SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA: BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2024

Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a priest of Spanish origin who was characterized by his religiosity and fidelity to the Catholic Church, and by his maximum obedience to the Pope. He was considered by many as a spiritual leader due to his vocation of service to those most in need.

He conceived and materialized the idea of ​​creating the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits. He was the first general of said religious organization. Together with his other colleagues, he managed to grow the organization by leaps and bounds. Furthermore, de Loyola was an active participant during the Counter-Reformation processes.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Source: Claudio Coello, via Wikimedia Commons

It should be noted that Ignacio was first a military man. Later his life gave a spiritual change, and it was there that he began his religious studies. Although throughout his priestly life he had several drawbacks, especially ideological, he never departed from his gift of faith, nor did he put aside his love for his neighbor.

Biography

Ignacio de Loyola was born on October 23, 1491. His Christian name was Íñigo López de Loyola. His parents were Beltrán Yáñez de Oñaz y Loyola, who served as VIII of the House of Loyola (related to the monarchy) and María Sáez de Licona, a recognized lady of the family.

He was the youngest of thirteen siblings. His parents went out of their way to give him a good education in all respects. From a very young age he was related to the Spanish nobility, and therefore with the military arts, hence he later trained as a soldier and went out to combat

Ignacio's youth

At the age of 16 his mother died. As a result of this event, his father decided to send him, following the invitation of the wife of the highest accountant of Castilla María Velasco, to the court to be educated. There, in Castile, Ignacio spent the next twelve years of his life.

It was at that time that he trained as a military man. He also became a regular reader, and developed his writing skills. At that time he went to serve the Duke of Nájera Antonio Manrique de Lara, and brought out his love and respect for freedom, as well as his creativity and judgment.

At the age of 30 he was wounded in the leg during a combat in defense of the castle of Pamplona. He had to be operated on. As they say, the operation was done without anesthesia, and everyone was amazed by his ability to withstand the pain. From this injury he had trouble walking.

Spiritual transformation

After the incident in Pamplona, ​​he had to stay in hospital for a long time. This allowed him to dedicate himself to reading, especially to religious subjects. It was there that he began his path through a spiritual transformation that made him abandon the earthly life that he had until then.

Later, on March 25, 1522, in front of the image of the Virgin in the Montserrat Monastery in Barcelona, ​​he hung up his military garment. That was the first step that marked what ended up being the rest of his life. He walked out of the place barefoot.

During those years he lived in a cave, and devoted himself to meditation, prayer, and fasting. He also dedicated himself to pilgrimage with those who wanted to follow in his footsteps. He made some trips, including those to Rome and Jerusalem. He enrolled in college and learned Latin.

When he lived alone he wrote his famous Spiritual Exercises, the same ones that in Salamanca caused him problems because they were not well regarded, and they took him to jail for a few days. He spent a year at the University of Henares; and served the sick in the hospital.

Paris and the birth of the Company

At the beginning of the year 1528, in the month of February, he went to the city of Paris. He enrolled in college to expand his knowledge in theology and literature. His fervor for spirituality was so great that through the application of his exercises he attracted his first followers.

Paris was the stage of his friendship with Francisco Javier, Diego Laínez, Alfonso Salmerón, Pedro Fabro, Simao Rodrigues and Nicolás de Bobadilla. It was precisely with them that he decided to create the Society of Jesus. They contacted many people to get the money for the organization.

San Ignacio de Loyola Church, Buenos Aires. Source: By loco085, via Wikimedia Commons

In Paris itself, specifically in Montmartre, Ignacio and his followers swore to serve God, leaving out of their lives all things on earth that would affect their life of spirituality. After this oath, on August 15, 1534, the now known Society of Jesus was born.

Company Approval

At first Loyola went to Venice, where he stayed for a year. The idea was that by joining their friends they would travel to the Holy Land, but they couldn't. With the approval of Pope Paul III, they were ordained priests in the Italian city on June 24.

During their stay in Venice they dedicated themselves to evangelizing and giving a helping hand to those most in need. In the year 1538, on Christmas Eve, Ignacio de Loyola made his priesthood official by giving the first mass. Two years later, the same pope who ordained his priesthood officially confirmed the creation of the religious order.

Ignacio de Loyola was appointed as Superior General of the company. The fact that he sent his companions on pilgrimage throughout Europe, made the religious order grow. In addition, there were problems of desertion and disclosure by some members.

Death and holiness

It was very common for Ignacio to get sick, however, so was the fact that he recovered. However, when the last illness invaded his body, it could not bear it.

His death surprised everyone on July 31, 1556, when he was just 65 years old. His death occurred in Rome, where he spent much of his life.

