St. Ignatius of Loyola
Patron Saint of the Jesuits
St. Ignatius of Loyola was headed for a prominent military career when he was struck by a cannonball in the leg. During his long road to recovery, he read works of theology, leading to his conversion. Ignatius then spent years studying the faith and discerning his vocation. In 1539, along with St. Francis Xavier and St. Peter Faber, Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus as an order to be focused on both missionary work and teaching. Ignatius was the first Superior General of the Jesuits, helping lay the groundwork for the order and providing a foundation for the order in their missionary and Counter-Reformation efforts. Ignatius is also remembered for his spirituality which remains the basis for Jesuit spirituality today: “ad majorem Dei gloriam” or “for the greater glory of God”. His spiritual practices, published in the Spiritual Exercises in 1548, remain instrumental in discernment today.