Ignatius of Loyola

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was born around 23 October 1491 in the castle of Loyola at Azpeitia in Gipuzkoa, in the Basque country of Spain. Raised among minor nobility, he first sought honor as a courtier and soldier, pursuing fame with the ideals of chivalry. His life changed in 1521 when he was gravely wounded at the Battle of Pamplona. During a long, painful recovery, he found himself drawn not to romances but to the life of Christ and the saints, and he began to notice how worldly daydreams left him empty while thoughts of serving God brought lasting peace—an early lesson in spiritual discernment. In 1522 he laid down his sword at Montserrat and lived as a pilgrim at Manresa, where prayer, penance, and profound spiritual experiences shaped the foundations of his Spiritual Exercises and the path now called Ignatian spirituality. Ordained a priest and formed in study, he later gathered companions and founded the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, for missionary work and teaching, with a special vow of obedience to the Pope. He is venerated as patron of the Basque people and of spiritual retreats. His feast day is July 31.