Ignatius?s father wanted Ignatius to become a priest, and he even had Ignatius tonsured, which means that a patch of hair was clipped from the top of his head to signify his intent to enter the priesthood. But tonsure or no tonsure, Ignatius had no interest in joining a monastery. He loved his life as a nobleman; it was filled with romance, duels, and gambling. But Ignatius? party life and his military career both ended abruptly when a cannon blast crippled him.

Ignatius? recovery took a long time, and he learned the meaning of the word patience. While recovering, he read lots of books. Although he would have preferred romance and adventure novels, the only books available were about Jesus and the saints. Ignatius underwent a conversion. He used to find excitement in using his charms to win women?s attention and men?s admiration, but he now found excitement in knowing Jesus and in exploring God?s will for his own life. He wrote the spiritual exercises, a process of praying designed to help a person be at the service of God?s will.

Eventually, Ignatius finished his formal education. He continued to offer his spiritual exercises, and he developed quite a following. Ignatius gathered his followers, and they approached the pope and asked to be at his service. Ignatius? group was called the Society of Jesus (or Jesuits). The pope asked the Society of Jesus to travel to India, the Far East, and all parts of Europe to teach and to bring about a renewed enthusiasm in the church. Francis Xavier was one of the first Jesuits who traveled extensively.

The Protestant reform movement had become strong in many Catholic countries, and the church needed a reform of its own. Ignatius believed in the power of education to bring about reform. Even to this day, the Jesuits are one of the largest and most educated orders in the church. There are Jesuit schools and colleges all over the world, and the spiritual exercises are still offered as a way to get in touch with how to best serve God.

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