Today is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola. When we talk about Ignatius, we tend to focus on either spirituality, missionary work, or higher education. What is often lost in all of this is the fact that Ignatius was a catechist! He and his followers regularly gathered children in the churches and squares of Rome to offer instruction on the basics of Christianity.

This sketch, by Peter Paul Rubens (from the 1609 Life of Ignatius Loyola) shows Ignatius catechizing in the foreground while other Jesuits hear confessions and distribute Communion in the background.

So on this feast of St. Ignatius, we renew our commitment to catechesis, following in the footsteps of Ignatius of Loyola. May our efforts be for the greater glory of God!