Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Today, July 31, is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He is best known as the founder of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. This order has long been heralded for their strong academics and their unfailing support and defense of the Pope.

St. Ignatius of Loyola was born to a noble Spanish family in 1491. He pursued a military career. In 1521 he was severely wounded by a cannonball. During his recuperation he read a great deal of spiritual writing, most notably The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis. He was so influenced by this that he turned his life completely over to God. He became a solider for Christ. He spent a year of prayer in Manresa Spain and recorded his spiritual experiences. This forms the basis of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It is not a textbook of prayer. Rather it is a series of spiritual exercises to be prayed, preferably under the direction of an experienced spiritual director.

He became a priest and continued his work to defend the faith and restore piety among Catholics. Others joined him in this effort forming what would become the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits. In addition to the usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Jesuits make a special fourth vow of obedience to the Pope. Jesuits are known for their strong pursuit of knowledge and were the most intellectual of the clergy in the 16th and 17th centuries. They also were devoted to missionary work and spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

Georgetown University has a collection of selected writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola available for online viewing. One I found particularly fascinating was a letter from St. Ignatius to one of his provincial leaders dealing with disobedient Jesuits:

I command you in virtue of holy obedience to take the following step with regard to the safeguarding of that virtue. If there is anyone who is unwilling to obey you—and I say this, not to you alone but to all superiors or local rectors in Portugal—do one of two things: either dismiss him from the Society, or send him here to Rome if you think that a particular individual can, by such a change, be helped to become a true servant of Christ our Lord. If necessary, keep their highnesses informed, who I doubt will make any objections, in keeping with the spirit and holy good will which God our Lord has bestowed upon them. To retain one who is not a true son of obedience does no good for the kingdom. Nor is there any reason for thinking that such a person, his own soul being so destitute, can help other souls, or that God our Lord would wish to accept him as an instrument for His service and glory.

Fortunately, there are still many faithful and obedient Jesuits. In honor of this feast day, consider enjoying some of the wisdom of contemporary followers of St. Ignatius. Fordham University, a Jesuit University, recently hosted a conference on highlighting the reflections of several prominent Jesuits on the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI: Virtue, Liturgy, and Jesus of Nazareth. Several of these presentations are available as mp3 downloads.

Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ passed away in December 2008. He was the first American theologian to be named to the college of Cardinals. Many of his writings are available online as well.

Ignatian spirituality is rooted in becoming aware of God's presence in all things and in doing all things for the greater glory of God.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!