Iñigo Lopez de Loyola was born in 1491. Being a Basque, he was
naturally attached to the faith; but did not avoid sin when the occasion
presented itself. In his own words, up until the age of thirty he was
a man given over to vanities of the world; with a great and vain desire
to win fame. How could God call such a one as Iñigo was? That
was up to God.
God’s call came by way of a French cannon ball. While defending
Pamplona from the invading French, a cannon ball hit his leg and shattered
it. He was brought to the family castle of Loyola to recover from his
injuries. There he asked for books of romance and chivalry.
Unfortunately, Castle Loyola only had two books: one on the lives of
saints, and the other on the life of Christ. Slowly he began to see
the saints as courageous knights serving the most regal of kings: Christ
the King. By recovery’s end, Iñigo had resolved not only
to follow the examples of the saints, but more so, to outdo them in
the service of Christ.
His following of the Eternal King, led him to Jerusalem—where he
literally followed in Christ’s footsteps; Barcelona—where
he found himself in a classroom studying Latin; Alcala and Salamanca—where
he began studying Philosophy; Paris—where he finished his master’s
degree and got together nine other kindred spirits who later called
themselves La Compania de Jesus. The journey of Ignatius’ spirit—one
that continually sought God’s will—led him through all these
and brought him eventually to Rome.
In Rome, Ignatius with his nine “friends in the Lord” offered
themselves to the Pope in the service of the church. Christ’s Vicar
consequently sent these men to different parts of the world where the
Church was most in need. Believing that the Lord had called them together,
the ten friends from Paris decided to vow obedience to one of their
number. Thus was founded the Society of Jesus.
In the twilight of life, when asked why he, Ignatius, decided in such
and such a way, his reply was always, “Because it was what God
wanted.” The love in his stubborn Basque heart, which sought always
the will of its Savior, led him on such a physical and spiritual journey—from
Iñigo to Ignatius, from Pamplona to Rome, from sinner to saint—that
he often referred to himself as a pilgrim.
In 1556, as his many sons generously labored in the Lord’s vineyard
throughout the world, Ignatius closed his eyes and was led home. Thus
ending the pilgrim’s journey.
The
Jesuits
St. Ignatius of Loyola
