St Ignatius of Loyola - A Saint with a Spirituality of Restlessness

St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Every year on the 31st July, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola. Currently, there are 13,768 Jesuits living and working in 105 countries of the world. Even though St Ignatius did not start any women's congregations, there are many who follow the spirituality and charism set by St Ignatius. On this occasion, a few thoughts on this mystic saint!

1. St Ignatius: A man beyond his time

Perhaps one of the most charismatic figures who has contributed immensely to a spirituality of restlessness for God is St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus. The members of this Order are called Jesuits. St Ignatius of Loyola was no monk or a mendicant at all. However, for him the whole world was a monastery. Even though he spent some time at the monastery of Montserrat, Spain, with the Benedictine monks, somehow or the other, he was not attracted towards the monastic life. He saw the world as a spiritual battlefield where he had to be an active pilgrim just like his Master Lord Jesus Christ. We do not find Ignatius a man who would be stuck inside the four walls of the monastery. In fact, it was a novel idea to start an Order (Congregation) completely different from the already existing ones like Benedictines, Carthusians, Dominicans, Franciscans and so forth. The time that he started his new journey of "Salvation of oneself and of others" was during the Reformation period, when the Catholic Church was in shambles with all its ills and fallacies. In this period, Ignatius came up with a novel idea of starting an Order dedicated to the name of "Jesus" and Jesus alone, while Martin Luther, an already Augustinian Catholic monk, had thought otherwise and moved away from the Catholic Church, where he had spent so many years of his monastic life. 

2. St Ignatius: A man of intellectual rigour

When we look at the life of St Ignatius of Loyola after almost 470 years of his death, his charismatic life is still intriguing even though we might not be very near to his thoughts and actions. Ignatius was basically a man of his time; in fact, he was much ahead of his time. That is why he is so relevant for each one of us today. He could have easily joined the agenda of the Reformation; instead, he chose to defend the Catholic Church under the banner of the Cross, with the Pope as its Vicar of Christ on earth. What a bold decision indeed! A highly qualified man with a group of an immensely intellectual band of 8 other Parisian scholars with master's degrees in their bags, Ignatius was an undisputed, courageous and creative leader. Unfortunately, today, a lot of priests and nuns don't even have a Master's degree. A good number of religious think that allowing their members to earn University Degrees will encourage them to leave their congregations! 

3. St Ignatius: A man with charisma 

Ignatius' charismatic prowess comes from his deep love for God and His people. Ignatius' immense capacity to see the world through the lens of the Holy Trinity is really captivating and astonishing. Being in Rome, at the city center of the Pope's citadel, he could see the needs of the world. That is why he could send his secretary and closest friend, St Francis Xavier, to an unknown territory of India and Asia. Ignatius could see the abundance of future fruit of Xavier's missionary work in one of his very quickest decisions that he had made. Only a person who is a master of discernment could do that.  The charisma of St Ignatius comes from his charismatic personality that could attract anyone who came in touch with him. Being a Basque man, he could adapt himself to the bigger cultures and influential and potential kings' courts to get help for his men spread across the world to preach the Gospel. Ignatius could go to any extent seeking assistance for the missions which were struggling because of lack of financial support.

4. St Ignatius, who fell in love with the name of Jesus 

Ignatius was never a silent person. It does not mean that he was a noisy person; instead, he was such a brilliant communicator and marketing guru who knew exactly where to knock on the doors of someone to get the help, so that he could help his brothers to continue the mission of Jesus that was being started. He knew how to brand his little group called the "Companions of Jesus," later the "Society of Jesus," so that he could recruit the best talents to the new order. Therefore, in the first 60 years of the Society of Jesus, from 1540, the year of its founding, to 1600, there are more than 14 Jesuit saints in the Catholic Calender, in fact, pretty famous saints compared to other orders (Pierre Favre, Francis Xavier, Ignatius of Loyola, Stanisław Kostka, Francis Borgia, Aloysius Gonzaga, José de Anchieta, Peter Canisius, Alexander Briant, Edmund Campion, Robert Southwell, Joannes Soan de Goto, James Kisai, and Paul Miki. 

5. St Ignatius: A man of vision and focus

St Ignatius and his first companions knew exactly whom to serve to the best of their ability.  The number meant very little to him. During the time of St Francis of Assisi, thousands of people joined him and his way of life. But this was not the case with St Ignatius.

St Ignatius was pretty picky in his choosing new candidates to the Society of Jesus. He did not choose everyone. He chose the right ones who could bring maximum fruit for the Church. Number mattered very little to him. What mattered to him most was who could bring the best out of themselves. It was not necessarily the so-called intellectuals. The Society of Jesus had everyone, from a priest to a brother and to a female Jesuit, from an artist to an engineer, from a musician to a scientist, from a farmer to a strategist. Those who had merit, dedication and commitment, exploration and innovation, they made their place in the Society of Jesus. 

