QUOTATION: Scruples

Up to a certain point scruples are not harmful to the one suffering from them, when that person becomes, because of his scruples, more vigilant and careful about not offending God, and does not form a judgment that this or that is sinful, even though he has some doubt or fear that it is, and places his confidence in another person whom he should trust, setting aside his own judgment and accepting that of his adviser. If these two points to not help the scrupulous person, then he is in the gravest danger, not only of offending God by failing to avoid what he erroneously thinks is sin, but also of losing the opportunity and the ability to serve Him, and even his own natural judgment.

--St. Ignatius Loyola, Letter to Father Juan Marín, 1556.

QUOTATION: Obedience to the Superior

The superior is to be obeyed not because he is prudent, or good, or qualified by any other gift of God, but because he holds the place and the authority of God, as Eternal Truth has said: He who hears you, hears me; and he who rejects you, rejects me [Luke 10:16]. Nor on the contrary, should he lack prudence, is he to be the less obeyed in that in which he is superior, since he represents Him who is infallible wisdom, and who will supply what is wanting in His minister, nor, should he lack goodness or other desirable qualities, since Christ our Lord, having said, the scribes and the Pharisees sit on the chair of Moses, adds, therefore, whatever they shall tell you, observe and do: but do not act according to their works [Matt. 23:2-3].

--St. Ignatius Loyola, Letter to the Members of the Society in Portugal, 1556

QUOTATION: Correcting People in Error

We should not dispute stubbornly with anyone; rather we should patiently give our reasons with the purpose of declaring the truth lest our neighbor remain in error, and not that we should have the upper hand.

--St. Ignatius Loyola, To the Scholastics at Alcalá, 1543

QUOTATION: Obedience

Now, it seems to me that obedience seeks to be blind, and is blind in two ways: in the first it belongs to the inferior to submit his understanding, when there is no question of sin, and to do what is commanded of him; in the second it is also the inferior's duty, once the superior commands or has commanded something, to represent to the superior whatever considerations or disadvantages may occur to him, and to do so humbly and simply, without any attempt to draw the superior to either side, so that afterwards he can follow, with peace of mind, the way pointed out to him or commanded.

--St. Ignatius Loyola, Letter to Fr. Giovanni Battista Viola, 1542.

QUOTATION:Love

Love ought to consist of deeds more than of words.

--St. Ignatius of Loyola

QUOTATION: The Present Moment

Let the hope of one day doing great things in the service of God not make you neglect the present moment.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Fear of Men

If you fear men beyond measure, you will never do anything great for God.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: How to Talk to God

We must speak to God as a friend speaks to his friend, servant to his master; now asking some favor, now acknowledging our faults, and communicating to Him all that concerns us, our thoughts, our fears, our projects, our desires, and in all things seeking His counsel.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Spiritual Progress

Let each one remember that he will make progress in all spiritual things only insofar as he rids himself of self-love, self-will, and self-interest.

-- St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Stubbornness Can Be a Virtue

He who by nature is coarse and violent, and who by dint of resolution becomes gentle and amiable, often be comes capable of great and difficult undertakings in the service of God ; because that very stubbornness, or that natural obstinacy, used in a good cause, knows neither defeat nor discouragement.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Truth Prevails

Truth always ends by victory ; it is not unassailable, but invincible.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Saints Have Needs, Too

Do not think that you injure spiritual progress in that which you grant to the needs of nature.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Perfection in the Rich

The rich ought to reach that degree of perfection of possessing the riches of which they are the masters, with out allowing them to possess them.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Detraction

In revealing the defects of others we make known our own vices.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Hope

If everything were already known and assured to us, where would be room for our confidence in God? Now we have only the shadow of these things. Where would be room for hope, if we possess them already?

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: The Weak in Virtue

Never be severe in respect to those whose virtue is weak ; the defiance we might arouse would produce more evil than any good results we could hope for from a severe reprimand.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Insults

They who load us with insults and ignominies give us the means of acquiring treasures more precious than any that man can gain in this life.

--St. Ignatius Loyola, Letter 4

QUOTATION: Friendship

A great help to advancement in spiritual life is to have a friend whom you will permit to inform you of your faults.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Communion

Among the gifts of grace which the soul receives in Holy Communion, there is one that must be counted among the highest; it is that Holy Communion does not permit the soul to remain long in sin, nor to obstinately persevere in it.

--St. Ignatius Loyola, Letter 34

QUOTATION: Justice and Mercy

If the devil tempts me by the thought of Divine justice, I think of God's mercy ; if he tries to fill me with presumption by the thought of His mercy, I think of His justice.

--St. Ignatius Loyola, Letter 8