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St. Ignatius of Loyola

Founder of the Society of Jesus, Confessor Priest, Mystic, Preacher

BORN DIED HONORED IN BEATIFIED CANONIZED FEAST ATTRIBUTES

1941 Loyola, Guipuzcoa, Spain July 31, 1556 (aged 64-65) Rome, Papal States Catholic Church Anglican Communion July 27, 1609 by Pope Paul V March 12, 1622 by Pope Gregory XV July 31 Eucharist, chasuble, book, cross Dioceses of San Sebastian and Bilbao, Biscay & Guipuzcoa, Basque Country, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, Society of Jesus, soldiers, Educators and Education.

PATRONAGE 3

Early Life
He was the youngest of thirteen children, and only seven years old when his mother died. At the age of sixteen years he was sent to serve as a page to Juan Velazquez, the treasurer of the kingdom of Castile.

The end of a very short military career -Being already trained in the use of arms, specifically and the workings of the military in general, Ignatius saw some action early on in his life in northern Castile against the French. On May 20, 1521 at the battle of Pamplona, Ignatius entire life would change as his service in the military would come to an immediate and definite end.

Sickness and deformity

- Not only was the leg shattered for the twenty-nine year old Ignatius, his heart was torn open as well, knowing full well that he would not taste the glory of victory militarily that he had his initial sites on. Ignatius had other more immediate concerns at hand, a long road to recovery from his injuries, ones that would not heal easily or normally. After his broken leg had been set badly the first time, doctors had to break it a second time and reset it.

-After a severe fever, which caused his doctors to wonder if he would even survive the night, Ignatius began to settle into what would be a very long and complicated convalescence. The results of Ignatius leg being set for a second time rendered a very strange deformity in that the end of a bone stuck out under his knee, which he demanded be sawed off. Because of this peculiar occurrence, Ignatius would have a very distinct limp the rest of his life. It would also take a great deal of time for his calf to heal up, leaving an odorous stench for a very long time. God was indeed trying to get Ignatius attention.

Vision of the Blessed Mother

-one night as he lay awake, pondering these new lights, he saw clearly the image of Our Lady with the Holy Child Jesus.

Religious Conversion and Religious Life

Conversion (1491-1521)
-it was also the beginning of spiritual discernment, or discernment of spirits, which is associated with Ignatius and described in his Spiritual Exercises.

Spiritual formation (1522-24)

- Ignatius left Loyola he had no definite plans for the future, except that he wished to rival all the saints had done in the way of penance. - he began to make notes of his spiritual experiences, notes which grew into the little book of "The Spiritual Exercises".

The Experience at Manresa

-he then traveled to the town of Manresa, Catalonia and spent several months in a cave near where he practiced rigorous asceticism.

Religious Conversion and Religious Lifecont

-he spent hours each day in prayer and also worked in a hospice. It was while here that the ideas for what are now known as the Spiritual Exercises began to take shape.
Back to School, for the Love of God -Ignatius had to go back to school and start from scratch, as his interests in his younger years were always spent dreaming of the glory he would achieve in the military. He had to work hard on his studies, as he knew this would be the means by which he would be able to help souls.

- he was thirty three years of age when his second go around with education would begin, starting with Latin grammar. Ignatius would complete his formal education at the age of forty three after having earned a master of arts at Paris

Later Life and Death

-it is said that Saint Ignatius had been ill fifteen times over the fifteen years that he served as Superior General of the Order. Initially when he got sick for the sixteenth time, there seemed to be no real alarm. He was feeble and usually needed to be assisted Saint Ignatius and the The ongoing legacy of by three fathers of the order. Suddenly and most unexpectedly,Ignatius died. His was such a Jesuit order and their hemissionary the last sudden death did not even receive efforts sacraments. He died on the world. continues to be lived throughout themorning of July 31, 1556 at the age of sixty four. Saint Ignatius was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV and would be named the patron saint of spiritual exercises and retreats by Pope Pius XI. \

Works
His written works: -Constitutions of the life of Jesus, letters, diaries,
Spiritual, Spiritual Exercises, and an autobiography.

