Boy, oh boy. I sometimes get the strangest requests. I arrived into work this morning to find a voice message from one of my colleagues asking me for 5 “fun facts” about St. Ignatius Loyola that could be used for his feast day on July 31st. Here’s what I came up with:
- The youngest of 13 children.
- Was hauled up before the Spanish Inquisition on a number of occasions.
- At age 33, he joined a class of young children so he could learn Latin.
- Once allowed the donkey he was riding on to determine whether he’d follow and murder someone he thought had insulted the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- He sometimes cried with so much devotion at Mass that he couldn’t continue and feared he’d lose his eyesight.
Is there any “fun” thing about Ignatius I’ve neglected to mention?
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Ignatius would identify key people, influential people and invite them to make the Spiritual Exercises. I love the story about the time he asked a man to make them who said he was too busy. Ignatius challenged him to a billiards game and if Ignatius won, the man would agree to do the Exercises. As you might guess, Ignatius won.
Maureen,
Love it! Thank you. Your comment came in moments after I posted this morning and took me by surpise.
Paul
I don’t remember exact details, but the Pope wanted the Companions to meet for the Divine Office at the prescribed times of the day, as other religious orders did. Ignatius wanted the Divine Office to be done privately so that his Companions could engage in active ministry without the demands on their time that communal Divine Office would impose. Here is where the details have slippped by me, but Ignatius was extremely wily in fending off this demand from the Pope.
Ignatius celebrated his first mass on Christmas morning 1538 at St. Mary Major.
Learning of his devotion to Mary, I think it is interesting that according to a 13th century legend this Church was built on the site of a Marian apparition.
James,
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you – I meant to write as soon as you posted your comment but, as always, got caught up in something else. Thanks for you tidbit about Ignatius’ first Mass. I knew it was about a year after his ordination, but didn’t know where it happened.
Paul
yeah he was the founder of the Jesuit Order
Ignatius loved chestnuts! They reminded him of his youth. When he was particularly anxious or overburdened, a piece or tw0–saved by one of the brothers for such an occasion–readily brought a smile to his lips (and the curia!!!).