"Teach me to give and not to count the cost."
-- San Ignacio de Loyola
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San Ignacio de LoyolaSan Ignacio de Loyola was born Inigo Lopez in 1491. He was born in the Basque region of Spain, one of 13 children, to a noble family. As a young man, Inigo was charismatic and passionate, and dreamed of being glorified both as a knight and lover.
In 1521, Ignatius was seriously injured in a battle against the French. He was evacuated and sent back to his noble family home to recuperate. Stuck in bed, unable to participate in his worldly pursuits, with only some spiritual books to read, he began to undergo a deep conversion. He contemplated the lives of Jesus and the saints who followed him, and he became inflamed with the desire to become holy as they were. As he convalesced, he changed the direction of his life and devoted his life to following Jesus. Ignatius, through his contemplation, reflection and self-awareness, began to identify the movements of God's Spirit in his life. He gathered his many insights and experiences into the Spiritual Exercises and became a renown spiritual director. Ignatius went on to found the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits, in 1534. He was beatified in 1609 and canonized in 1622. |
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Ignatian SpiritualityIgnatian spirituality acknowledges that although God is ultimately unknowable in God's majesty and mystery, God still longs to be known by us. In God's deep desire for communion, God constantly communicates with us in different ways, both directly in our hearts and through the people and circumstances of our lives. God is in all things, present and persistently inviting us to a deeper intimacy and greater freedom to follow the Holy Spirit. To learn more, visit www.ignatianspirituality.com.
Reading ListNew to Ignatian Spirituality? Pick up one of these titles to get you started. You can also find all things Ignatian at www.ignatianspirituality.com.
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