On July 31, the Marquette community will gather to celebrate the life and ministry of St. Ignatius Loyola and also his inspiration, which animates the work, education and life at Marquette University. A Mass for the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola will be livestreamed from the St. Joan of Arc Chapel on Friday, July 31, at noon.
Watch via Mission and Ministry’s Facebook page.
About St. Ignatius
The founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius Loyola was born in 1491 and died on July 31, 1556. When he was young, he joined the Spanish army and his bravado led him to sustain a life-threatening injury.
During his recovery, he was led by God to change his priorities from serving the Spanish king to Christ the King. Needing an education to be a credible preacher and teacher, he went to the University of Paris for a degree in theology. There, he inspired six companions to join him as a religious community. The Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, was approved in September 1540.
In 1548, Ignatius was invited to open a school in Messina, Sicily. The school was such a success that people from all over Europe asked the Jesuits to open schools for their children. The tradition continues today with Jesuit universities, Jesuit high schools, Cristo Rey schools and Nativity middle schools in the United States.