The objective of thisThe book of the spiritual exercises spiritual work is to encourage those This work originated a state of calm engaged in The Exercises- to enter into in Ignatius' experiences, while he was at Loyola in 1521. reflection, interiorly in order to be better disposed to the -In 1548, with the approval of Pope Paul III, Ignatius will of God.

lead a man by the safe paths of self-abnegation and the removal of bad habits up to the supreme heights of prayer and divine love.

was able to publish his most famous work, The Spiritual Exercises. The holiness of the lives of the saints is the main emphasis of The Exercises.

works cont

The Jesuits and Schools

- Before 1548 Ignatius had opened schools in Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and India, but they were intended primarily for the education of the new young Jesuit recruits.

The founding of the Company of Jesus

-the new band of brothers, led by Ignatius, professed vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as well a fourth vow of going wherever the Holy Father would send them for the salvation of souls. These vows were made on the Feast of the Assumption in the 1534. -Ignatius and his followers were eventually ordained to the priesthood in 1537. Pope Paul III, pleased with the fervor of Ignatius and his companions, gave official approval of the order in 1540. Ignatius was elected the first Superior General of The Company of Jesus in 1541.

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works cont

-Jesus himself appeared to him, shining with an unspeakable light, yet bearing the weight of a heavy cross, stated to Ignatius; I will be favorable to you at Rome. Ignatius would spend the rest of his life in Rome administering the new religious order that he founded. For the original members of the Jesuits as well as new recruits, they would go throughout the world as missionaries, ministering in countries such as the East Indies, Morocco, the Congo, Ethiopia and South America.

-Ignatius had suggested for the title of their brotherhood "The Company of Jesus". Company was taken in its military sense, and in those days a company was generally known by its captain's name. In the Latin Bull of foundation, however, they were called "Societas Jesu".

- Now the society is now fully constituted

The Constitutions of the Society
-In 1547, with his intelligent aid the first draft of the constitutions was made between 1547 and 1550, and simultaneously pontifical approbation was asked for a new edition of the "Formula".

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Works..cont

-at the same time a large number of the older fathers assembled to peruse the first draft of the constitutions, and though none of them made any serious objections, Ignatius' next recension (1552) shows a fair amount of changes. -this revised version was then published and put into force throughout the society a few explanations being added here and there to meet difficulties as they arose. These final touches were being added by Ignatius up till the time of his death, after which the first general congregation of the society ordered them to be printed, and they have never been touched since.

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Teachings
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (A.M.D.G) For the Greater Glory of God
-For the Greater Glory of God was the motto by which Ignatius and the early Jesuits patterned their lives.

Spiritual Teaching
-is found in his letters, and these have always been regarded by Jesuits as an important source of their spirituality.

The Spiritual Exercises

*Three Methods of Prayer* FIRST METHOD

SECOND METHOD THIRD METHOD

3. the Three to the of the to whom he recites it, or to his own be given chiefly to the meaning of such word, orPowers personSoul and on the Five Bodily Senses. baseness, do in the same way on from word of the Our Father, hisof any so great lowness. And in the sam And let him or to the difference each such great height to or own other prayer which he wants to say form way. in thisand rule he will proceed on the other words of the Our Father; and the other prayers, that is t say, the Hail Mary, the Soul of Christ, the Creed, and the Hail, Holy Queen, he will make as he is 13accustomed.

The Second Method of Prayer isisfirst Method ofkneelingis in or out, one hasto the greater disposition in one The that with each breath seated, according to pray mentally, saying The Third Method of Prayer that the person, Prayer oron which of the Our Father, as more devotion accompaniesis being recited:eyes closed or one word be said 1. the Ten Commandments, the so word he finds himself and or of another prayer which him, keepingand on that only fixed on one place, without going wandering with them, says Seven Deadly Sins, consideration of this word as long as he Father, and is on the on 2. while between one breath and another, and the the time from one breath to another lasts, let attention finds meanings, comparisons, relish and consolation in considerations pertaining to such word.

Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola