By Aliya Janeo

How did our saying ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,’ come to be? 

This well-known saying amongst us Ateneans is attributed to the founder of the Jesuit Order, Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; or as most know him, St. Ignatius (we lovingly call him St. Iggy too). Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, AMDG for short, directly translates to “all for the greater glory of God,” — and this is the saying the Jesuit community lives out in their day-to-day lives. 

However, we turn our eyes to the foundation of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius. Besides his life story, there’s more to unravel about the impact he’s made in the Catholic community. Just how much has our St. Iggy influenced The Church, outside of Jesuit institutions such as ours?

St. Iggy’s Story

Do we all remember that film about the life of St. Ignatius we watched at the start of the school year? No? Well here’s a quick recap on the life of our Jesuit gem.

Before changing his name to ‘Ignatius,’ Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola was born in 1491, in the Basque province of Guipuzcoa. He was born to a noble family as the youngest of thirteen (13) children, and would grow to serve as a page to one of his relatives; and become a knight in service of another. 

As a noble, Iñigo always had the things he wanted handed to him on a silver platter. However, after a life-changing injury in 1521 wherein his leg was broken by a cannonball mid-battle, this would soon change. While on bedrest, despite Iñigo requesting to pass his time with books about chivalry and valor, the castle he was confined to only consisted of books about the lives of Christ and His saints. In the end, Iñigo would take inspiration from these texts— taking it as a sign to dedicate his life to serving God. 

In 1522, Iñigo bid farewell to nobility, and came into a more simple and poorer lifestyle. He traveled to Montserrat where he took a leap of faith; committing to the pilgrim life by spending three days in confession, offering his sword and dagger to the statue of The Virgin Mary, and replacing his fine garments with a rougher cloth. Iñigo then trekked to the town of Manresa, where he spent his life as a beggar, slowly but surely building up the most foundational part of his spiritual journey. 

Iñigo spent his time in a cave just outside Manresa, and here was where he started working on The Spiritual Exercises. This text, which came from Iñigo’s records of his own experiences of anxieties and doubts and overall agony, would soon become the guiding light of his future followers. To sum up the foundational part of Iñigo’s journey, he left Barcelona in 1523 to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jerusalem; and although he longed to stay there, the authorities of the church were not a fan of his preachings, which resulted in Iñigo returning to Barcelona in 1524. 

Back in Barcelona, he sought an education and collected a few followers on the way. However, the authorities here weren’t big fans of him either— and due to the fact he was preaching without a Theology degree, Ignatius and his followers were apprehended. 

After Iñigo’s run-in with the law, he traveled to Paris for a higher education and here was where he’d meet his cofounders of the Society of Jesus, Peter Faber and Francis Xavier. Iñigo graduated from the College de Sainte-Barbe of the University of Paris as Ignatius, the name we know him for today. From there, Ignatius and his companions would be ordained, and seek permanent residence in Rome after a group pilgrimage to Jerusalem did not push through amidst a conflict between Venice and Turkey. Furthermore, Ignatius’ biggest acclaim would come in 1540, when Pope Paul III approved the plan to form the Society of Jesus. 

Finally, after years of worldwide impact, Ignatius passed away on July 31, 1556— the date we celebrate his feast day. He was beatified in 1609, and canonized in 1622; solidifying his place in the Catholic Church, and paving the way for more to come. 

St. Iggy’s Impact

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam is more than just doing everything for God, and offering your whole life to him. Yes, it’s a big part of the saying, but it’s much more than that— It’s looking out for other people and serving them. Ignatius didn’t just make an impact in Rome, where he founded his order, he has made waves all over the world; and even after his death, his experiences and teachings continue to resonate with Catholics of all generations. 

St. Ignatius’ teachings implore us to have hope, to have faith. He himself experienced intense feelings of pain in his lifetime, both physically and mentally— and he has persevered through that darkness, and found his light through the faith he built up. He emphasizes the power of community and just how much a collective of people can do, and he recognizes the importance of acknowledging the individuality of each of God’s creations. 

Since his passing, Ignatius’ followers have only increased tenfold, some attaining recognition in The Church. An example of this would be the lingering Jesuit influence at the forefront of the Catholic Church, the Vatican; seeing as our very own Pope Francis is the first priest from the Jesuit Order to hold such a position. From Pope Francis, the world received Laudato si’, an encyclical that is a direct response to the climate and environmental crisis the world faces. This text is not just one that applies to those under the Catholic umbrella, but to everyone no matter their religion— something that’s very in character for the Jesuit order, as they aim to serve everyone as means to worship God. 

Furthermore, it’s safe to say that the Jesuit Order is one of the most influential ones in the Catholic community. Thanks to Ignatius and his followers, there have been several educational institutions built to pass on the Ignatian teachings for generations to come— one of those schools being our very own, Ateneo de Manila University! Since the hill we stand on is a Jesuit institution, it’s a no-brainer that Pope Francis’ encyclical would be a guiding force for us students; with advocacies and initiatives catering to the Laudato si’ journey.

Laudato si’ is a text that deeply influences us Ateneans, and is a foundation in the school’s formation of its students. Thanks to our beloved St. Iggy, we’re able to serve God and our community at the same time. Sure, praying and attending weekly mass is a great way to show reverence; but for anyone who doesn’t identify as a member of The Church, even just taking care of one’s environment, or being there for one’s classmate is enough to exemplify Ignatian values. So while the Jesuit Order serves the Catholic God, it still embraces communities outside of the Church’s bubble. 

Moreover, Laudato si’ and Ignatius’ teachings also give us a sense of responsibility for those around us. Saving the environment is one thing, but saving the people that need it is another. As many individuals around the world undergo perilous and inhumane conditions, Pope Francis calls for more awareness and aid for those undergoing these experiences; Laudato si’ recognizes the inequalities and marginalization in the world, and demands it be acknowledged and abolished. Therefore showing that in the eyes of the Jesuit Order’s founder, we should all be responsible for members of our community. We are one family under God. 

So the next time you see St. Iggy’s statue in the ASHS (Ateneo Senior High School) building, know that it’s there for a very special reason. After all, we wouldn’t be calling this school our alma mater if it wasn’t for the trials and tribulations of our university’s patron saint. 

To this day, our St. Iggy continues to make waves in the Catholic community, influencing generations to come. As long as his legacy lives on through the Jesuit order, we’ll continue to see bits and pieces of our favorite noble-turned-pilgrim. His teachings continue to motivate us to serve others under God, and respect each individual that we cross paths with; there’s no other person like him, but in some ways we ourselves can live out the vision of St. Ignatius in our daily lives. 

As we take this day to prepare ourselves for the new school year ahead, we keep in our hearts the teachings of our beloved St. Ignatius. Whether you identify as a member of the Catholic church or not, the life the saying AMDG preaches is universal. Wherever you come from, whoever you are, we can all be persons for others— after all, it doesn’t take being under one religion to be selfless.

Happy Feast Day, Saint Ignatius!