Apostleship of Prayer

Today is a special feast day for the Society of Jesus, the religious order to which the popes of the last century have entrusted the work of the Apostleship of Prayer. St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and begged for her help at all the critical moments of his life and in the life of his order. On this day in 1541, after receiving official papal approval of his order and being elected its first General Superior, St. Ignatius and his first companions celebrated Mass and pronounced their vows at Our Lady’s altar in the church of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls in Rome. As we pray the following three prayers to the Blessed Virgin, let us ask that all Jesuit seminarians, as well as seminarians in mission countries, may grow in holiness and zeal for souls.

Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola to the Mediatrix:

May it please our Lady to intercede with her Son for us poor sinners and obtain this grace for us, that with the cooperation of our own toil and effort she may change our weak and sorry spirits and make them strong and faithful to praise God.

Prayer of St. Francis Xavier one of the first Jesuits and co-patron of the missions and the Apostleship of Prayer:

Mary, my Lady, Hope of Christians, Queen of angels and all the saints who are with God in heaven. I commend myself to you, my Lady, and to all the saints, now, as if I were at the hour of death, to preserve me from the world, the flesh, and the devil—the enemies who plot with all their power against my soul, and hope in their malice to cast me into hell. Prevent this, most loving Mother, I pray and beseech you. Amen.

Prayer of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, patron saint of youth:

Holy Mary, my Queen, I recommend myself to your blessed protection and special keeping, and to the bosom of your mercy, today and every day and at the hour of my death. My soul and my body I recommend to you. I entrust to you my hope and consolation, my distress and my misery, my life and its termination. Through your most holy intercession and through your merits may all my actions be directed according to your will and that of your Son. Amen.

Today’s Readings:  Acts 14:19-28;  Psalm 145:10-13ab, 21;  John 14:27-31a