Loyola, Saint Ignatius, << loy OH luh, ihg NAY shuhs >> (1491-1556), was a Roman Catholic religious leader who founded the Society of Jesus. Members of this religious order of men are known as Jesuits.
Ignatius was born into an aristocratic Basque family near Azpeitia, Spain. His real name was Inigo de Loyola. In 1517, Ignatius became a courtier of the Duke of Najera. While fighting the French at Pamplona in 1521, Ignatius suffered severe wounds. During his long period of recovery, he read a book about the life of Jesus and stories about the saints. These books convinced him that he should abandon his life of ambition and pleasure. After his recovery, he went to the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat, near Barcelona. There, he hung up his sword at the altar of the Virgin Mary and dedicated himself to a spiritual life.
During much of 1522 and 1523, Ignatius lived in a cave near Manresa, where he prayed and subjected himself to many physical discomforts. He also underwent mystical experiences. Ignatius drew on these mystical experiences in his Spiritual Exercises, a manual of self-discipline and prayer. He wrote Spiritual Exercises between 1522 and 1541, and it was published in 1548.
To prepare for the priesthood, Ignatius studied humanities and theology in Paris from 1528 to 1535. In 1534, he and six other men formed the Society of Jesus. They took vows of poverty and chastity.
Ignatius was ordained a priest in 1537. He and the other Jesuits then went to Rome to offer their services to the pope. On the way, Ignatius had a vision at the shrine of La Storta, near Rome. In the vision, God told Jesus, “I desire you to take this man for your servant.” Then Jesus said to Ignatius, “I will be favorable to you in Rome.” Pope Paul III approved the Society of Jesus in 1540. Ignatius became its first superior general (head). He also wrote the order’s constitutions, which established the Jesuits’ organization and way of life.
Under the leadership of Ignatius, the Jesuits helped reform the church during a self-renewal movement called the Counter Reformation (see Roman Catholic Church (The Counter Reformation) ). They also promoted religious education and preached the Gospel in Asia and the New World. Ignatius regarded himself as divinely chosen to lay the foundation for all these undertakings. He died on July 31, 1556. He was canonized (declared a saint) in 1622. His feast day is July 31.
