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Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola: Choosing Freedom in a World Obsessed with More

July 31, 2025: We live in a world that constantly tells us we don’t have enough. A better phone, a bigger TV, a fancier outfit, a flashier car — every ad, reel, and billboard pushes us to upgrade. Whether you’re a college student trying to fit in, a family aiming to match social expectations, or a religious subtly drawn toward comfort — the pressure to consume is everywhere.


We’re made to believe that our worth is measured by what we own. But on this feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, we’re reminded of another way — a freer, deeper way.


St. Ignatius of Loyola, once obsessed with power and prestige, discovered true joy not in gaining more, but in giving everything to God. His life invites us to ask: Are we living freely? Or are we quietly enslaved by what the world tells us we need?


From Vanity to Vocation: The Journey of St. Ignatius

Born into Spanish nobility in 1491, St. Ignatius of Loyola lived for status, glory, and admiration. But everything changed when a cannonball shattered his leg during battle. During his long recovery, he encountered Christ through books on the life of Jesus and the saints — and slowly, his heart shifted from self-glory to God's glory.


He gave up titles, honour, and wealth to follow Christ with total surrender. He went on to found the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) — an order that continues to impact the Church through education, spirituality, and social mission.


Consumerism’s Empty Promises vs. St. Ignatius’ Inner Freedom

We live in a culture that thrives on comparison. Branded clothes, luxury gadgets, designer homes — the more we see, the more we’re made to feel we’re lacking.


But St. Ignatius invites us to a different kind of abundance. In his Spiritual Exercises, he speaks of “indifference” — not coldness, but interior freedom. It means being so rooted in God that we are not ruled by riches or poverty, health or sickness, praise or rejection. What matters most is: Does this lead me closer to God?


What Would St. Ignatius Do Before Clicking “Buy Now”?

St. Ignatius spent his life learning to pause, pray, and discern — even in small decisions — so he could follow God more freely. We rarely ask why we want something. Is it boredom? Insecurity? Social pressure? Imagine making choices not out of fear of missing out, but out of clarity and peace.


Before every purchase, St. Ignatius might invite us to ask:

Is this helping me become who I’m meant to be?

Is this serving my mission, or distracting me from it?

Do I own this item, or does it own me?


Not a Call to Reject the World, but to Live in It Differently

St. Ignatius doesn’t ask us to reject technology or comfort. He asks us to use them wisely, with purpose and detachment. You can enjoy a meal, travel, or wear good clothes — but without clinging to them for your identity. Freedom, as St. Ignatius teaches, comes not from having everything, but from needing nothing but God.


Am I buying this to impress others or to feel accepted?

What would it look like to choose simplicity over display, like St. Ignatius did?


A Feast That Calls for Reflection, Not Just Remembrance

The feast of St. Ignatius is not just about honouring a great saint. It’s an invitation to each of us to examine our own attachments — to status, possessions, and control — and loosen their grip. St. Ignatius reminds us that saints did not gain respect through possessions, but through surrender. Radical detachment led to radical joy — and it still can.


Do I find my value in what I have, or who I am before God?

What one thing might I be called to let go of today?


A Prayer to St. Ignatius of Loyola

Lord, through the intercession of St. Ignatius of Loyola,

Teach me to seek not more things, but more of You.

Free me from the need to impress, possess, or control.

Help me to discern what leads me closer to Your heart.

Grant me the grace to let go of what I don’t need,

and the courage to live simply, generously, and freely.

Amen.


By Catholic Connect Reporter

Image credit: CNA


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