His remains rest in Italy, in the Church of the Gesú, in Rome. He was worthy of beatification on July 27, 1609. A few years later, on May 22, 1622, he was canonized by Pope Gregory XV. Every July 31, the holiday is commemorated in his name.

Plays

The works written by Saint Ignatius of Loyola are based on religiosity, spirituality and faith. Among the best known are the Spiritual Exercises. He also risked writing his own autobiography.

Some of their work is described below:

Spiritual Exercises

Saint Ignatius began writing this book during his younger years. It was this work, precisely, that during his years of study in Paris attracted his first followers. The text is made up of prayers, meditations and mental exercises.

The book is developed in about 200 pages. In addition to the fact that their exercises are designed to take between 28 and 30 days. De Loyola devised them to be performed in secluded places and under the guidance of a spiritual guide.

An outstanding aspect of the exercises is the act of being silent while they are being performed. This, of course, excludes thoughtful discussions that arise. As for the teachings, they are framed in the Catholic ideas of the 16th century, the time of their writing.

From the century in which they were written they contain prayers to the Virgin Mary, support for the famous Crusades, absolute obedience to superiors. An invitation to carry out missions and preach the word to those most in need can also be found there; and the defense of Catholicism.

From the spiritual point of view it contains the experiences of Loyola. It touches on topics related to sin, humility, nature and holiness. Seeks that all glory be given to God and not to men.

Fragment:

“Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord and, through this, save his soul; and the other things on the face of the earth are created for man, and to help him in pursuing the end for which he is created… "

Spiritual Diary

As its name implies, it was a diary where the saint of Loyola wrote his joy at receiving God's grace every day of his life. Most of the annotations have disappeared throughout history. However, the two known texts were recently restored in Rome.

In this Spiritual Diary Saint Ignatius expressed the need to find God through poverty. Each of the booklets that were restored contains twelve pages. The first covers from February 12 to March 12, 1544.

While a second part was developed by Ignacio between March 13, 1544 until February 27, 1545. He was 53 years old when he began to write the Diary. At that time he dedicated himself to building homes and training centers for youth and women. The following is an excerpt from the manuscript:

“God loves me more than I love myself.

Following you, Jesus, I can't get lost!

God will provide what seems best to him.

Lord, I am a boy! Where are you taking me?

Jesus, for nothing in the world would I leave you!

The previous reflection of Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a sample of the value, love and respect that he had for God. I trusted him fully; and he knew that with his vow of poverty he did not need anything else to live because his Heavenly Father was the provider and supplier of his needs. He entrusted all his ways to God.

Deliberation on Poverty

With this work by Loyola he complements his already described Spiritual Diary. Among the aspects that the priest developed were those related to the debate of whether the Society of Jesus should receive some kind of constant income or whether it supported itself from alms or donations.

In the writing, the saint highlights the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches. He did so from the rational point of view, always keeping in mind the gift of the Catholic faith. Some aspects to not receive income:

Sculpture of San Ignacio de Loyola. Source: By José Luis Filpo Cabana, from Wikimedia Commons

“The Company takes greater spiritual strength and greater devotion assimilating and seeing the Son of the Virgin, our Creator and Lord, so poor and so many adversities.

It is easier to expect everything in God our Lord, separating from the things of the seculum.

Live more in continual divine hope and with greater diligence in his service.

Poverty, having no income whatsoever, is more perfect than having part or all ”

Rules for students of the Society of Jesus

They were based on Loyola's own interest that students be able to discern and have their own criteria regarding the spiritual life. With them he proposed that the day to day of a Jesuit be focused on always giving glory to God, and seeking to have a holy and perfect life.

Among other things, he also referred to the integral formation that a student of the Society of Jesus should have. Some clear examples are learning new languages, taking notes on important notes, reviewing authors, and, most importantly, having a pure soul and a true intention to study.

Other works

To complement the works written by Saint Ignatius of Loyola there are also: his autobiography, the Directory of Exercises, which are some writings that emerge from the Spiritual Exercises and try to clarify some points of these. And finally: the Form of the Company and its Oblation, dating from 1541.

References

1. Moreno, Ramírez, De La Oliva and Moreno. (2018): Saint Ignatius of Loyola. (N / a): Search Biographies. Recovered from: Buscabiografias.com
2. Ignatius of Loyola. (2018). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org
3. Caicedo, E. (2013): The Minimum Company. Spain: Sites. Recovered from: sites.google.com
4. Saint Ignatius of Loyola. (S. f.). (N / a): EWTN Fe. Recovered from: ewtn.com
5. Saint Ignatius of Loyola. (2009). (N / a): Hearts. Recovered from: corazón.org