Born in 1491, Ignatius Loyola (baptised Inigo) was a proud and ambitious man, intent on making a great name for himself. He began his career as a soldier and was severely wounded at the siege of Pamplona.

It was while convalescing that he began to discern that God was calling him to a different way of life. It was God’s glory, not his own, that he was to seek the salvation of souls. He resolved to go as a pilgrim to Jerusalem.

At the monastery of Montserrat he made his definitive break with his past. He set out in beggars garb, only to be delayed for ten months at Manresa, There his real spiritual education began which was to bear fruit for himself and others in his Spiritual Exercises.

Unable to stay in Jerusalem, as he wished, he returned to Spain, determined to learn Latin in order to study philosophy and theology. With sufficient Latin acquired at Barcelona, he went first to the University of Aclas and, then to that of Salamanca.

In both places he gave Spiritual Exercises and instruction in Christian Doctrine. These activities brought him to the notice of the Spanish Inquisition. Its judges found in his favour but placed restrictions on him, so he decided to go to Paris and become fully qualified there.

In 1534, he qualified a Master of Arts of Paris. Now he and six others who had joined him, could plan more effectively for their future as a band of pilgrim priests. To found a religious was far from their thoughts at that time.

They had decided to bind themselves by vows of poverty and chastity, as well as to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They took these vows on the Feast of the Assumption, 1534, in a little chapel half-way up the slopes of Montmatre.

Three years later the little group, now increased to ten, were in Venice awaiting a passage to the Holy Land. This failed to materialise after a year of waiting so, as originally provided in their vow, they offered their services to the Pope in Rome.

There, the moment came when they had to consider the question of their present status and their future plans. The decision was reached to seek the approval of the Pope, Paul 111 to transform their small voluntary association into a religious order.

That approval was given and the Society of Jesus officially constituted on 27th September, 1540.