By Gretchen Keiser

Celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Ignatius and the 450th year of the Jesuit order he founded, Bishop James P. Lyke, OFM, focused upon his outstanding clarity of vision and charity.

Ignatius, the converted knight whose "Spiritual Exercises" impacted the next five centuries of Christianity, was "as single minded" as any follower of Christ could hope to be, the bishop said.

In a special Mass for the Ignatia Year April 21, the bishop noted that St. Ignatius reflected complete surrender to God. Ignatius wrote, "Receive Lord all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will ... Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough and have nothing else to ask."

The Jesuit order worldwide dedicated this year to celebrating its founder's birth and the work of the Society. In this archdiocese, the celebration coincided with the 30th year of Ignatius House, the Jesuit retreat house on Riverside Drive.

The Mass celebrated at St. Jude's Church in Sandy Springs was one of two composed by Father Vincent Malatesta, SJ, for the anniversary. St. Jude's choir, directed by Alan Brown, and accompanied by trumpet, organ and piano, sang.

Among those taking part in the Mass, in addition to Ignatius House director Father Georgia Wiltz, were former director Father Larry Hein, SJ, and Father Bert Conner, SJ, and Father Austin Park, SJ, from Greenville, SC.