St. Ignatius of Loyola
Author: Unknown
Origin: Unknown
Dating: 18th century (?)
Material: Oil on copper plating
Dimensions (cm): 72,9 x 61,5
Inv. no.: PNA661 / PD0729dep / PNA66707
Ignatius of Loyola (Basque Country, 1491 – Rome, 1556) – born Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola – was the son of a noble Christian family and the youngest of thirteen siblings.
In 1506, he became a page to the chief accountant of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and, a few years later, entered the service of the Viceroy of Navarre.
In 1517, he joined the Spanish army, dedicating himself to a military career. During the siege of Pamplona (1521), by French forces, he was severely wounded. It was during his long recovery period that he discovered his calling.
Starting in 1523, Ignatius of Loyola began his pilgrimages and retreats: he went to Barcelona and then to Rome, with the objective of obtaining a papal passport to continue his journey to Jerusalem.
In 1528, he went to Paris, where he studied theology, philosophy and sciences; deciding to dedicate himself to the conversion of Muslims to Christianity (it was at this time that he changed his name to Ignatius).
In 1534 – together with six companions – he founded the Jesuit Order (approved by Pope Paul III in 1540), a religious order with missionary and educational purposes, created to counter the proliferation of Protestantism in Europe.
One of the great works by Saint Ignatius was the book “Spiritual Exercises” (published in 1548), which he wrote over the years. This book presents itself as a prayer guide that helps to reach contemplation on Jesus Christ and divine love.
Ignatius died in Rome at the age of 65. He was beatified on December 3, 1609, by Pope Paul V, and canonized on March 12, 1622, by Pope Gregory XV. His remains may be venerated in the Church of Jesus (Rome) – better known as the Gesù – the mother church of the Jesuits.
Traditionally, he is represented in a Jesuit habit, with a chasuble, an open book, a cross, a rod or a flag.
He is the patron saint of spiritual exercises, retreats, of Jesuits, soldiers, educators and of the Basque Country.
