Patron
of Soldiers, Educators and Retreatants
Saint Ignatius was born at
Loyola, Spain, in the year 1491. After
being wounded in battle, he
decided to serve Jesus as his King.
Ignatius went to study at the
University of Paris, where several
young men joined him to serve
Christ. They were known as the
“Companions of Jesus,” or the
Jesuits. “The Companions,” said
Ignatius, “are ready to do
any work or go anywhere in the world
for God’s greater glory.”
They became famous teachers, and
continued to serve the poor.
The Jesuits lived and taught as
soldiers of Christ. Pope
Francis is the first Jesuit in history to become a pope.
Saint Ignatius suffered many
trials, but he trusted in God, and
composed his famous
“Spiritual Exercises.” Saint Ignatius died
on July 31, 1556.
Prayer of
Saint Ignatius
Take O
Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire
will.
All that
I am and all that I possess, You have given to me.
I
surrender it all to You; dispose of it according to Your will.
Give me
only Your love and Your grace, that’s enough for me.
With
these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more. Amen.
“Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam”--“For the Greater Glory of God"
-The Motto of Saint Ignatius
