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St Ignatius of Loyola is born in the Loyola castle in Azpeitia in the Basque region of Spain. He is the youngest of 13 children. At the age of seven, Ignatius lost his mother. It was in 1506 when he found his last name 'de Loyola', in reference to the city where he was born.
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13th Oct, 1509 St Ignatius becomes a soldier for Antonio Manrique de Lara, duke of Najera and Viceroy of Navarre.
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May 20, 1521, st Ignatius is wounded by a cannonball on one of his legs and the other broken. Gravely injured, St Ignatius is returned to the castle by nurses and treated. He had to have several surgery operations on his legs, which were very painful in those days.
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St ignatius gave up his military vestments.
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From 1522 to 1524, Ignatius wrote Spiritual Exercises, not much only 200 words explaining meditations, prayers and other mental exercises.
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At the age of 33, Ignatius enrolled himself in a school in Barcelona to study language and grammar. After 2 years he received admission in the University of Alcala. While there, he gathers students, explains the Gospels and teaching them the right way to pray. This was not acceptable so they sent him to prison, for 42 days. He was not happy so he moved to the University of Salamanca. Even there, he was sent him to jail. Unhappy with this, Ignatius left to Paris to the University of Paris.
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In Paris, Ignatius started studying Latin grammar and literature, philosophy and theology.
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In 1540, the Jesuit Constitution was created. It was written by Ignatius. The main motto of Jesuits became 'Ad maiorem Dei gloriam' meaning for the greater glory of God. Ignatius had opened schools in Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, Germany and India, mainly for the education of new jesuit students.
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Elected as the Superior General of 'Society of Jesus'
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In the year 1550, the 'Society of Jesus' was confirmed by Pope Julius III.
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Offered to resign as the Superior General
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Starting in 1553 For two years Ignatius dictated his life story to his secretary.
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St Ignatius dies at the age of 65 on 31st of July 1556. he dies in Rome, papal states. The stomach problem, which started early in his life, troubled him allot. During summer, 1556, the pain got worse. He asked his secretary to send for the pope to give him his last blessing, the pope did not come, thinking Ignatius would survive. 30th of July around midnight the stomach pain became worse leaving st Ignatius dead. Making his feast day 31 July 1556
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Saint Ignatius of Loyola is beatified in 1609 by Pope Paul V.
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Saint Ignatius of Loyola is canonized by Pope Gregory XV.
