After decades of delay since I first attended catechism as a teenager only to leave it unfinished, I never imagined that I would one day complete the full initiation process as an adult at once. When I finally joined the initiation program, my focus was being baptized as a Catholic. But to my surprise, I ended up receiving not only the Sacrament of Baptism, but also Confirmation and First Holy Communion all in one sacred and unforgettable liturgy. The celebration took place just a week before Holy Week, a timing that felt deeply meaningful and looking back, I can’t help but see God’s quiet hand at work. If baptism marked the beginning of my formal journey into the Catholic Church, then the Sacrament of Confirmation was the next step in deepening that commitment. If Baptism as symbolized by the cleansing power of holy water marked the beginning of my formal journey into the Catholic Church, then the Sacrament of Confirmation was the next step in deepening that commitment through the anointing with holy oil (called chrism oil). And with the Eucharist, received for the first time through Holy Communion, I was drawn even closer — partaking fully in the mystery of Christ’s presence and becoming truly united with the Body of Christ, both spiritually and sacramentally.
This sacrament signifies the indelible spiritual mark that sets the confirmed person apart as a mature Christian witness. The oil, rich with symbolic meaning, represents strength, healing, and being chosen by God, much like how kings and prophets were anointed in the Old Testament. Confirmation is not simply a "graduation" from religious education, it is an act of missioning as the recipient is empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out their faith boldly, take greater responsibility in the Church, and bear witness to Christ in daily life. In Church tradition, this Sacrament of Confirmation is often accompanied by the taking of a saint’s name as a spiritual patron to walk with us in faith. When I received my Confirmation, the name Ignatius was given to me by the Church referring to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. Unlike my baptismal name, which I had chosen myself, this time the name was assigned to me by the catechist team as a prayer or a hope for the kind of faith I would continue to grow into. Over time, I began to learn more about St. Ignatius and came to appreciate how his life and spirituality could speak meaningfully into my own. It has since taken on a deeply personal meaning, one that continues to grow in significance as I walk this journey of faith.
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Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) by Francisco Zurbaran (1600s)
From Royal Collection of the United Kingdom via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain) |
Saint Ignatius of Loyola was one of the most influential Roman Catholic figures of the 16th-century Reformation and the principal founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Born Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola on 23 October 1491, he was the youngest of thirteen children, raised in the ancestral Loyola castle in Azpeitia, located in the Basque region of Spain. As a young man, Ignatius served as a page to Juan Velázquez de Cuéllar, a relative and treasurer of the Kingdom of Castile. By the age of 26, he had entered military service under Antonio Manrique de Lara, the Duke of Nájera and Viceroy of Navarre, who also entrusted him with various diplomatic missions. A turning point came in 1521, during his youthful pursuit of honor and glory as a nobleman. While defending the citadel of Pamplona against the French, Ignatius was struck by a cannonball, severely injuring both legs. He was taken back to Loyola to recover, but his condition worsened and required a long convalescence. During his recovery, he asked for books of chivalry and romance to pass the time, but none were available. Instead, he was given religious texts including stories about Jesus and the lives of the saints. To his own surprise, these readings deeply moved him. Inspired by their examples, he made a radical decision, to abandon his former ways and dedicate his life to God, following the path of the saints in penance and devotion.
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Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Vision of Christ and God the Father at La Storta by Domenichino (c.1622)
From Collection of Los Angeles County Museum of Art via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain) |
With firm resolve, Ignatius left his family and journeyed to the pilgrimage site of Montserrat in northeastern Spain. There, he spent three days in deep confession and left his sword and dagger at the altar of the statue of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing his renunciation of worldly ambitions and his former military life. He then spent nearly a year in Manresa, near Barcelona, living in poverty and dedicating himself to daily Mass, prayer, fasting, and penance. During this intense period of spiritual transformation—much of it spent in a cave now known as the Cave of Saint Ignatius, where a church stands today—he experienced profound enlightenment. It was here that he began drafting the early ideas for what would become his greatest work, the Exercitia Spiritualia (Spiritual Exercises). At the age of 33, Ignatius realized that his former life as a soldier had not prepared him for religious teaching, and that he needed proper education to pursue his new calling. So, at an age when most men had already completed their studies, he returned to the basics—studying Latin and grammar in Barcelona alongside schoolchildren. From there, he advanced to study philosophy and theology in Alcalá, Salamanca, and finally Paris, where he eventually earned his Master’s degree at Collège de Sainte-Barbe. Altogether, he spent about 11 to 12 years in formal education, driven by a deep desire to preach and teach under the full authority of the Church.
