Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Founder

Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the author of the Spiritual Exercises, a manual for retreat and meditation aimed at interior sanctification and the salvation of souls. His writings also include Constitutions, Letters, and Maxims, characterized by a vigorous and vivid style. His life is documented by direct witnesses such as Pedro de Ribadeneira.

Guided reading

3 reading sections

WRITINGS OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.

Preaching 01 / 03

The Spiritual Exercises

Presentation of the book of the Spiritual Exercises as a guide for conversion and interior sanctification, praised by great spiritual figures.

Saint Ignati Saint Ignace Founder of the Society of Jesus and author of the Spiritual Exercises. us composed the book o f the Spiritual Exer Exercices spirituels A work of spiritual method composed by Ignatius. cises, which Louis d Louis de Ponte Jesuit spiritual author who wrote commentaries on the Exercises. e Ponte considers as it were an immediate revelation from God, and which, according to the t estimony of Saint Franc saint François de Sales A model of gentleness to whom the venerable is compared. is de Sales, has converted more sinners than it contains letters; it bears the character of everything Saint Ignatius did, and is above all a religious act. It is like a guide and a light for Christian souls who seriously wish to ensure their salvation: it teaches them, in effect, to know themselves, to seek the true goal of life, to flee from sin, to attach themselves to the cross of Jesus Christ, to courageously accept pains and sacrifices, and thus, hardened and enlightened by the meditation of the great truths of the faith, to be penetrated by divine love and to abandon themselves fully to that Father who is in heaven and wishes us to be there with Him. In a word, "the book of the Spiritual Exerc Père de Ravignan 19th-century Jesuit preacher. ises," says Father de Ravignan, "is a retreat manual, a method of meditation, and at the same time a collection of thoughts and precepts suitable for directing the soul in the work of interior sanctification and in the choice of a state of life."

Legacy 02 / 03

Other writings and style

Enumeration of the other works of Ignatius, notably his Letters and his Constitutions, characterized by a lively and vigorous style.

Besides the Exercises, we have some Letters, some Maxims and Sentences, and finally his Consti tutions. Ever Constitutions Legislative text governing the Society of Jesus. ywhere the style is vigorous, lively, pressing, and vivid.

Source 03 / 03

Biographical Sources

Identification of the historical sources used to write this life, including direct witnesses and reference works.

We have drawn his life from the Rev. Fr. Pierre Ribadeneira, who was a witness to many of the things he wrote, and who learned the rest from several very trustworthy people. We have also made use of the excellent Life of Saint I gnatius, by saint Ignace Founder of the Society of Jesus and author of the Spiritual Exercises. the Rev. Fr. Bouhours, R. P. Bouhours French Jesuit and grammarian, author of a biography of Ignatius. and the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Catholic Theology, translat Dictionnaire encyclopédique de la Théologie catholique Theological reference work used as a source. ed by Goschler Goschler French translator of the dictionary of Catholic theology. .

Official source Les Petits Bollandistes, by Mgr Paul GUÉRIN, chamberlain to His Holiness Pius IX.

Annexes & related entities

Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.

Key Events

  1. Composition of the book of Spiritual Exercises
  2. Drafting of the Constitutions
  3. Writing of Letters, Maxims, and Sentences

Quotes

  • The book of Spiritual Exercises is a retreat manual, a method of meditation, and at the same time a collection of thoughts and precepts suitable for directing the soul in the work of interior sanctification and in the choice of a state of life Father de Ravignan

Important entities

Ranked by relevance in the text