Saint Ignatius of Loyola

By gchalhoub
  • Jan 1, 1491

    Birth

    Birth
    Saint Ignatius was born in Loyola, Castile, Spain as Inigo Lopez. He was the youngest of 13 children.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1491 to Jul 31, 1556

    St Ignatius

  • Jan 1, 1498

    Mother Dies

    Mother Dies
    At the age of seven, St.Ignatius' mother passed away.
  • Jan 1, 1507

    Page

    Page
    When Ignatius was sixteen he was sent to serve the treasurer of the kingdom of Castile, Juan Velazquez.
  • May 1, 1521

    Conversion

    Conversion
    At the age of 30 St.Ignatius was called as an officer defending Spain and the fortress of the town of Pamplona against the French. During the battle a cannonball hit him, wounding one leg and breaking the other. In his recovery he read books about the life of Christ and Saints. He decided to live a more holy life and leave his old desires of power, fame and love.
  • Mar 5, 1522

    The Journey

    The Journey
    When Ignatius was well enough to travel, he decided he wanted to take a journey to Jerusalem and live there. He first set out to Barcelona leaving the castle in 1522. On the way he stopped at the Benedictine shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. He knelt all night in front of Our Lady's altar. He left his sword and knife then gave away his nice clothes to the poor.
  • Apr 1, 1522

    Manresa

    Manresa
    Ignatius then went to Manresa where he stayed in a nearby cave for 10 months. He would pray all day and began living a very humble lifestyle. It was here where he gained ideas for his book of 'Spiritual Exercises'. He also went through many penances. His fasting became so extreme that it ruined his stomach which caused him to suffer his whole life.
  • Sep 3, 1523

    Pilgrimage

    Pilgrimage
    After Ignatius reached Barcelona, took a boat to Italy and got to Rome he seeked permission from the Pope to go on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land on a path of sacrifice. He planned on staying but was not permitted to stay long as the situation was dangerous. The Franciscan superior ordered him to leave and threatened him with excommunication. He obediently left.
  • Jan 1, 1524

    Enrolled in Barcelona

    Enrolled in Barcelona
    St Ignatius enrolled himself in a school in Barcelona to study language and grammar. There he begged for food and shelter.
  • Feb 28, 1526

    University of Alcala

    University of Alcala
    After 2 years in Barcelona he gained admission into the University of Alcala. His enthusiasm got him into trouble as he would gather students and adults to explain the Gospels to them and teach them how to pray. This was looked down upon by the Spanish inquisition and they put him to trial. This resulted in Ignatius being thrown in prison for 42 days.
  • Jan 1, 1527

    University of Salamanca

    University of Salamanca
    Ignatius moved on to the University of Salamanca. The Dominicans had thrown him back into prison after just 2 weeks. He was told that he could only teach children and only simple religious truths even though they couldn't find any heresy in what he taught.
  • Jan 1, 1528

    University Of Paris

    University Of Paris
    St.Ignatius transfered to the University of Paris to study Philosophy and Theology.
  • Jan 1, 1534

    Masters Degree

    Masters Degree
    St.Ignaitus earned his masters degree from the Universtiy of Paris.
  • Aug 5, 1534

    Vows

    Vows
    Ignatius gathered a group of men in University and greatly influenced them in faith. He directed them all for thirty days in his Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius and the men decided to take vows of chastity and poverty. They planned to go to the Holy Land but they were unable so they headed for Rome and became missionaries of the Pope. The Pope assigned them to teach scripture, theology and preach. On Christmas morning, St.Ignatius said his first Mass at St. Mary Major, in the Chapel of the Manger.
  • Apr 1, 1539

    Society Of Jesus

    Society Of Jesus
    Ignatius called his former companions to visit Rome. They prayed and discussed for many weeks on what to do in future and whether it would be together or alone. They chose to get the Popes approval and form a community with a superior general in which they would all vow obedience to.
  • Sep 27, 1540

    Society Of Jesus

    Society Of Jesus
    They received approval in 1540 from Pope Paul III. Ignatius was elected as superior general. The order was formed and took the name 'The Society of Jesus'.
  • Apr 22, 1541

    Second Vows

    Second Vows
    Ignatius and the other men pronounced their vows in the newly formed Order on April 22,1541, the friday of Holy Week at the Church of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls.
  • Jan 1, 1548

    Jesuit Schools

    Jesuit Schools
    St.Ignatius opened up a school in Messina, Sicilia for Jesuit students by the request of the magistrates of Messina. Before 1548 Ignatius had already opened schools in Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and India for young Jesuit recruits. There was a large growth of the Jesuits and schools provided the most effective way to fix up the decline of the Church during the Reformation.
  • Jan 1, 1548

    Cilicio

    Cilicio
    A Bishop, Cilicio, did not have very positive feelings towards the Society. Anybody found doing Spiritual Exercises were excommunicated and he refused to have this new Order in his diocese. Many of the Jesuits were worried about what was happening but Ignatius told them to simply be patient.
  • Jul 31, 1556

    Death

    Death
    The stomach problems Ignatius suffered earlier in his life only became worse. Though he asked his secretary to get the papal blessing for him the night before he died. He did not recieve the blessing as his secretary expected him to live. St.Ignatius passed away on the 31st July 1556.

  • Beatification

    Beatification
    St Ignatius was beatified by Pope Paul V on July 27, 1609.

  • Canonization

    Canonization
    St. Ignatius was canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12th March 1622, 13 years after his beatification His feast day is celebrated on July 31st every year.