The Autobiography of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

by Ignatius of Loyola

The Autobiography of St. Ignatius provides a captivating glimpse into the life of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Written in his own words, it chronicles his transformative journey from a soldier to a devout spiritual leader, detailing his profound experiences and the development of his faith. This work not only highlights Ignatius's dedication to God but also serves as a foundational text for understanding the principles of Jesuit spirituality and education.

80 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius paid particular attention to the spiritual formation of his recruits and recorded his method in the Spiritual Exercises (published in Latin in 1548). In time, the method has become known as Ignatian spirituality. Ignatius was described by Pope Benedict XVI as being above all a man of God, who gave the first place of his life to God, and a man of profound prayer. Together with Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, he founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits), and became its first Superior General, in Paris in 1541. He envisioned the purpose of the Society of Jesus to be missionary work and teaching. In addition to the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty of other religious orders in the church, Loyola instituted a fourth vow for Jesuits of obedience to the Pope, to engage in projects ordained by the pontiff. Jesuits were instrumental in leading the Counter-Reformation. He was beatified and then on March 12, 1622, was canonized. His feast day is July 31. He is the patron saint of the Basque historical territories of Guipúzcoa and Biscay and the Society of Jesus, among other things. He was declared patron saint of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

IGNATIUS' JOURNEY FROM SOLDIER TO SAINT

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Spanish priest and theologian, who founded the Jesuits and was its first Superior General, as well as a leader of the Counter-Reformation. He also wrote the famous 'Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius.'

This book does not cover Ignatius's entire life; it begins when he was 26, and "a man given over to vanities of the world; with a great and vain desire to win fame he delighted especially in the exercise of arms" (Pg. 21), and ends in 1538.

Writing in the third person throughout, he stated, "he wanted to practice three virtues---charity, faith, and hope. If he took a companion, he would expect help from him ... but he wanted to place that confidence, affection, and hope in God alone." (Pg. 41-42) As he studied, "one thing distressed him a good deal, and that was when he began memorize, as is necessary at the beginning of grammar, new understanding of spiritual things and new pleasures came to him in such a way that he could not memorize, nor could he drive them away no matter how much he tried." (Pg. 59)

In the region of Spain in which he was preaching, he observed that young girls "always went about with their heads uncovered and did not cover them until they were married. But there were many women who had become concubines of priests ... who were as faithful to them as though they were their wives. This was so common that the concubines were not at all ashamed to say that they had covered their heads for so and so, and they were known as belonging to so and so. Much evil arose from this custom." (Pg. 83)

He makes an oblique reference to his famous 'Spiritual Exercises': 'he had not made up the exercises all at once, but that when he found some things were helpful to his soul, he thought they might also be helpful to others, and so he put them in writing." (Pg. 92)

Often surprising, this book also provides useful background for his 'Spiritual Exercises.'