CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY, JULY 31, 2006

St. Ignatius founder of the Society of Jesus (more commonly known as the Jesuits) in 1534 and created the Spiritual Exercises, which popularized guided retreats in the Church and offered guidelines for discernment that are still used today.

He was born in Loyola, Spain, in 1491, the youngest of 12 children of a noble family. He served as a page in the Spanish cout of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

He became a soldier in the Spanish army in 1517 and wounded his leg during the siege of Pampeluna in 1521. During his recuperation, the only books to which he had access were one on the lives of the saints and the “Life of Christ” by Ludolph the Carthusian. It was during this time that he experienced a profound conversion.

On his recovery he took a vow of chastity, hung his sword before the altar of the Virgin of Montserrat. He spent another year in contemplation in a cave and then five years in the Holy Land, converting the Muslims. He then began six years of theological study. He founded the Society of Jesus six years after he earned his theology degree; it received papal approval in 1541. He died in Rome in 1556.

The Jesuits remain numerous today. There are currently more than 500 Jesuit universities and colleges worldwide.