Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Biography

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, also known as Inigo Lopez de Loyola, was born in 1491 in Loyola, Guipuzcoa, Spain. He was born into the Spanish nobility and was the youngest of twelve children. As a young man, Ignatius served as a page in the Spanish court of Ferdinand and Isabella. In 1517, Ignatius began his military education and eventually became a soldier, joining the army and participating in several campaigns. However, his military career was cut short when he was wounded in the leg by a cannonball during the siege of Pampeluna on 20 May 1521. This injury left him partially crippled for the rest of his life. During his long and painful recuperation, Ignatius found solace and inspiration in the only books he had access to: The Golden Legend, a collection of biographies of the saints, and the Life of Christ by Ludolph the Carthusian. These books, combined with his time spent in contemplation, sparked a profound transformation in his life. Following his recovery, Ignatius made a vow of chastity and hung his sword before the altar of the Virgin of Montserrat. He then donned a pilgrim's robes and spent a year living in a cave from 1522 to 1523, contemplating the path to leading a Christian life. He eventually embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land in 1523, where he worked to convert Muslims. In 1528, Ignatius began studying theology in Barcelona and Alcala, Spain, and later in Paris, France. He received his degree on 14 March 1534. It was during this time of study and reflection that his deep meditations, prayers, visions, and insights led to the formation of the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus on 15 August 1534. Though initially met with skepticism, the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, eventually received papal approval in 1541. Ignatius formed a core group of companions, including James Lainez, Alonso Salmerón, Nicholas Bobadilla, Simón Rodriguez, Blessed Peter Faber, and Saint Francis Xavier. Interestingly, Ignatius never used the term Jesuit, which was originally coined as an insult by his opponents. However, the Society of Jesus today bears the name with pride. Ignatius traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Holy Lands, evangelizing and establishing Jesuit communities. Eventually, he settled in Rome to direct the activities of the growing Jesuit order. In his later years, Ignatius suffered from declining health and was nearly blind at the time of his death. He passed away on 31 July 1556 in Rome, Italy, due to a fever. Ignatius was beatified on 27 July 1609 by Pope Paul V and canonized on 12 March 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the patron saint of the Jesuits, the Jesuit Order, and the Society of Jesus. He is also recognized as the patron saint of Spiritual Exercises by Pope Pius XI. Additionally, he is the patron of the military ordinariate of the Philippines, soldiers, and the Basque country in Spain. Ignatius' legacy lives on through the Jesuits, who now have over 500 universities and colleges, with more than 30,000 members and teaching over 200,000 students each year. His representation includes an apparition of Our Lord, a book, a chasuble, and Holy Communion. His feast day is celebrated on 31 July.