The Life of St Ignatius Loyola
by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)
by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)
Plate 1
The birth of Ignatius at Loyola in 1491
Ignatius is wounded at the battle at Pamplona
20th May 1521
Convalescing at Loyola, St Peter appears to Ignatius in a vision
Ignatius reads in bed during recovery from his injury
The injured Ignatius prays to Mary
Ignatius kneels in prayer at Loyola during recovery
Ignatius leaves Loyola to start the journey
1522
Ignatius meets a Moor on the journey to Montserrat
Ignatius prays to Mary for purity
Ignatius gives his fine clothes to a beggar
Ignatius keeps vigil at Montserrat, offering up his sword
March 1522
At Manresa Ignatius prays in solitude
March 1522 - February 1523
Ignatius joins the poor in begging for alms
Ignatius does penance at Manresa
Ignatius has a vision of the Trinity while praying at the Dominican church in Manresa
Ignatius sees Christ during the elevation of the Host
Ignatius is so rapt in prayer at Manresa that he seems lifeless
The vision at the River Cardoner
(August or September 1522?)
At Manresa Ignatius is inspired to write the Spiritual Exercises
March 1522 - February 1523
At Barcelona, Ignatius boards ship on his way to the Holy Land
March 1523
Jesus appears to Ignatius while he prays at night
Ignatius sleeps under portico of San Marco in Venice
January 1524
A servant of the Franciscans drags Ignatius back from chapel of Ascension
Captured by Spanish soldiers, Ignatius thinks of Jesus before Pilate
Ignatius attends grammar school in Barcelona to learn the Latin he needs for his studies
1524 - 1526
Barcinone ut se ad animorum salutem instruat prima Grammaticae elementa annos tres, et triginta natus addiscit; furente as rumpente se Daemone, qui importunis rerum caelestium gaudiis auocare alio eius animum frustra conatur.
In Barcelona, at the age of thirty-three, so that he may train himself for the saving of souls, he applies himself to learn the first elements of Grammar but is taken out of himself and distracted by the Devil who tries in vain to call his soul away from his studies by delightful but irrelevant insights regarding heavenly things.
Imprisoned in Salamanca, Ignatius speaks to people
Summer 1527
A house burns as a testament to Ignatius' innocence
The director of the college in Paris falls at feet of Ignatius, recognizing his innocence
Ignatius chooses companions at Paris
1528 - 1535
The first seven Companions pronounde vows at Montmartre
15th August 1534
Ignatius throws himself into an icy river and promises to stay there until a young man he has encountered changes his life
This image is also found in the St Ignatius Chapel of the former Jesuit church at Molsheim (Bas-Rhin) painted by Audran in 1648
Upon returning to Spain, Ignatius preaches to crowds
Ignatius counsels women
Ignatius is ordained priest in Venice
24th June 1537
Ignatius visits Simon Rodriguez who is sick with a fever
Jesus points to Ignatius as example of holy life
The vision at La Storta: "I will be propitious to you at Rome."
November 1537
Paul III confirms the Society of Jesus in 1540
27th September 1540 Regimini Militantes
Plate 57
Ignatius sends Francis Xavier to India
16th March 1540
Francis Xavier writes to Ignatius from India
The first Jesuits shown in ministries: preaching, teaching children, hearing confessions, and celebrating the Eucharist
The church is the old church of Santa Maria della Strada.
The medieval fresco from Santa Maria della Strada (Our Lady of the Wayside) before which Ignatius prayed (now in the church of the Gesù built on the same site)
Ignatius testifies to his innocence
While crossing a bridge Ignatius has a vision of a companion dying
Ignatius meets with laymen who belong to confraternities
Ignatius meets Pope Julius III
Ignatius offers text of the Constitutions to the Trinity in prayer
1544 onwards
Ignatius meets with a Jewish man
Devils torment Ignatius at night
Ignatius receives the gift of tears while praying
When Ignatius offers the Host at Mass, flames appear above his head
Ignatius encounters prophets who predict the future
Ignatius visits Alexander Petronius
The death of Ignatius in Rome
31st July 1556