Ignatius was born into a noble Basque family in 1491. In his autobiography he tells us that until the age of 26 he was “a man given over to the vanities of the world and took special delight in the exercise of arms with a great and vain desire of winning glory.” An act of reckless heroism at the Battle of Pamplona in 1521 led to his being seriously wounded. During his convalescence at Loyola, Ignatius experienced a profound spiritual awakening. Following his recovery and an arduous period of retreat, a call to be Christ’s knight in the service of God’s kingdom was deepened and confirmed.

Ignatius began to share the fruits of his experience with others, making use of a notebook which eventually became the text of the Spiritual Exercises. Since his time, many have found the Exercises to be a way of encountering Christ as intimate companion and responding to Christ’s call: “Whoever wishes to come with me must labor with me.”

The fact that Ignatius was an unschooled layman made him suspect in the eyes of church authorities and led him, at the age of 37, to study theology at the University of Paris in preparation for the priesthood. While there, Ignatius gave the Exercises to several of his fellow students; and in 1534, he and six companions took vows to live lives of strict poverty and to serve the needs of the poor. Thus, what later came to be known as the Society of Jesus was born.

In 1540 the Society was formally recognized, and Ignatius became its first Superior General. According to his journals and many of his letters, a profound sense of sharing God’s work in union with Christ made the season of intense activity which followed a time of great blessing and consolation.

Ignatius died on July 31st, 1556, in the simple room which served both as his bedroom and chapel, having sought God in all things and having tried to do all things for God’s greater glory.