Ignatius of Loyola: an ancient figure for an always relevant teaching

What happened on September 27th, 1540?
To understand, we need to delve into a brief historical excursion.

Iñigo López, later known as Ignatius of Loyola, was an aristocratic Basque knight at the Royal Court of Spain. In his youth, Iñigo made pleasures his daily bread: war, glory, honor, and power feasted at his table. His skill with the sword and his loyalty to the Crown of Spain led him to defend the castle of Pamplona against a French siege, where he was struck by a cannonball, severely injuring both his legs.

His physical and spiritual being emerged profoundly affected by this defeat, marking the moment of his conversion. During his recovery, he read some religious texts and became fascinated by the figure of Jesus and certain saints. Consolations and desolations became the forces that brought him down and lifted him up: in Paris, where he deepened his studies to better serve the Lord, he met some students who, like him, decided to dedicate their lives to being “companions of Jesus”.

These companions then offered themselves in service to the Pope and the weakest, making themselves available to depart for the Holy Land. However, the journey never started due to political instability in relations with the Middle East, preventing the company from setting sail. The companions temporarily returned to their respective homelands, dividing themselves, to dedicate their time to the needy and vulnerable ones.

After reuniting, it was only in 1539 that they decided to concretize their vocation: the Formula of the Institute represented the first legislative, curial, and juridical nucleus of the Society of Jesus, whose members devoted themselves to serving souls, the poor, children, and the Pope in the service of the Church. Shortly thereafter, on September 27th, 1540, Pope Paul III officially approved the birth of the Society of Jesus with the papal bull Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae. This is the official date of the Jesuits’ foundation.

On the day of remembrance of the founding of the Society of Jesus, we want to lift our prayers to the Lord for allowing us to continue to benefit from the teachings of Ignatius of Loyola today and to pass them on to future generations. The core principles upon which the Society of Jesus was founded have endured over time, demonstrating the faith of the faithful and the modernity of these values, which have endured to this day. It is with this determination, this faith, and this spirit of service that the Society of Jesus continues to make itself available to anyone in need.

The educational and anthropological vision that guides educational efforts in schools and colleges of the Society of Jesus worldwide is based on the core values of Ignatian spirituality.