Jesuit Saints and Blesseds

Every saint, believe it or not, has some deep message for us even today, only if we are prepared to listen and learn with open minds. They appear as they are, with all their saintliness and humanity.

There are dozens of Jesuit saints and many more named blessed, not to mention the many unofficial saints—men and women—who have lived Ignatian values in inspirational ways. We remember these Ignatian holy people in a special way on All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and the feast of All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus (November 5)

They were heroic, iron-willed, fearless, uncompromising men, both young and aged. They looked into the eyes of their tormentors with compassion and forgiveness before their own eyes were gouged out. They joked with their hangmen at the time of death. They did not dither under excruciating torments but sang praises to the Lord, not because they were crazy (though they were occasionally thought to be so), but because they were committed to God’s will. They were men on fire.
An outstanding characteristic of each and every one of these holy Jesuits was their uncompromising attachment to the Society. All acknowledged their indebtedness to it; several expressed their unworthiness of belonging to it. Several faced internal conflicts, with superiors or within their own community – jealousy, opposition, interference – but they never lost faith in the Society or in the mission given them. Some were not given ministries of their choice, or preferred something else, or even felt frustrated, but persevered till the end nevertheless.
They each provide us insights on how to live out our vocation to this least Society! They    model for us what it means in practice to “live under the banner of the Cross”, to follow Christ “clearly, nearly, dearly”, to have true devotion to the Blessed Virgin. While many have a rough exterior – hard on themselves so as to remain firm on their convictions and mission – they developed tender, loving, compassionate hearts for others, especially the downtrodden and dejected.

Litany of the Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus
(In an expanded form of that used first by Jesuits in the concentration camp at Dachau)
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.
God, our Father in heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother and Queen of our Society, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Montserrat, Pray for us.
Our Lady of the Way, Pray for us.
Holy Father Ignatius, Pray for us.
St. Francis Xavier, first companion and missionary, Pray for us.
St. Francis Borgia, model of renunciation, Pray for us.
St. Stanislaus Kostka, model and patron of novices, Pray for us.
Sts. Edmund Campion, Robert Southwell and companions, martyrs of Christ in England, Pray for us.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. John Berchmans, models and patrons of our scholastics, Pray for us.
Sts. Paul Miki, James Kisai and John Soan de Goto, martyrs of Christ in Japan, Pray for us.
St. Peter Canisius and St. Robert Bellarmine, doctors of the church, Pray for us.
St. John Ogilvie, martyr of Christ in Scotland, Pray for us.
Sts. Bernardine Realino, John Francis Regis and Francis Jerome, missioners to people in town and country, Pray for us.
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, model and patron of our brothers, Pray for us.
Sts. Melchior Grodziecki and Stephen Pongrácz, martyrs of Christ in Košice, Pray for us.
Sts. Roch Gonzalez, Alphonsus Rodriguez and John del Castillo, martyrs of Christ in Paraguay, Pray for us.
Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and companions, martyrs of Christ in North America, Pray for us.
St. Peter Claver, defender of the slaves in South America, Pray for us.
St. Andrew Bobola, martyr of Christ in Poland, Pray for us.
St. John de Brito, martyr of Christ in India, Pray for us.
St. Claude La Columbière, faithful friend and apostle of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us.
St. Joseph Pignatelli, hallowed link of the old and the restored Society, Pray for us.
Sts. Leo Mangin and companions, martyrs of Christ in China, Pray for us.
St. Joseph Rubio, apostle of Madrid, Pray for us.
St. Peter Faber, first companion and apostle of the Spiritual Exercises, Pray for us.
St. Joseph de Anchieta, apostle of Brazil, Pray for us.
St. James Berthieu, martyr of Christ in Madagascar, Pray for us.
St. Alberto Hurtado, agent of social change in Chile, Pray for us.
All you Saints of the Society of Jesus, Pray for us.
Blessed Ignatius de Azevedo and companions, martyred while sailing for Brazil, Pray for us.
Bl. Thomas Woodhouse, Ralph Ashley and companions, martyrs of Christ in England, Pray for us.
Bl. Rudolph Acquaviva, Francis Aranha and companions, martyrs of Christ in India, Pray for us.
Bl. James Salès and William Saultemouche, martyrs of the Eucharist in France, Pray for us.
Bl. Charles Spinola, Sebastian Kimura and companions, martyrs of Christ in Japan, Pray for us.
Bl. Dominic Collins, martyr of Christ in Ireland, Pray for us.
Bl. Diego Luis de San Vitores, martyr of Christ in Micronesia, Pray for us.
Bl. Julian Maunoir and Anthony Baldinucci, zealous preachers of God’s Word, Pray for us.
Bl. James Bonnaud and companions, martyrs of Christ in France, Pray for us.
Bl. John Beyzym, servant of Lepers in Madagascar, Pray for us.
Bl. Miguel Pro, martyr of Christ in Mexico, Pray for us.
Bl. Francis Garate, humble doorkeeper who found God in all things, Pray for us.
Bl. Rupert Mayer, apostle of Munich and fearless witness of truth, Pray for us.
Bl. Tomás Sitjar Fortiá and companions, martyrs of Christ in Valencia, Pray for us.
All you Blessed of the Society of Jesus, Pray for us.