St. Ignatius Loyola (BK 050; Motto) Ceramic Ornament

Spanish Basque nobleman and soldier turned priest and theologian, St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) was founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). In this roundel, St. Ignatius is clad Jesuit style. He wears a simple black cassock, presumably wrapped and cinctured at the waist not buttoned down the front, and a collared black cape. On his chest, the Saint wears a Christogram, the official emblem of the Jesuits: the IHS monogram with the H surmounted by a cross above three nails and surrounded by a Sun. IHS (or iota-eta-sigma) stands for first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek; the three nails, for the Passion; and the Sun, for the Son of God. Bound by a vow of special obedience to the Pope, the Jesuits undertook missionary work and education in orthodoxy under papal directives, playing an especially important role in the Counter-Reformation. The Jesuits’ motto in Latin coined by their founder is “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (abbreviated AMDG)” and means "For the greater glory of God". + Feast: July 31 + Image Credit (BK 050): Antique image of St. Ignatius de Loyola, S.J., originally published in chromolithography by B. Kühlen, Mönchengladbach, Germany, unnumbered Jesuit Series, late 19th century, from the designer’s private collection of religious ephemera.