6. St Ignatius: Inspiration even today

The fascinating figure of St Ignatius is very much reflected in the person of Pope Francis, who himself was a Jesuit and one who practiced a spirituality of restlessness of St Ignatius. Even in his senior years, Pope Francis never stopped working. As long as God gave him the strength, he pulled himself along with all the health complications and never tired of doing things which were pleasing to God. That is the spirit of St Ignatius of Loyola, and that is the Spirit of Jesus who never tired of doing good even when it was tough and difficult. 

The much-revered 28th General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Pedro Arrupe (1965–1983), wrote, "One saint is more than an army of Jesuits." One who imbibes the spirit of St Ignatius cannot be satisfied with minimum and work as a maintenance manager in a fast-changing world. Ignatius had the great capacity to make quick and good decisions. He always put God first in all his decisions and actions. Discernment was not an exercise to brood over things and fill the papers in a file and move from one desk to another. Ignatius believed in discernment solely based on Spiritual Exercises. He had no consideration for his friends in his decisions. He believed in the mission of Jesus more than his friends. That is why he could ask the best person in his team to go to India when there was no such plan at all.

7. St Ignatius' call for a new vision

Fr Pedro Arrupe, who himself was a Basque like St Ignatius, understood the spirituality of his countryman very well. Fr Arrupe answered when asked about who Jesus Christ is for you. His answer was immediate and succinct: "For me Christ is EVERYTHING! He continues to be my ideal. He has been my strength... Take Jesus Christ out of my life, and this will collapse, as a body deprived of a skeleton, without head and heart."

In a world where we are so much influenced by worldly things, often we are dried branches of a healthy tree. Christ gives us strength, but we are lost in our small world, without having the capacity to see a bigger picture. St Ignatius, sitting in Rome, saw the entire world as God's work where we need to work with Christ, our brother, in his work of salvation. Therefore, Jesus called us to carry with us the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel (Right Judgment), Fortitude (Courage), Knowledge, Piety (Reverence) and Fear of the Lord. As we celebrate the life of St Ignatius of Loyola, a person who continues to influence and inspire us through his thoughts and deeds be our strength and courage to think creatively and boldly.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

29 July 2026

St Ignatius of Loyola: A Charming Soul in Contemplation of God

(Mosaic on the experience of St Ignatius of Loyola at the river Cardoner by Fr Marko Rupnik, SJ)

To listen to my audio reflections please click here 

Having learnt to pray in the manner of St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), a gift to his followers, I am fascinated by the mystic saint as I try to follow him by being a member of his Order. As the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, on 31st July, which happens to be his 465th birthday into heaven, the pilgrim saint continues to inspire. I would like to place before you a few of my personal reflections in this context. 

1. Ignatius of Loyola: A man who saw all things new in Christ

Being a man of Renaissance St Ignatius of Loyola inculcated a culture that could embrace everything with passion and zeal. His experience at the sickbed did not make him lifeless or disillusioned instead he saw newness in life. It was pilgrims' way - living in "loving awe." By reading the "Life of Christ" of Ludolf of Saxony and the "Flowers of the Saints," Ignatius turned to things which, were earlier uninteresting but now engaging and special. His curiosity brought him to a new world of ideas and projects. He begins to think seriously that life is precious and valuable only if he lives such a one as those saints like St Dominic or St Francis of Assisi. This new change in his pattern of thought opens to enter into action by embracing the new reality. Even the shattered leg does not deter him from walking the unimaginable miles as well as distant paths. He walks and moves around that he did never before. Perhaps when you are broken your very brokenness puts together to walk more. Ignatius walks but with others now.

St. Ignatius of Loyola: With a Heart Larger than the World

St Ignatius as a pilgrim

Today, we celebrate the feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus/the Jesuits.  

Born in 1491, Ignatius was a different kind of saint.  Noted Jesuit historian Fr. John O’Malley, SJ, observed, “Ignatius redefined the traditional basis of saintliness,” which usually involved a degree of unworldliness.  In contrast, Fr. O'Malley refers to Ignatius as a “worldly saint.”

Ignatius was a restless soul for Christ.  Winning souls for Christ was his endeavour and indomitable spirit.  Once Ignatius comes to know Christ in his life nothing can stop him venturing into any challenges that could bring people to Christ.  As a result he could send his friends to missions to far away including St Francis Xavier to India in 1541.  With his limited resources and personnel, Ignatius started schools and colleges, centers of catechism, a house for those who were involved in prostitution and their children in the city of Rome called Martha’s home, colleges in Rome to prepare men for the missionary work around the world especially in order to contain the damage being done to the church due to reformation in Europe.

