How It Started
Inigo de Loyola was born in 1491 in Azpeitia in northern Spain.His
early life was one of gambling and engaging in swordplay on occasion.
Wounded
in War
While fighting in a war to defend Spain against the French in Pamplona,
Ignatius was wounded seriously by a cannon ball. The leg healed, but he
was left with one leg shorter than the other. For the rest of his life
he walked with a limp.
While recovering
During the long weeks of his recuperation, he read, "A Life of Christ"
and "Lives of Saints" the only books available in the castle. These books
set his imagination and heart on fire. His worldly and vain desires of
serving an earthly king were transformed into desires to conquer the world
for the eternal King.
Discerning
For ten months at Manresa, Spain, Ignatius through mystical and apostolic
experiences, became more sensitive to how God wanted him to serve His people.
He was deeply drawn to serve God; he was determined to do so. He went on
a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Study
Ignatius suffered much from the Inquisition who questioned his competence
to teach and preach about God and Christ. At the age of 33, he started
and pursued his studies through the University of Alcala, University of
Salamanca and eventually at the University of Paris where he obtained his
Master in Arts. In Paris, he gave his famous Spiritual Exercises and recruited
7 companions to join him, the most well known being St Francis Xavier.
In 1534, they took vows at Montmartre.
Vision
The war with the Turks prevented them from going to Jerusalem. On the
way to Rome, Ignatius had a vision at La Storta, a few miles outside the
city (1537) where they were called to be companions of Christ. God the
Father told Ignatius, "I will be favorable to you in Rome" and that he
would place him (Ignatius) with His Son.
Founding
Ignatius and his companions deliberated and felt sure that God's will
was to form a religious order. Pope Paul III approved their petition on
27th September 1540 in Rome. Since then they had referred to themselves
as the Company of Jesus (in Latin Societas Jesu), in English their
order became known as the Society of Jesus.
The Pope and the Jesuits
From the beginning Ignatius and his companions place themselves at
the disposal of the Holy Father to travel wherever he should wish to send
them for whatever duties. A vow to this effect was added to the ordinary
vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. They do it for God's greater glory
(Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam). This still applies today.
The Jesuits and Schools
Perhaps the work of the Society of Jesus begun by Ignatius that is
best known is that of education. It is interesting that he had
no intention of including teaching among the Jesuits' works at the
beginning. Schools were opened with the primarily intention of the education
of the new young Jesuit recruits. But later, these schools admitted lay
and Jesuit students at the requests of rulers, bishops and cities.
What do Jesuits do?
Jesuits are involved in a variety of ministries. They :-
* work in parishes
* run schools and universities
* care and live with the poor
* work with migrant workers and refugees
* work with the exploited and abused
* counselling, spiritual direction and retreats
* engaged in dialogue with different cultures, religions and
Christian denominations
* mass media
* this list will never end and cannot end... because God must
be served and his people must be
loved.
Jesuit Parishes in Malaysia and Singapore
Church of St. Francis
Xavier, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Church
of St. Ignatius, Singapore
Jesuit Resources on the Web
Singapore Jesuit Website
Jesuits Online
Sacred Space
Jesuit Refugee Service
Jesuit Provinces
Jesuits Worldwide
Jesuit Saints
Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus
(with biodata)
A Century of
Jesuit Martyrs
A Century of Jesuit
Martyrs (recent century)
Pictures of St Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius the Pilgrim
St Ignatius Loyola on stain glass
An Early Portrait of Ignatius
Loyola
St Ignatius and St Francis Xavier
Portraits of St Ignatius of Loyola
Travel Guide
A visitor's
guide to Ignatian sites in Rome
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Left is an early version of the seal of the Society of Jesus, recently uncovered on a wall in Rome in what was St. Ignatius's office by Fr. Tom Lucas, S.J. In the center are the three letters "IHS" which are the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek. Around the perimeter is the Latin phrase taken from the vulgate: "... and His name was called Jesus." (Luke 2:21) This is the last line of the gospel reading used on January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the Giving of the Name of Jesus, which is the titular feast of the Society of Jesus, formerly the Feast of the Circumcision. |