Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola SJ (Basque: Ignazio Loiolakoa; Spanish: Ignacio de Loyola; Latin: Ignatius de Loyola; born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; c. 23 October 1491[2] – 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.[3] 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.[4] Jesuits were instrumental in leading the Counter-Reformation.[5]

Saint Ignatius of Loyola SJ
Ignatius of Loyola, anonymous 16th-c.
Priest, Confessor, Founder of the Society of Jesus
Born	Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola (1491-10-23)23 October 1491 Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Crown of Castile
Died	31 July 1556(1556-07-31) (aged 64) Rome, Papal States
Venerated in	Catholic Church Anglican Communion[1]
Beatified	27 July 1609, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Paul V
Canonized	12 March 1622, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Gregory XV
Feast	31 July
Attributes	Sacerdotal vestments cassock ferraiolo biretta holding a book with "Ad maiorem Dei gloriam" inscription trampling on a heretic IHS Christogram crucifix rosary
Patronage	Society of Jesus Diocese of San Sebastián, Spain Bilbao, Biscay, Spain Basque Country Military Ordinariate of the Philippines Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines Ateneo de Iloilo, Iloilo City, Philippines Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City, Philippines Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu, Mandaue City, Philippines Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines Sulat, Eastern Samar, Philippines Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina Archdiocese of Baltimore, United States Diocese of Antwerp, Belgium Loyola University Maryland, United States Rome, Italy
Major works	Ignatian spirituality
Signature

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.