Saint Ignatius Of Loyola

Today is the feast of one of my favorite saints, Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Member of a minor noble Basque family from Loiola, Spain, Iñigo was born in 1491. Trained as a soldier, he was seriously injured in 1521 at a battle in Pamplona. As he lay in bed during his recovery, he read books available at his family home which included a book on the lives of the saints and one on the life of Christ.

Loyola Family home in Loiola, Spain

Statue of Saint Ignatius returning home injured

As his leg healed, Ignatius experienced a deep conversion. He decided to abandon his military career and travel to the Holy Land where he could be a soldier for Christ, but serving in the Holy Land ended up not being his call. Ignatius returned to Europe and attended seminary in Paris. There he gathered around himself six followers, among them Francis Xavier and Francis Borgia, and founded the Society of Jesus in 1534.

Ignatius became known for his Spiritual Exercises, a collection of prayers, suggestions for prayer and spiritual insights that has become a spiritual classic. He traveled teaching the Exercises, sometimes getting in trouble with Church authorities who questioned the legitimacy of his spiritual masterwork.

Pope Pius III approved the Society of Jesus in 1540. Its members, the Jesuits, quickly began to staff universities throughout Europe, to lead missionary expeditions to the ends of the earth and to preach moving spiritual retreats.

In 1556 Ignatius died at his family home in Loiola. The order has grown and flourished despite being suppressed by Rome from 1773 to 1814, mostly due to political pressure. Today there are approximately 20,000 Jesuits, making it the largest male religious order of the Catholic Church.

Room where Ignatius died. Written on top beam: Here Iñigo de Loiola surrendered to God

Room where Ignatius was born

Sanctuary of Saint Ignatius at Loiola, Spain

Let us pray.

O God, who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in your Church
to further the greater glory of your name,
grant that by his help we may imitate him
in fighting the good fight on earth
and merit to receive with him a crown in heaven.

Saint Ignatius, pray for us!