Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola

  •   Thu, Jul 31 2025
  •   By Pratapananda Naik SJ
July 31

Today Jesuits celebrate the Feast of their founder St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius was born in Spain. As a soldier, he was wounded in a battle. During his convalescence, he read the books on the  life of Christ and the lives of  saints. He decided to follow Jesus. 
 
At Paris, while studying post graduation in M. A., he attracted nine more companions(Fr. Peter Faber, Francis Xavier, James Laínez, Alfonso Salmerón, Nicolas Bobadilla,  Simon Rodrigues, Claude Jay, Paschase Broet, and Jean Codure) and founded the Society of Jesus (SJ). It was officially approved on 27th September 1540 by Pope Paul III. When Ignatius died in 1556, there were approximately 1000 Jesuits. 
 
 
Due to various reasons, SJ was suppressed on 21st July 1773 by Pope Clement XIV. But his decree was not implemented in China, Russia, and Prussia. Hence, a few Jesuits continued their works. In 1814, SJ was restored by Pope Pius VII. SJ began to flourish. 
 
The highest number of Jesuits 36,038 was in 1965. Then it began to decline. When I joined SJ in 1971, the number was 31,745. Now as on 1st January 2025, the number is 13,768 including priests, brothers, scholastics, and novices. In India there are 18 SJ provinces and one region Kohima. In Sri Lanka there is only one province. Including India and Sri Lanka there are 3,058 Jesuits. 
Jesuits are working in 112 countries. 
 
Jesuits have contributed practically in all fields of knowledge including education,  mathematics, research, astronomy, botany,  science, social sciences,  arts, music, medicine, architecture, literature, geography, artificial intelligence, etc. 
 
Fr. Christopher Clavius ( 1538-1612) played the key role in the development of the Gregorian Calendar which we use now. The first printing press in Asia was installed by the Jesuits at Old Goa in 1556. 
 
The grafting technology to Goa was brought by the Jesuits and gave different Portuguese surnames to local mangoes, such as Costa, Furtado, Afonso, Colaço, Xavier, Fernandin, Monserrate, etc. There is a mango variety in Benaulim, Goa known as Jesuit.
 
The education for common people and especially to women in Goa was introduced by Jesuits at St Paul College, Old Goa in the 16th century. Most of the churches in Salcette and of Tiswadi talukas of Goa, Rachol Seminary were built and managed by the Jesuits till they were expelled by the Portuguese in 1759. 
 
The list of Jesuit contributions to knowledge, education, and spirituality is never ending.
 
There are 35 craters on the Moon that are named after Jesuit astronomers. These craters were named in recognition of the significant contributions made by Jesuit scientists to the field of astronomy and mapping the Moon's surface. 
 
Jesuits draw their inspiration and strength from the life, teaching of Jesus and from the life of Ignatius of Loyola and his writings. From the writings of St Ignatius, I give importance to his 8 principles which govern and shape the lives and works of Jesuits.
 
1. Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam. All for the greater glory of God. The sole goal of a Jesuit should be to give glory to God and not to oneself. It is often abbreviated as AMDG. This phrase serves as the motto of the SJ  and reflects their commitment to doing all things with the intention of glorifying God.
 
2. Magis. The Latin word magis translates to "more" or "greater." In the context of  Ignatian Spirituality, it represents a call to constantly strive for more in service to God and others, not just in quantity but also in quality and depth. It's about seeking the "greater good" and striving for excellence in all endeavors Work for greater good.
 
3. Tantum Quantum. The use of everything as much as it is needed. It is often used to indicate a limit or extent, suggesting a consideration of only what is necessary or relevant.
 
4. Cura personalis cura apostolica. "Cura personalis" translates to "care for the whole person," emphasizing individualized attention to a person's unique needs and potential. "Cura apostolica" refers to the care given to the work and commitments of the Jesuits. Good of the person and good of the apostolate must be kept in mind. A healthy balance must be maintained between these two.
 
5. Deum in omnibus rebus invenire. In Ignatian spirituality, "finding God in all things" means recognizing God's presence and activity in every aspect of life, not just in religious settings or activities. It's about developing a sensitivity to God's presence in the ordinary and extraordinary, the joyful and painful experiences, and even in one another. This perspective encourages a way of seeing the world as infused with God's love and grace, prompting a deeper engagement with life and a more profound relationship with the divine. 
 
6. Ora et labora. Prayer and work must go hand in hand with a balanced approach. The integration of spiritual practice (prayer) and physical labor in a balanced and meaningful life.
 
7. Discretionem. Discernment of spirits. Jesuits’ life is governed by discernment. They have to carefully discern what is the will of God in everything they do. In Ignatian spirituality, discernment of spirits refers to the practice of understanding the different "spiritual movements" within oneself, identifying their sources (good or bad), and discerning which path aligns with God's will. It's about recognizing the influence of both positive (Godly) and negative (worldly or even demonic) forces on one's thoughts, feelings, and desires, and making choices accordingly. 
 
8. Amar y servir.  The Spanish phrase "amar y servir" translates to "to love and to serve" in English. It often appears in the context of Ignatian Spirituality, where it signifies a call to express God's love through actions of service, particularly to those in need. It emphasizes that love is not just an emotion, but something that should be actively demonstrated through acts of service and kindness. 
 
A Happy Feast of St Ignatius. Through his intercession, all of us may get the necessary grace to serve God in our own way to the best of our ability. 

Have a nice day.
 
 
 
By Pratapananda Naik SJ
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Comment on this article

  • Anil, Mangalore

    Fri, Aug 01 2025

    Very nice article. St. Ignatius of Loyola was Spanish. I’ve been to Spain, and I found the priests and Catholic people there to be incredibly kind and helpful—true Christians.


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