Ignatius belonged to the Spanish nobility and was born in 1491 at the family Castle of Guipuzcoa, Spain. His ambition to cover himself with military glory, to become a Knight-errant in shining armour, to exhibit his chivalry and ultimately to marry a princess charming, as fairy tales would have it, drove him to participate in the siege of Pamplona in 1521. Though he did win laurels in the war, a stray bullet not only shattered his leg but also his juvenile dreams. Back in the Loyola Castle for recovery, the only books available to combat boredom were the Gospels and the Lives of Saints. It was during this period of convalescence that “he came unto himself” as the prodigal son did, underwent a powerful spiritual conversion and placed himself at the service of Jesus as Saul of Tarsus did. After his recovery, Ignatius visited the shrine of Our Lady at Montserrat and retreated to Manresa for solitude, prayer and meditation. Being fascinated by the Gospel narratives, he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem.
Ignatius’ ultimate dream was to be a Knight of Jesus Christ, the heavenly King, by becoming a zealous priest. During his studies in Paris, he became the leader of a group of seven youngsters who eventually formed the corner stone of the Society of Jesus. Their primary goal was to preach Christianity in Palestine. Due to constant war and instability in the Holy Land, Ignatius and his companions placed their services at the hands of Pope Paul III in 1540. Apart from the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to their legitimate superiors, the Jesuits make a fourth vow of obedience to the Supreme Pontiff. While Ignatius remained in Rome to establish the new Society on a firm footing, his companions and followers were a powerful force to be reckoned with in the resurgence of the Church during the Catholic Reformation against Martin Luther and the Protestants. St. Francis Xavier, one of the original seven co-founders, turned out to be one of the greatest missionaries the Church has ever seen. Within a short time the Jesuits became renowned for their prowess in intellectual sphere and in the fields of education and evangelization. Another major contribution of Ignatius was his Spiritual Exercises, a brilliant manual for spiritual formation. It has been a powerful tool for the transformation of many individuals all over the world. Ignatius died in Rome on July 31, 1556 and was declared a saint in 1622.
Reflection: Ignatius discovered in the Lives of Saints a call to his own holiness. He said to himself: “Since these men were as human as I am, I could be as saintly as they were.” He achieved this feat because his words were as good as his deeds. If there is a will, there is a way.
Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will….Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.
(St. Ignatius)
