Saint Ignatius of Loyola
- Feast
- 31 July
- Patron of
- soldiers, retreats, the Jesuits and the Basque Country
Íñigo López de Loyola was born in 1491 in the Basque country of Spain and raised as a courtier and soldier. In 1521 a cannonball shattered his leg at the siege of Pamplona. Later, studying in Paris, he gathered the companions who became the Society of Jesus, approved by the pope in 1540. He died in Rome in 1556.
During his long recovery, with no romances to hand, he read a life of Christ and lives of the saints, and his life turned. Out of his own conversion he wrote the Spiritual Exercises, still the pattern for Catholic retreats. Painters show him in a black cassock, often with a book bearing the Jesuit motto, "For the greater glory of God".
A strong choice for a young man drawn to discipline and adventure. Ignatius turned a soldier's ambition towards God, and his daily examen, an honest look back over each day, is a habit anyone can keep for life.
The print of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola?
The feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola is kept on 31 July.
What is Saint Ignatius of Loyola the patron saint of?
Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the patron saint of soldiers, retreats, the Jesuits and the Basque Country.
Is Saint Ignatius of Loyola a good confirmation saint?
A strong choice for a young man drawn to discipline and adventure. Ignatius turned a soldier's ambition towards God, and his daily examen, an honest look back over each day, is a habit anyone can keep for life.
Is Saint Ignatius of Loyola the patron saint of people named Ignatius?
Yes. Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the traditional name saint for anyone called Ignatius, Ignacio, Ignazio, Ignace and Iñigo, and the feast on 31 July is their name day.
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Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours