Born in 1491 in northern Spain, St Ignatius was one of thirteen children. As he grew up, he was greatly influenced by the ideals of chivalry and dreamed of knighthood.

However, he was severely wounded in battle, and underwent a conversion while convalescing. This experience led him to develop the ‘Spiritual Exercises’ which are used even today. He went on to found the Society of Jesus, whose spirituality was summarised as ‘contemplatives in action’.

He composed this prayer: ‘Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest; To give and not to count the cost, To fight and not to heed the wounds, To toil and not to seek for rest, To labour and not ask for any reward, Save that our knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord’.

Let us make this prayer our own this day, and may God bless you.