On Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the Jesuit Monastery in Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Holy Mass in celebration of the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, as well as the priesthood jubilee of several priests.

Concelebrated by Msgr. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, bishop emeritus, Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel Abbot, Abbot Miguel Garcia, who is celebrating his 50th jubilee, and Fr. Peter DuBrul , celebrating his 70th jubilee, in addition to the attendance of several priests. Among the assembly was a representative of the French Consul, the religious affairs officer at the French Embassy, Bishop Dr. Munib Younan, and Brother Hernán Santos, Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, as well as several sisters and faithful.

In his homily, Cardinal Pizzaballa recounted the life of St. Ignatius, focusing on his dedication to fulfilling God's will in the Holy Land. He explained that St. Ignatius initially believed his mission was confined to the Holy Land but eventually understood that God's will extended to the whole world, driven by love for God and the defense of the Holy Church.  Referring to the Gospel of Matthew, His Beatitude Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized the lifestyle and mission that St. Ignatius adopted, encapsulated in the verses: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37-38)

Finally, His Beatitude remarked that the spiritual exercises written by St. Ignatius act as a refuge for us to rediscover the essence of faith and life: "Faith lights our path to reach the heart of this life, which is Christ". After the Mass, he spoke to those present about the current situation in the Holy Land, saying, "I recognize that we are enduring very challenging times and that hatred has inevitably filled many hearts. However, take heart; there are others who work earnestly to maintain pure hearts and follow Christ's teachings for peace. Find they, stay close to them, and work together to achieve true and just peace."

A brief look at the life of St. Ignatius

St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Spanish priest and theologian who founded the Jesuit order. He was born into a noble family in the Gipuzkoa region of Spain. He was enlisted as a soldier, but after being severely wounded in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521, Ignatius began to reflect on and reevaluate his life.

During his recovery, he read about the lives of Christ and the Saints, igniting a desire to devote his life to God. Once he fully recovered, he abandoned his previous life as a soldier, choosing instead to live a life of poverty, and chastity, while serving God. After his spiritual awakening, he was ordained as a priest in 1537 and chose to pursue a formal education despite being in his thirties. Over 11 years, he studied Latin, philosophy, theology, and other subjects at various universities in Spain and Paris.

In Paris, Ignatius and a group of colleagues founded the Jesuit Order in 1534. This order became one of the most important orders in the Catholic Church, known for its dedication to teaching, evangelizing, and defending the Catholic faith. Ignatius also authored several "Spiritual Exercises," which are still used in spiritual retreats today. These exercises comprise a series of prayers and reflections intended to guide the faithful during times of solitude, helping them achieve spiritual growth.

St. Ignatius died in Rome in 1556. After his death, the Jesuit order continued to grow and flourish, impacting the education sector and contributing to the development of culture and thought in the Western world.