It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Need a trim? Or maybe just cutting down to size ...

July 31 is the feast day of the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) -- St. Ignatius Loyola. Ignatius was canonized on March 12, 1622 in a ceremony that honored four other saints: Teresa of Avila, Francis Xavier, Isidore the Farmer and Philip Neri. Neri, founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, was the lone Italian, all the others being Spaniards. This led the Italians to say that Pope Gregory XV had canonized four Spaniards ... and a saint.

Ignatius is noted for his seriousness. Philip Neri was noted for his sense of humor. 

My favorite story/legend about the two of them recounts an encounter they had when both were in Rome. While Ignatius went on and on about something of vital importance to the progress of the Catholic Reformation, Neri supposedly pulled out a pair of scissors and patiently began trimming the Jesuit's beard.

I'm not Italian, but that is still my idea of a saint!

1 comment:

  1. interesting bunch, the Jesuits.
    St. Teresa is one of my faves.

    ReplyDelete