St Ignatius Loyola begged Mother Mary for many years that he be 'placed with Jesus.' It was important for St Ignatius to experience the closeness of God not only in his prayer life but also in his everyday living. After much deliberation, St Ignatius and two of his friends decided that they would go to Rome to meet with the Pope and avail themselves to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ.

On their way to Rome, they stopped at a small Chapel, La Storta. St Ignatius went in alone to pray and to ask God's blessing once again on their decision to serve Jesus through their service to the Vicar of Christ. St Ignatius was graced to see God the Father asking Jesus to have St Ignatius join Him in carrying His cross. St Ignatius saw this as a confirmation of the decision to avail themselves to the Vicar of Christ.

In today's Gospel Jesus invites us to firstly deny ourselves, and then carry our cross and follow Him. To deny ourselves is to avail ourselves for the greater good just like St Ignatius and his friends did. Do I want to avail myself for the greater good? To carry your cross and follow Him is to walk alongside Jesus carrying your cross as Jesus carries His cross. Perhaps, you would like to ask for the same grace St. Ignatius received.