St. Ignatius Loyola COLLECTION (BK 050)

Spanish Basque nobleman and soldier turned priest and theologian, St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) was founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). In this roundel, St. Ignatius is clad Jesuit style. He wears a simple black cassock, presumably wrapped and cinctured at the waist not buttoned down the front, and a collared black cape. On his chest, the Saint wears a Christogram, the official emblem of the Jesuits: the IHS monogram with the H surmounted by a cross above three nails and surrounded by a Sun. IHS (or iota-eta-sigma) stands for first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek; the three nails, for the Passion; and the Sun, for the Son of God. Bound by a vow of special obedience to the Pope, the Jesuits undertook missionary work and education in orthodoxy under papal directives, playing an especially important role in the Counter-Reformation. The Jesuits’ motto in Latin coined by their founder is “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (abbreviated AMDG)” and means "For the greater glory of God". + Feast: July 31