(1491-1556) Born to Spanish nobility and the youngest of 12 children, Ignatius served as a page in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella and became a soldier. He was wounded by a cannonball in May of 1521. Reflection on the lives of the saints and Jesus during his recuperation, and a year spent in prayer and contemplation in a cave near Manresa, Spain, provided Ignatius with the foundations of his Spiritual Exercises. After pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land as well as completing a degree in theology, Ignatius would use all of the insight gained to form the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. Inspired by the saints, he interacted and created friendships with many other saints during his lifetime.

There is enormous overlap between 12-step recovery and the insights of Saint Ignatius. The following is a perfect Step 3 prayer:

“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me” (Saint Ignatius of Loyola).

Reflection by Brad Farmer