Saint Ignatius of Loyola Founder of the Jesuits Magnet

A profound and historically grounded portrayal of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556), the Spanish nobleman‑turned‑mystic whose spiritual journey reshaped the Catholic world. According to Wikipedia IT, Ignatius — born Íñigo López de Loyola in 1491 — first pursued a military career, serving in the courts of Castile until he was gravely wounded defending Pamplona in 1521. Treccani notes that during his long convalescence, deprived of chivalric romances, he read the Life of Christ and the Golden Legend, which sparked a radical interior conversion. This transformation led him to a life of pilgrimage, penance, and deep prayer. Wikipedia EN highlights that he later studied in Paris, where he gathered the first companions — including Francis Xavier and Peter Faber — forming the nucleus of what would become the Society of Jesus, officially approved in 1540. Gesuiti.it describes how Ignatius developed the Spiritual Exercises, a masterpiece of discernment and interior freedom that remains one of the most influential texts in Christian spirituality. Jesuits Global emphasizes that Ignatius spent his final years in Rome, guiding the rapidly expanding order dedicated to education, missions, and service “for the greater glory of God” (Ad maiorem Dei gloriam). He died on 31 July 1556 and was canonized in 1622. Ideal for sacred art prints, educational materials, Jesuit heritage themes, and devotional designs centered on discernment and spiritual renewal.