Ignatius Loyola

The painting was formerly hung in the Church of San Juan de Dios, Lima, Peru. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) was born in the Basque province of Guipuzcoa in Northern Spain. He worked as a page in courtly circles where he quickly became confident, ambitious and flirtatious. After being injured in a battle he started to read spiritual texts and the lives of the Saints whilst recuperating. A conversion and visions followed and he proceeded to re-educate himself, including learning Latin, in order to enter the priesthood. In 1539 he co-founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) of which he was elected the leader. He wrote the theological treatise 'The Spiritual Exercises'. The Latin inscriptions are, on the right page 'Regulae Societatis Iesu' (Regulations of the Socety of Jesus) and on the left page 'Admaiorem gloriam Dei' which is usually quoted as 'Ad maiorem Dei gloriam' (For the greater glory of God)