"`Simon, son of John, do you love me?'"
--John 21:17


FEAST OF THE MOTHER OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS

Today Jesuits celebrate a feast particular to the Society of Jesus:  the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Society of Jesus.  On April 22, 1541, Ignatius Loyola and the first Jesuits gathered at Our Lady's altar in the basilica church of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls in Rome to pronounce their solemn vows in the newly approved Jesuit Order.  Pope Paul III had confirmed the new Order only seven months prior, on Sept. 27, 1540, and Ignatius himself only recently had accepted election as first Superior General, on April 19, 1541.

Today's feast marks the birthday of the Fully Vowed Society, that is, the day when the first Jesuits solemnly pronounced all four vows of Jesuit religious life:  poverty, chastity, obedience, and--a new vow--obedience to the pope in regard to missions.  Ignatius and the first Jesuits characteristically asked for Mary's protection and guidance for their nascent Society at her altar in St. Paul's on this date almost five hundred years ago.

Ignatius had always had a devotion to Mary even before this event.  At the Benedictine Monastery of Montserrat, he had kept all-night vigil by her statue on the eve of the Feast of the Annunciation in 1522.   In 1534, at Paris, he and his first companions though not yet Jesuits pronounced personal vows on the Feast of Mary's Assumption.  And in 1538, Ignatius celebrated his first Mass as a priest in the basilica church of St. Mary Major in Rome.  Throughout his life, Ignatius looked to Mary for protection, guidance, and intercession, and the Society of Jesus continues to ask for Mary's intercession today.

Petitions
For our Archbishop, Allen Vigneron, who honors us with a visit today; for the Society of Jesus, may it always bear the Word of God as Mary did; for a greater respect for God's creation, on this Earth Day 2010; for our seniors, as they enter their last few weeks of class.


Prayer
"The Memorare"

Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone
who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
we fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, our Mother!
To you we come,
before you we stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word incarnate,
despise not our petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer us.
Amen