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Friends of the Rosary,

Today, July 31, 1556, is the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Jesuits.

Ignatius was born to a noble family at Loyola in the Kingdom of Navarre.

After a cannonball fractured his left leg in 1521, while he was Captain Ignatius Loyola at the siege of Pampeluna, this soldier started to read about Christ and His saints, turning wholly to God.

He would equip himself for Christ’s service through a good classical and theological education. Later, he composed the admirable book Spiritual Exercises.

The members of the Society of Jesus became the Church’s shock troops in the battle against the spread of Protestantism in Europe.

After his convalescence, he went to Montserrat in Barcelona and hung up his arms before the altar of the Blessed Virgin. Then, he entered upon his knighthood in the army of Christ.

He had gotten a solid education in theology, grammar, and arts, while undergoing the hardest trials, even imprisonment and beatings, almost to death. He desired to suffer far more for the glory of his Lord.

At Paris, he was joined by nine companions from that University, men of different nations, who had taken their degrees in Arts and Theology. At Montmartre, he laid the first foundation of the Society of Jesus.

Ignatius sent St. Francis Xavier to preach the Gospel in the Indies. He dispersed others to spread the Christian faith in other nations, thus declaring war against paganism, superstition, and heresy, including Luther and the heretics of his time.

He made the restoration of piety among Catholics his first care, increasing the beauty of the sacred buildings, the giving of catechetical instructions, the frequency of sermons, and the sacraments.

He opened schools everywhere to educate the youth, women of evil lives, orphans, and other vulnerable people.

He devoted himself to serving God and rescuing his neighbor, and his power over the demons was extraordinary.

St. Philip Neri and others saw his countenance shining with heavenly light.

Ignatius of Loyola was celebrated for miracles and his great services to the Church.

Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Pray for Us!

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

To Jesus through Mary!

+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

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