Today marks the first day of the Novena to St Ignatius of Loyola, a nine-day journey of prayer and reflection rooted in the Jesuit tradition. The novena leads up to the Feast of St Ignatius on 31 July and is available as a playlist of video reflections on YouTube which you can view / listen to here.

These videos were filmed in recent years in Jesuit-run churches across the British Province and feature contributors from Jesuit communities.

A novena is a traditional Catholic devotion consisting of nine days of prayer, often undertaken in preparation for a feast day or to seek spiritual support. In the Ignatian tradition, it becomes a time to listen deeply, reflect prayerfully, and notice God’s presence in the everyday.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556), founder of the Society of Jesus, is remembered for its commitment to education, social justice, and spiritual formation. He is widely respected in the Catholic Church for the Spiritual Exercises, a set of meditations and prayers designed to deepen one’s relationship with God and encourage finding God in all aspects of life.

Wherever you are, and however you pray, you’re invited to join this journey. The novena runs until 30 July, with celebrations for the Feast of St Ignatius taking place in Jesuit parishes across the British Province on 31 July. We’ll share further details of local events on our website in the coming days.

As part of this year’s celebrations, members of the Jesuit Young Adult Ministry in Edinburgh have filmed their own version of the Novena to St Ignatius, offering a personal and prayerful reflection for each day. The videos are being shared throughout the novena on the Edinburgh Jesuit Church Facebook page and Young Adult Ministries Instagram page. You can watch the first of the videos here.