In 1491, Ignatius was born into a wealthy family. He was educated as a knight. He fought in the Battle of Pamplona against France and was wounded. During his recovery, Ignatius experienced a spiritual awakening. He decided to devote his life to the Catholic religion.
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Ignatius spent seven years studying Theology [study of belief and religion] and Latin. As we was finishing his studies, he and eight other like-minded people swore an oath of obedience to the Pope and took vows of poverty and chastity. The decided to dedicate their lives to missionary work [promote Christianity in other countries]. In 1540, the pope recognized this group as the Society of Jesus (a.k.a. the Jesuits).
The Jesuits’ focus was three-fold. First, they founded schools throughout Europe to teach theology and classical studies. Second, they sent out missionaries to convert people to Catholicism. Third, they did what they could to stop the spread of Protestantism.
At the time of Ignatius’ death in 1556, the Jesuits boasted approximately 1,000 members throughout Europe, Brazil, and the Far East. Ignatius was canonized [made a Catholic saint] in 1622.
<aside> <img src="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" alt="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Sources Referenced: Ancient World History: Patterns of Interaction, published by McDougall Littell; https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-counter-reformation/ignatius-loyola/
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