Ignatius of Loyola

Description

Ignatius of Loyola, and his friend and first lieutenant (so to speak), Francis Xavier. While not exactly oil and vinegar, these two Spaniards took a fledging idea—a society dedicated not to a saint, nor even to Mary, but to Jesus Himself—and saw it spread worldwide, even in their lifetimes. Indeed, the Jesuits are the largest religious order within the Catholic Church today, with approximately 18,000 members.
While it is never easy to launch a new religious order, let alone see it grow, spread and flourish, the Jesuits have never backed away from facing challenges. Though Ignatius, born in the Basque region of Spain in 1491, came from an aristocratic family, as a soldier he suffered a terrible setback after being seriously wounded in the leg during the Battle of Pamplona in 1521. During his convalescence, he underwent a spiritual conversion while reading the lives of the saints that radically changed his life.
A short time later, while at the Benedictine shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, he spent hours in prayer over a period of several months in a cave near Manresa, where he began writing his masterpiece. The Spiritual Exercises is a retreat manual that greatly influenced both the spirituality of his day—and of ours, as well. Ignatius eventually made his way to the University of Paris to study philosophy and theology.
Because of his love of Christ and the Church, he gradually attracted other students, including (St.) Peter Faber, Simon Rodriques, Nicholas Bobadilla, Diego Laynez and Alfonso Salmeron—and, of course, (St.) Francis Xavier. They likewise committed themselves to do all things for the “greater glory of God”—hence the Jesuit motto: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—“A.M.D.G.” This small band of seven brothers took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience—and in a unique twist, a fourth vow of obedience to the pope—in a small chapel on Montmartre, Paris on August 15, 1534. Once Ignatius and his companions, now growing in number, made their way to Rome, Ignatius was forced by his confessor to take office in 1541 as the Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was to remain in Rome the rest of his days.