The
Jesuits had quite an important role in my education and spiritual formation. My
spiritual director in the Seminary was a Jesuit as were many of my priest
friends. My two nephews were educated in a school run by the Jesuits, and which
has actually produced quite a few well‑known people in Malta. Jesuits have
provided many good priests, many of whom have dedicated their lives to work in
the missions. We thank St Ignatius of Loyola, their founder, whose feast we
celebrate today.
St.
Ignatius was born in the family castle in Guipúzcoa, Spain, the youngest of 13
children, and was called Iñigo. When he was old enough, he became a page, and
then a soldier of Spain to fight against the French. A cannon ball shattered
his leg and subsequently, a series of bad operations ended his military career
in 1521. While St. Ignatius recovered, he started reading the Bible and the
lives of the saints, and decided to dedicate himself to becoming a soldier of
the Catholic Faith.
Soon
after he experienced visions, but a year later suffered a trial of fears and
scruples, driving him almost to despair. Out of this experience he wrote his
famous "Spiritual Exercises". After traveling and studying in
different schools, he finished in Paris, where he received his degree at the
age of 43. Many first hated St. Ignatius because of his humble lifestyle.
Despite this, he attracted several followers at the university, including St.
Francis Xavier, and soon started his order called The Society of Jesus, or
Jesuits.
He was a
gifted spiritual director, and has been described by Pope Benedict XVI as “being above all a man of God and a man of
profound prayer who gave the first place of his life to God.” He was very
active in fighting the Protestant Reformation and promoting the subsequent
Counter‑Reformation. St Ignatius died at the age of 65. He was canonized on
March 12, 1622. There are 38 members of
the Society of Jesus who have been declared Saints. So many other Jesuits have
become Cardinals, Bishops and great writers, and three years ago, the first
Jesuit Jorge Bergoglio became the first Jesuit Pope, Francis.
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