderly way only what God wants, and not what our disordered desires prefer.

Furthermore, redemption was not accomplished by someone rich, through honors, and without suffering, but by Christ, poor and crucified, who was insulted while on the cross. The Sacred Passion of our beloved Redeemer is a work of immense sublimity! Moreover, the Christian life is nothing other than the imitation of Christ. Consequently, there is also something good in suffering, poverty, and so forth.

In short, St. Ignatius wisely tells us that the only important thing is to do God’s will. Everything must be for God’s greater glory. Everything must be conducted in this way. We must subordinate everything to the ultimate end of humankind. Everything must follow the right order. The Spiritual Exercises are a vital source of renewal in the Christian life, a great gift we owe to this great saint, something that is very important to do every year.