Ignatius

In the Christian tradition

Two major saints carry the name Ignatius. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35-108) is the second-century bishop and martyr whose seven letters written on his journey to martyrdom are among the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) is the Basque founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), the author of the Spiritual Exercises that have shaped Catholic spirituality across five centuries. The Catholic calendar commemorates Loyola on July 31 and Antioch on October 17.

Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35-108) is one of the Apostolic Fathers, third bishop of Antioch after Peter, whose seven letters written during his journey from Antioch to martyrdom in Rome are foundational documents of early Christian theology and ecclesiology. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Basque noble and soldier whose conversion during convalescence from a war wound led to the founding of the Society of Jesus, the largest religious order in the Catholic Church. His Spiritual Exercises, a structured four-week retreat for Christian discernment, has shaped Catholic spiritual practice for nearly five centuries and is widely used in Protestant and ecumenical contexts as well. The Catholic calendar honors Ignatius of Loyola on July 31; the Orthodox calendar commemorates Ignatius of Antioch on December 20. The name has been in continuous Christian use, with particular weight in Catholic and Jesuit-influenced families.