by Andrew Koslosky KGCHS, Contributing Writer
Every year on July 31, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, one of history’s greatest spiritual masters and the founder of the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits. His influence extends far beyond the order he established.His spirituality has transformed countless saints, priests, religious, and lay people, helping millions discover a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer, discernment, education, and service.
Ignatius was not born a saint. In fact, his early life looked nothing like that of a future founder of a religious order. He was a proud soldier, fascinated by military glory, noble status, and romantic adventure.
Yet through an unexpected injury, God redirected his ambitions toward a far greater kingdom. His life reminds us that no one is beyond God’s reach. Often the greatest saints are those whose lives have been dramatically transformed by grace. He was born in 1491 in the Basque region of northern Spain into a noble family. Baptized Íñigo López de Loyola, he grew up in a culture that admired courage, honor, and military achievement.
As a young man, Ignatius dreamed of becoming a famous knight. He enjoyed courtly life, elegant clothing, swordsmanship, and the admiration of others. By his own later admission, he was vain and driven by worldly success. Everything for him changed in May 1521 during the Battle of Pamplona.
While defending a fortress against French forces, Ignatius was struck by a cannonball that shattered one leg and severely injured the other. His military career ended instantly. Transported back to his family castle at Loyola, he endured months of painful surgeries and recovery.
During this long confinement, he asked for books about knights and heroic adventures. None were available. Instead, his family provided two books: The Life of Christ and a collection of stories about the saints.
Reluctantly, he began reading. Those pages changed history.
As Ignatius read about Jesus and the saints, something remarkable happened within him. He noticed that imagining worldly success brought temporary excitement but eventually left him empty. Imagining a life dedicated entirely to Christ filled him with lasting peace and joy. This became the foundation of one of his greatest spiritual insights.
Of course, this is a moment in the story that speaks directly to us. God often speaks through the movements of our hearts. Ignatius learned to distinguish between thoughts that led toward God and those that led away from Him. He later called this process discernment of spirits, a method that continues to guide Christians around the world.
Rather than asking,, “What do I want?” Ignatius began asking, “What is God inviting me to do?” That question changed his life.
Once recovered enough to travel, Ignatius journeyed to the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat. There, in an all-night vigil before the Blessed Virgin Mary, he confessed his sins, laid down his sword before her altar, and exchanged his noble clothing for the simple garments of a poor pilgrim. This soldier had become a servant of Christ. He then spent nearly a year in the nearby town of Manresa, where he devoted himself to prayer, fasting, acts of charity, and deep reflection.
During this period, Ignatius experienced extraordinary spiritual consolations and difficult temptations. Through these experiences, God gradually taught him how to pray with Scripture, examine his conscience, recognize spiritual temptations, and seek God’s will in every circumstance. These experiences eventually became the basis for one of Christianity’s greatest spiritual classics…The Spiritual Exercises.
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius remain one of the most influential works of Christian spirituality ever written. Rather than being a book to read from beginning to end, the Exercises are a guided retreat designed to help people encounter Jesus personally.
Participants spend time meditating on Scripture, reflecting on their lives, recognizing God’s action within their hearts, and discerning His call.
The goal is not simply to gain knowledge about God. The goal is to know Jesus so intimately that we choose to follow Him more completely.
For more than 450 years, The Spiritual Exercises have renewed bishops, priests, religious sisters, seminarians, married couples, young adults, and ordinary parishioners. Their central purpose remains beautifully simple: To discover God’s will and embrace it wholeheartedly. It did not take long for Ignatius to reach the realization that enthusiasm alone was not enough. If he wished to help others grow in faith, he needed an education.
Already in his thirties, he began studying grammar alongside children, before eventually attending universities in Barcelona, Alcalá, Salamanca, and finally the University of Paris. While studying in Paris, he gathered several companions who shared his desire to dedicate their lives completely to Christ.
Among them was a brilliant young student named Francis Xavier, who would later become one of the greatest missionaries in our Church history.This time led to a special day on August 15, 1534, where Ignatius and six companions gathered in a small chapel on Montmartre in Paris. There they pledged themselves to poverty, chastity, and missionary service. Their original hope was to travel to Jerusalem.
When war made that impossible, they offered themselves to the Pope for whatever mission the Church required.
In 1540, Pope Paul III officially approved the Society of Jesus. Its members became known simply as Jesuits. Ignatius served as the order’s first Superior General until his death in 1556. Within only a few decades, Jesuit missionaries had reached India, Japan, Brazil, China, Africa, and the Americas. Their schools became renowned for academic excellence, intellectual rigor, and deep Catholic formation.
Today the Society of Jesus serves in more than one hundred countries. Perhaps the best-known phrase associated with his spirituality is, “Finding God in all things.” This does not mean that everything is equally good. Rather, it means God is constantly present and active, inviting us to recognize Him in every aspect of life. In other words, prayer is not confined to church buildings.
God can be encountered in everyday family life. Ignatius teaches us that every moment offers an opportunity to respond to God’s grace.
I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss one of Ignatius’ greatest gifts to ordinary Catholics…The Daily Examen. This simple prayer usually takes only ten or fifteen minutes. It invites us to review the day with gratitude and honesty.
A typical Examen includes… Thanking God for His blessings, Asking for light from the Holy Spirit, Reviewing the day’s events, Recognizing moments of grace and moments of failure, Asking forgiveness, Looking forward with hope to tomorrow. Using this exercise, this daily habit helps to develop spiritual awareness.
Instead of rushing through life, we gradually become more attentive to God’s quiet guidance.
Upon reflection, this applies in many ways to our everyday lives. Modern life presents countless decisions such as, Career choices, Marriage, Parenting, Retirement, Financial decisions, Service opportunities, etc etc.
Ignatius teaches that discernment is more than simply weighing pros and cons. Which choice leads me closer to Jesus? Which decision increases faith, hope, and charity? Which path allows me to love God and neighbor more completely?
This wisdom has helped generations of Christians make important decisions rooted not merely in emotion but in prayerful listening.
One phrase that summarizes the spirituality of St. Ignatius more than any other, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam…translates in English to , For the Greater Glory of God. These words became the motto of the Society of Jesus. St. Ignatius is not only the patron of Jesuits, as his spirituality belongs to the entire Church…to all of us. He teaches us to pray thoughtfully.
To examine our consciences honestly. To seek God’s will above our own. To serve generously. To love Jesus deeply. Most of all, to discover that God is never far away. He is present in every ordinary moment, patiently inviting us to respond to His grace.
As we celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, may we ask for the courage to place every aspect of our lives in the hands of Jesus. May we learn to discern God’s voice amid all the noise of the world. What a powerful way to handle the noise we are dealing with in today’s world. May we always strive to act for the greater glory of God.
Peace my Brothers and Sisters…until next week.
(Photo by Catholic Relief Service)
