Ignatius of Loyola: Founder of the Jesuits

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Ignatius of Loyola’s real name was Inigo Lopez de Onaz y Loyola. He was named Inigo until he reached the University of Paris, in which he was named Ignatius. Ignatius was born at the Castle Loyola, which still stands today in northern Spain, on the edge of the Pyrenees Mountains. He was born in 1491, but there are no records of which show the exact date. His mother was Marina Sanchez de Licona and his father was named Beltran. His father, Beltran, fought in a civil war for King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. Inigo was the youngest of the thirteen children they had, but his mother died shortly after he was born. So he went to live with a nurse, Maria Garin, instead of living with his father in his castle. He learned to speak Bosque with Maria instead of learning Castilian, or Spanish, with his father.
Although his mother had died shortly after he was born, he may have benefited from this. “Biographers interested in psychological history have speculated on how the lack of contact with his mother influenced his development and personality” (2). Since he was the youngest, he could learn from his other brothers and sisters. His brothers were involved in war, control, and priesthood. Would Inigo follow the same path? The oldest brother, Juan, fought with the Spanish army, but died in Naples in the Battle of Atella in 1506. Beltran, another brother, fought and died in Naples as well. Pero, the second youngest brother, became a priest and served in the church at Azpeitia. Martin Garcia, the oldest brother when Juan died, became heir to most of their parents’ rights and property. As we can see, his brothers were involved with war, control, and priesthood and since his mother had died after he was born, his personality could develop into what one or more of his fellow brothers had done.
Ignatius was a strong man. He went through some very painful times, ones suffered during war. During one attack by the French, Inigo was struck by a small cannon ball. His right leg became shattered and his left leg was wounded. Since he was severely hurt, he became a server gentleman, and not a soldier, which he wanted to become. In the attack by the French, Inigo could have retreated with Beaumont, a commander, but he wished to defend the city and show how strong he actually was. Even though he was severely injured, he would not let the injury stop him from doi...

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...gnatius was the leader of the Jesuits, he relied mainly on his early companions. These early companions were named co-founders of the Jesuits. At the time of Ignatius’ death, the Jesuits were divided into eleven provinces. “Loyola and his early companions planned to devote themselves to preaching, administering communion and confession serving as missionaries, and teaching children catechism” (127). Although Ignatius and the Jesuits did not plan to get into education or running schools, but by the time he died, there were more than thirty schools being operated. Along with Ignatius not wanting schools, he also did not want a female branch of the Jesuits. It got to the point where legal actions had taken place where Isabel Roser wrote a letter to Paul III to allow the women to take the vows of the Jesuits. Ignatius did not want this to happen, but Paul III granted the women’s request. Ignatius believed that the women should be nuns and stay in their convents and pray, where the Jesuit life was to help others.
Ignatius Loyola died on July 31, 1556 because of health problems. His two legacies were his book, The Spiritual Exercises, and founding the Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus.

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