These stories had a profound impact on him, and he became more devout. Most of the books he obtained were about the lives of the saints and Christ. As soon as he was healthy enough to bear it, part of one leg was amputated which while painful, sped his recovery.ĭuring this time of bodily improvement, Ignatius began to read whatever books he could find. On June 29, 1521, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Ignatius began to improve. After suffering for a month, his doctors warned him to prepare for death. Despite their best efforts, Ignatius' condition deteriorated. There were no anesthetics during this time, so each surgery was painful. To save his life and possibly his legs, doctors performed several surgeries. One leg was merely broken, but the other was badly mangled. In 1521, while defending the town of Pamplona against French attack, Ignatius was struck by a cannonball in the legs. His talent earned him promotions and soon he commanded his own troops. He had a talent for emerging unscathed, despite participating in many battles. Ignatius fought in several battles under the leadership of the Duke of Najera. According to one story, he killed a Moor with whom he argued about the divinity of Jesus. The young Ignatius also gained a reputation as a duelist. Seeking wider acclaim, he began referring to himself as Ignatius. By the time he was eighteen, he became a soldier and would fight for Antonio Manrique de Lara, Duke of Nájera and Viceroy of Navarre. He was influenced by stories such as The Song of Roland and El Cid.Īt the age of sixteen, he began a short period of employment working for Juan Velazquez, the treasurer of Castile. Inigio was an ambitious young man who had dreams of becoming a great leader. His last name, 'Loyola' was taken from the village of his birth.ĭespite the misfortune of losing his mother he was still a member of the local aristocracy and was raised accordingly. His mother died when he was just seven, and he was then raised by Maria de Garin, who was the wife of a blacksmith. Inigio was the youngest of thirteen children.

Loyola is a small village at the southern end of Azpeitia. Inigo came of age in Azpeitia, in northern Spain.

At the time, the name of the village was spelled 'Loyola,' hence the discrepancy. Born Inigo Lopez de Loyola in 1491, the man known as Ignatius of Loyola entered the world in Loiola, Spain.

The Ignatius Holy Bible by Anonymous