author
Saint of Loyola Ignatius
1491–1556
A wounded soldier who reinvented himself as a spiritual guide, he went on to found the Jesuits and shape Catholic life far beyond his own century. His story is full of sharp turns: courtly ambition, painful recovery, deep prayer, and practical leadership.
2 Audiobooks
The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius : adapted to an eight days retreat and six triduums in preparation for the semi-annual renovation of the vows, all for the use of Jesuits only
by Saint of Loyola Ignatius, Charles Coppens
The Autobiography of St. Ignatius
by Saint of Loyola Ignatius
About the author
Born in the Basque region of Spain in 1491, Ignatius of Loyola began adult life as a courtier and soldier. A serious leg injury during the defense of Pamplona changed everything: while recovering, he read religious works and began the inner conversion that redirected his life.
He spent years in prayer, pilgrimage, and study, experiences that helped form the spiritual wisdom later gathered in the Spiritual Exercises. After studying in Spain and Paris, he gathered a small group of companions who would become the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits.
Ignatius was approved as the order's first leader and spent his later years in Rome guiding a movement devoted to education, missionary work, and careful spiritual discernment. He died in 1556, but his way of combining disciplined thought, active service, and reflective prayer has remained influential ever since.