Ignatius of Loyola: Soldierly or Spiritual? Quiz

Answer: Page

Born in 1491, Íńigo López de Loyola was the youngest of thirteen children. His name, Íńigo, means "My Little One". Perhaps that is why he began using the name "Ignatius" later in life; although the exact reason is unknown, he did take the name Loyola as a nod to the castle and town of his birth. Today the Sanctuary of Loyola is built on the site of his birthplace in Azpeitia, Basque Country.

He began as a page for a relative, Juan Velázquez de Cuéllar, who was the "contador mayor", or treasurer, of Castile.

Some sources say that Ignatius worked in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella.

Answer: Reading romances

As a young boy, Ignatius especially liked reading romances, stories of adventure that typically featured a knight-in-training who was on some sort of quest. Tales such as "El Cid" (Spanish epic poem) and "La Chanson de Roland" (French epic poem) were his favorites, along with stories of King Arthur and his knights.

As a young man, Ignatius' actions imply that he intended to follow on this same path. He joined the army at the age of seventeen; one of his biographers described him "with his cape slinging open to reveal his tight-fitting hose and boots; a sword and dagger at his waist". Given the fact that he obviously loved the military, is it any surprise that he is the patron saint of soldiers?

Answer: True

One of his well-known duels was with a Moor; Ignatius was said to have run his sword through the man because he refused to recognize the divinity of Christ. There are also accounts, according to one biographer, that he committed atrocities in the company of one of his brothers who was a priest. Being a priest or with a priest meant that one could commit crimes without the risk of prosecution or repercussion.

Answer: Cannonball

Ignatius had apparently been a soldier for quite some time before the injury occurred. When he was eighteen he was given the title Servant of the Court by the Duke of Nájera, but there is not much information about the twelve year period of time between his appointment and the accident. During the Battle of Pamplona (1521) a cannonball ricocheted off the wall and struck his leg, causing a devastating injury.

He was taken back to the family home, where he had many surgeries in the attempt to repair the leg.

It must be remembered that there was really no such thing as using painkillers during surgery at this time, and Ignatius had a lengthy, painful recovery. In spite of the fact that he had several surgeries, Ignatius was left with a limp for the rest of his life, and his military career was over.

Answer: True

While rehabilitating, Ignatius asked for his favorite reading material. None of those stories were available - as he as in a hospital run by a religious order - and instead he was given a book about the saints, and one called "De Vita Christi", which translates as the "Life Of Christ".

Not only was the book biographical, but it also included excerpts from others writers, stimulating both spiritual meditation and much introspection about his past. He found that reading the religious books provided comfort, but trying to decide how he could continue his assistance to the king, and how he could woo his lady caused discontentment.

He came to the decision that he needed to make a religious pilgrimage, and received a vision from the Virgin Mary and Christ on the banks of a river that ran through Manresa, a town in Catalonia, where he was staying at a monastery.

He thought that the vision showed approval for his decision to make the pilgrimage.

Answer: Become more skilled in Latin

Ignatius was thirty-three years old by the time he had done what he called "stricter penance" for past sins and returned from a brief visit to the Holy Land. Obviously he could read, but he was not literate in Latin. He had to spend some time at a grammar school before being admitted into the University of Alcalá, where he studied theology and Latin for ten years.

After that he went to France and continued his studies at the Collčge de Montaigu for seven additional years.

Answer: Preaching without a degree

The first incident with the Inquisition occurred while Ignatius was in Barcelona honing his skills and preparing himself to attend a higher school of learning. He was preaching in the street when some women of a group, the Illuminati, that the Spanish Inquisition found suspicious, had violent reactions to what he was saying - going into convulsions and the like.

The problem was that Ignatius was preaching without a degree in theology. His second brush with the Inquisition was after the writing of his book.

He had to undergo questioning before the pope would give permission for publication.

Answer: Society of Jesus

Ignatius met what would become a very tight, eclectic circle of friends while at the University of Paris. In 1539 they formed the Society of Jesus. Interestingly, at the time of their pledge to work together, there was only one member of the group who was a priest.

After the group received validation from the pope, Ignatius was chosen to be the Superior General and was bestowed with the title Father General. He continued on as the leader of the group until his death fifteen years later. During this time he was involved in composing the Jesuit Constitution and dictating his autobiography to his secretary.

Answer: Spiritual Exercises

While Ignatius was a young man recovering from the injury to his leg, he learned about a form of meditation, which eventually he wrote about in his book, "Spiritual Exercises" (1548). He had learned about the teachings of Garcia de Cisneros while staying with Benedictine monks in Catalonia, and these teachings eventually formed the basis of his book.

The book outlined the use of a devotion that was divided into parts so that it could be used over a month's time. It contained prayers, and meditations aimed at leading readers to spiritual enlightenment as they studied topics such as sin, God's mercy, the life, passion, and resurrection of Christ, and God's love for man.

Answer: Counter Reformation

Let's face it, the Roman Catholic Church lost a lot of members during the Reformation. Many were upset with some of the practices of the Church, so some type of reform movement was necessary. Going out as missionaries, eventually converting and educating people worldwide, the Jesuits are credited with having brought MILLIONS into the Catholic Church, a stated goal of the Counter Reformation movement.

Not only did they bring new members into the Church, but they also helped practicing Catholics reconnect with the Church and its teachings.