Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the founder of the Society of Jesus.  The initials S.J. Stands for Society of Jesus.  Often times, the Society of Jesus is known as the Jesuits.  But sometimes that can have a negative connotation because that term can be loosely associated with someone who is lax, or progressive, or non-traditional.  But if you think about how many of us have been blessed because of the members of the society.  Perhaps, we have went taught by one of them.  Maybe we know a priest that belong to that order.  Or maybe we went to a school that society has built. Or maybe we read a helpful book a member has written.  Or maybe we were forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation by a Jesuit priest.  Or maybe the words of a member of that society has helped us when we attended Mass and his words spoke to us.  It's safe to say that we have all been blessed because of this society. And Pope Francis is the first Jesuit priest to become Pope.

The society of Jesus has its origins with Ignatius of Loyola. He was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg.  Because there were no Romantic Novels on hand during his hospitalization, Ignatius spent his time reading about the life of Christ and the Lives of the Saints.  The Bible and the book on the lives of the Saints were the only two books that were available.

Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona. It was during this period of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises.

He finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks.   Ignatius spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child.  Like many others, his orthodoxy was questioned; Ignatius was twice jailed for brief periods.

At the age of 43, he and six others—one of whom was Saint Francis Xavier—vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land.  If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Pope Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general.

When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens, and penitents.  He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society. Ignatius was a true mystic.  He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, Ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of God.” 

In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure that they are the most effective. All activity was to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father.  Religious order priests took three vows: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, but the Society of Jesus took a fourth vow, which is to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls.

Martin Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society that was to play so prominent a part in the Catholic Reformation.   But his words are endearing to help form an attitude in the presence of reformists. “Great care must be taken to show forth orthodox truth in such a way that if any heretics happen to be present they may have an example of charity and Christian moderation.  No harsh words should be used nor any sort of contempt for their errors be shown.”