Ignatius of Loyola quotes

Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish Basque priest and theologian, best known as the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). His spiritual teachings and exercises profoundly shaped Catholic spirituality and education. He became a prominent leader in the Counter-Reformation and inspired generations of missionaries and educators. Here are 40 of his quotes:

Let me look at the foulness and ugliness of my body. Let me see myself as an ulcerous sore running with every horrible and disgusting poison.

Ignatius of Loyola

The picture. A great plain, comprising the entire Jerusalem district, where is the supreme Commander-in-Chief of the forces of good, Christ our Lord: another plain near Babylon, where Lucifer is, at the head of the enemy.

Ignatius of Loyola

Imagine that leader of all the enemy, in that great plain of Babylon, sitting on a sort of throne of smoking flame, a horrible and terrifying sight. Watch him calling together countless devils, to despatch them into different cities till the whole world is covered, forgetting no province or locality, no class or single individual.

Ignatius of Loyola

Up to his twenty-sixth year the heart of Ignatius was enthralled by the vanities of the world. His special delight was in the military life, and he seemed led by a strong and empty desire of gaining for himself a great name.

Ignatius of Loyola

Considering that the blessed life we so long for consists in an intimate and true love of God Our Creator and Lord, which binds and obliges us all to a sincere love.

Ignatius of Loyola

So with that will prompt and prepared to serve all those whom I perceive to be servants of my Lord, I will speak of three things with simplicity and love as if I were speaking to my own soul.

Ignatius of Loyola

I have studied at Barcelona, at Salamanca, at Alcala, at Paris; what have I learned? The language of doubt; but in me there was no harbor for doubt. Jesus came, and my trust in God has grown by the doubts of men.

Ignatius of Loyola

We should always be prepared so as never to err to believe that what I see as white is black, if the hierarchic Church defines it thus.

Ignatius of Loyola

The safest and most suitable form of penance seems to be that which causes pain in the flesh but does not penetrate to the bones, that is, which causes suffering but not sickness. So the best way seems to be to scourge oneself with thin cords which hurt superficially, rather than to use some other means which might produce serious internal injury.

Ignatius of Loyola

The principal end both of my father and of myself in the conquest of India... has been the propagation of the holy Catholic faith.

Ignatius of Loyola

Above all, remember that God looks for solid virtues in us, such as patience, humility, obedience, abnegation of your own will - that is, the good will to serve Him and our neighbor in Him. His providence allows us other devotions only insofar as He sees that they are useful to us.

Ignatius of Loyola

The more completely we focus our attention on our Creator and Lord, the less chance there is of our being distracted by creatures.

Ignatius of Loyola

Occupy yourself in beholding and bewailing your own imperfections rather than contemplating the imperfections of others.

Ignatius of Loyola

If God has given you the world's goods in abundance, it is to help you gain those of Heaven and to be a good example of sound teaching to your sons, servants, and relatives.

Ignatius of Loyola

Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. It is certainly a higher virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one.

Ignatius of Loyola

I have no doubt concerning that Supreme Goodness, who is so eager to share His blessings, or of that everlasting love which makes Him more eager to bestow perfection on us than we are to receive it.

Ignatius of Loyola

It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.

Ignatius of Loyola

Be generous to the poor orphans and those in need. The man to whom our Lord has been liberal ought not to be stingy. We shall one day find in Heaven as much rest and joy as we ourselves have dispensed in this life.

Ignatius of Loyola

For those who love, nothing is too difficult, especially when it is done for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ignatius of Loyola

Realize that illness and other temporal setbacks often come to us from the hand of God our Lord, and are sent to help us know ourselves better, to free ourselves of the love of created things, and to reflect on the brevity of this life and, thus, to prepare ourselves for the life which is without end.

Ignatius of Loyola

It is proper to ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, tears and deep grief because of the great affliction Christ endures for me.

Ignatius of Loyola

We should not have a petty regard for God's gifts, though we may and should despise our own imperfections.

Ignatius of Loyola