Ignatius was a man of laymen and women of the church.  His spiritual exercises were given to lay people in order to bring them closer to Christ and his teachings.  Because, for him God can be found in this world.  Ignatius lived in a time when people thought that reaching God was possible only through intermediaries like priests, bishops and cardinals.  Therefore, he devised a spirituality that advised people that God is attainable even for simple folks and even without agents.  God is accessible directly, promptly and simply provided we have a singular devotion.  God blesses those who worship with a sincere heart.  God is experienced in everyday things and life. We find God in messiness and miseries of our life.

St Ignatius of Loyola was a self made man and a saint. Christian perfection is possible here and now. He learnt from his experiences and helped others too though various techniques and ideas like prayers of contemplation and imagination.  He says in his spiritual autobiography, that God led him like a school teacher (Auto. n. 27).   What we pray should not remain just at the theoretical level but one’s prayer should get involved in daily actions and intentions.  They should help in making this world beautiful and reachable to God. Therefore Jesuits are called today “Contemplatives in Action”.

We pray that we may truly become contemplatives in action making this world a much safer, friendlier, just and beautiful world like St Ignatius of Loyola who wished, prayed and acted.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

31st July 2019

In Everything to Love and Serve - Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Perhaps Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) is the best known figure in the world today in spite of him having lived during the reformation and counter-reformation of European history of 16th century.  His little Catholic organisation which he founded the “Society of Jesus” in 1540 which, he often called the minima compagnia/societa (little society) has stood the test of time and history.  St Ignatius is a towering figure today because he continues to inspire thousands of people to follow him and in the methods set by him.  Every year more than 400 young men join his ideals to follow the Christ Crucified under the banner the Cross with a sole purpose to love God and serve His humanity leaving behind family and wealth of the secular world. In other words, in everything to love and serve for the greater glory of God - Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (AMDG).  The Catholic Church and the Society of Jesuits/Jesuits celebrate his feast day on 31st of July every year, the day he left this world to be with his Master forever. 

Three quick takeaways from his life.

Firstly, St Ignatius showed us that we could have direct and immediate experience of God. Thus grow in familiarity with God. St Ignatius' powerful but a thin book the “Spiritual Exercises” continues to play miracles in the lives of people especially in transforming them to be the citizens of God [15]!  During Ignatius’ time people thought that we cannot go to God or experience God without some sort of agency or assistance from someone else.  Moreover the so called the theology of the indulgences strengthened this conviction that God is unattainable individually or by one's sincere efforts.  St Ignatius solved this mystery through his experiences which he would call in his “Autobiography” that God taught him as a schoolmaster teaches a child [27].  Jesuit Karl Rahner, the theologian of the 20th century drew heavily from St Ignatius in articulating his theological insights and coined a very fascinating phrase “Self-communication of God" in German Selbstmitteilung Gottes [cf. The Foundations of Christian Faith] to say that God continues to communicate himself freely and openly to each person.

Secondly, St Ignatius taught us that we could know the Will of God in our lives through a process of discernment which is also found in the “Spiritual Exercises” [169-189, 313-336].  God is ever present in our lives and His creation.  Just like St Augustine who said that our hearts are made only for God and they rest solely in Him, so too, St Ignatius wrote very well in the "Principle and Foundation" [Sp Ex 23] that we are made for God and whole creation is a help in order to reach that God who created us to praise, reverence, and serve God and by means of doing this to save one's soul.  In the Contemplation to Attain Love [Sp Ex 230-237] St Ignatius taught us to find God in all things and all things in Him.  A truly inclusive idea he put forward much before the modern man could think of.  All his attention was on humanity’s salvation and is possible if we know God’s will and see God present and active in the world and in our lives.

Thirdly, St Ignatius contributed a thought that is still applicable today, that is God/Christ centeredness and other centeredness which, should be the hallmark of our lives.  St Ignatius is very clear that we are not permanent and eternal stakeholders of this world.  As finite and unfinished realities, we will have to make sure that we are not the masters of this world but stewards of this universe.  This means, we should have a heart for everyone and our hands should reach out to each person including the least and the lost in the world.  St Ignatius himself started a house for destitute women of Rome - Casa Santa Martha and founded an orphanage in the Eternal City.  He also set a few rules in the Spiritual Exercises on Almsgiving [337-344].  He sent his first compañero Francis Xavier to Asia in order to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ, Simon Rodrigues to Portugal, Peter Faber to the European countries where Catholic Church was disintegrating because of Martin Luther’s reformation stunt.  St Ignatius wanted put Christ at the center of the Church and the world and not personal or national interests.

St Ignatius is still relevant to us to experience God directly in the world, to know God’s will in our lives and put God in the center of our lives.  In other words, in everything to love and serve, en todo amar y servir.

Olvin Veigas