Saint Ignatius of Loyola
July 31
Saints Who Were Great Evangelizers
St. Ignatius of Loyola – Founder of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola was a former soldier from Spain. He founded the Jesuits in 1540 as an effort to counter the effects of the Protestant Reformation by the promotion and defense of the teachings and authority of the Church across Europe. Ignatius also developed his Spiritual Exercises, a model of prayer still used today.
Lives of the Saints
by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. edition
[1894]
July 31.—ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.
- IGNATIUS was born at Loyola in Spain, in the year 1491.
He served his king as a courtier and a soldier till his thirtieth year. At that age, being laid low by a wound, he received the call of divine grace to leave the world. He embraced poverty and humiliation, that he might become more like to Christ, and won others to join him in the service of God.
Prompted by their love for Jesus Christ, Ignatius and his companions made a vow to go to the Holy Land, but war broke out, and prevented the execution of their project. Then they turned to the Vicar of Jesus Christ, and placed themselves under his obedience.
This was the beginning of the Society of Jesus. Our Lord promised St. Ignatius that the precious heritage of His Passion should never fail his Society, a heritage of contradictions and persecutions.
St. Ignatius was cast into prison at Salamanca, on a suspicion of heresy. To a friend who expressed sympathy with him on account of his imprisonment, he replied, “It is a sign that you have but little love of Christ in your heart, or you would not deem it so hard a fate to be in chains for His sake. I declare to you that all Salamanca does not contain as many fetters, manacles, and chains as I long to wear for the love of Jesus Christ.” St. Ignatius went to his crown on the 31st July, 1556.
Reflection.—Ask St. Ignatius to obtain for you the grace to desire ardently the greater glory of God, even though it may cost you much suffering and humiliation.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Memorial Ex 32:15-24, 30-34/Mt 13:31-35 (401).
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/ignatius-of-loyola-612
CATHOLICISM SAINTS ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA
*Miracles of St. Ignatius Loyola – Rubens.
This oil-on-canvas artwork, by Peter Paul Rubens, was part of the main altarpiece for the Jesuit Church in Antwerp. One of several depictions of the life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola on the altarpiece, this image shows the Jesuit Founder preaching in a church, confounding the wicked and attracting the angels by his eloquence.
Ignatius of Loyola, S.J. (born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; Basque: Ignazio Loiolakoa; Spanish: Ignacio de Loyola; Latin: Ignatius de Loyola; c. 23 October 1491 – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Spanish Catholic priest and theologian, who, with Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits), and became its first Superior General, in Paris in 1541. He envisioned the purpose of the Society of Jesus to be missionary work and teaching. In addition to the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty of other religious orders in the church, Loyola instituted a fourth vow for Jesuits of obedience to the Pope, to engage in projects ordained by the pontiff. Jesuits were instrumental in leading the Counter-Reformation.
As a former soldier, Ignatius paid particular attention to the spiritual formation of his recruits and recorded his method in the Spiritual Exercises (1548). In time, the method has become known as Ignatian spirituality.
Ignatius of Loyola was beatified in 1609 and canonized saint, on 12 March 1622. His feast day is celebrated on 31 July. He is the patron saint of the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa and Biscay as well as of the Society of Jesus. He was declared patron saint of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatius_of_Loyola
There are many who say, “O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
Ps 4:6, NRSV