Ignatius of Loyola

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius paid particular attention to the spiritual formation of his recruits and recorded his method in the Spiritual Exercises (published in Latin in 1548). In time, the method has become known as Ignatian spirituality. Ignatius was described by Pope Benedict XVI as being above all a man of God, who gave the first place of his life to God, and a man of profound prayer. Together with Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, he founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits), and became its first Superior General, in Paris in 1541. He envisioned the purpose of the Society of Jesus to be missionary work and teaching. In addition to the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty of other religious orders in the church, Loyola instituted a fourth vow for Jesuits of obedience to the Pope, to engage in projects ordained by the pontiff. Jesuits were instrumental in leading the Counter-Reformation. He was beatified and then on March 12, 1622, was canonized. His feast day is July 31. He is the patron saint of the Basque historical territories of Guipúzcoa and Biscay and the Society of Jesus, among other things. He was declared patron saint of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.