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The statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola by Camillo Rusconi (1733), located in St. Peter’s Basilica, holding a copy of his Spiritual Exercises, with his motto Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God) inscribed on the book
Image by AlfvanBeem via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
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It was during this time (around 1534) that he formed a spiritual brotherhood with six companions including Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, who would become the first Jesuits. Ignatius left Paris for health reasons and spent time in Spain, Bologna, and Venice, continuing his private studies. In Venice, 1537, he and his companions were ordained as priests, even though they hadn’t yet founded the Jesuits officially. During this time, Ignatius had a mystical vision: he saw Christ carrying the cross and heard God the Father telling Jesus to accept Ignatius as His servant. This profound vision affirmed Ignatius' calling and by 1539, Ignatius and his companions decided to formally found a new permanent order. Besides taking the three traditional religious vows that are common to most religious orders in the Catholic Church: vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, they add another vow which is obedience to the Pope. This is a distinctive vow of the Jesuit order which expresses their readiness to be sent anywhere in the world at the Pope’s command, especially for missionary work and service to the Church. This vow reflects their deep commitment to the universal mission of the Church and makes them available for any apostolic task, particularly in challenging or far-flung places. In 1540, Pope Paul III officially approved their order Societatis Jesu or the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
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Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù in Rome is the mother church of the Jesuit order
and the final resting place of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Image by Alejo2083 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Following establishment, Ignatius was chosen by his companions to become the order's first leader as Superior General, but he rejected. In a second round of election a few days later, again Ignatius gained an almost unanimous vote, except the one of his own choice. Still unsure, he finally accepted the role after being convinced that this is the will of God. The Society of Jesus developed rapidly under his management and by the time Ignatius died in 1556, the Jesuits had grown rapidly with around 1,000 members in 12 regions, including Europe, India, and Brazil. The Jesuits are well renowned for sending great missionaries like St. Francis Xavier to Asia and St. Peter Canisius to Germany. Arguably the most important work of his was the composition of the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus which act as reformation to some traditional forms of the monastic life, such as physical punishments, chanting the divine office and penitential garb, in favor of greater adaptability and mobility. The motto of the Jesuits, Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (frequently abbreviated as AMDG) or For the Greater Glory of God expresses the Jesuits’ core mission and spirituality—that everything they do (studies, teaching, missionary work, prayer, service) should be offered to glorify God, not for personal gain or recognition.
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Tomb of St. Ignatius of Loyola, designed by Andrea Pozzo, located in the Church of the Gesù in Rome,
an ornate Baroque masterpiece honoring the Jesuit founder
Image by Torvindus via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Ignatius spent his final years in Rome, tirelessly guiding the Society of Jesus and laying the foundations for its future. Despite frequent illness, he continued to lead the order until his death on 31 July 1556. He was buried in the Church of the Gesù in Rome, where his grand tomb by Andrea Pozzo still stands today. Saint Ignatius of Loyola was beatified in 1609 by Pope Paul V and canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, alongside other great saints such as Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Teresa of Ávila. In 1922, Pope Pius XI declared him the patron saint of all spiritual retreats, recognizing his profound influence on Christian spirituality through the Spiritual Exercises. He is also honored as a patron of soldiers, a fitting tribute given his youthful background as a soldier before his conversion—a time that shaped both his discipline and spiritual rigor. Throughout his life, Ignatius often referred to himself as a pilgrim, a title that reflected his journey of constant interior conversion and surrender to God’s will. As we walk through this Jubilee Year 2025, marked by the theme of being “Pilgrims of Hope,” the life of St. Ignatius reminds us that faith itself is a pilgrimage—sometimes marked by wounds, detours, and long formation—but always guided by grace. Like Ignatius, we are invited to walk our journey with intention and openness, seeking not our own glory, but Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam—for the greater glory of God.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Doctor of the Church
Religious Order Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
Patronage Spiritual retreats, soldiers, educators, Jesuit institutions
Feast Day 31 July
Born 23 October 1491 in Azpeitia, Basque Country, Spain
Died 31 July 1556 in Rome, Papal States
Burial Site Church of the Gesù, Rome, Italy
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