Reading Questions: The Autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Page 15:

What topics does Luis Goncalves Camara discuss with Father Ignatius during their meeting in the Roman garden in 1553?

What effect do Ignatius’ words have on the younger man?

What effect does the conversation have on Ignatius?

16 –18:

How does the life history of Ignatius get written down? How long does it take? What is the process?

When Father Nadal heard that Camara was writing an account of Ignatius life, he was very happy and claimed to do so “was truly to found the Society.” What did he mean?

21:

How old is Ignatius at the beginning of the narrative about his life? What things is he most interested in?

What forces him to re-think his life and his priorities?

Why does his leg get broken again? Why does he have to have another surgery? How does he handle this?

23-25:

During his convalescence Ignatius would like to read certain books but has to settle on others. Which ones?

He is fantasizing about someone. Who is she?

He discovers two male role models in one his readings. Who are they?

How does thinking about these alternatives make him feel?

He finally comes up with a plan for life after his recovery. What is it?

What project does he begin when he is still recovering but can get up and move around the house?

26:

How does Ignatius’ brother react to his departure?

30:

What is Ignatius thinking about when he runs into the “Moor”? What do the two argue about? How does Ignatius decide not to kill the man? What does Ignatius leave at the altar of Our Lady of Montserrat?

32:

How does Ignatius react when he learns that the poor man to whom he had given clothes was brought up on charges of theft?

33:

Why does he let his hair and nails grow?

He keeps encountering a strange being and tries to decide whether it is divine or diabolical. Which one?

34:

What does the woman of Manresa wish for him?

34-35:

What kind of inner difficulties is Ignatius’ experiencing? Where is he staying at the time?

What measures does he take to cure himself of these difficulties?

How does Ignatius justify sleeping more and eating meat again?

38 - 39:

How does Ignatius react to visions?

41:

Who takes care of him when he is very ill in Manresa? How do they take care of him?

42:

Why does Ignatius not tell the lady that he is going to Jerusalem and not to Rome?

43:

Who does Ignatius think gave him the best spiritual advice up to this point?

45:

How does Ignatius help a mother and her daughter whom he encounters on his travels to Jerusalem? Why do you think the daughter had cross-dressed in the first place?

46-48:

How does Ignatius make do on his journey?

49-50:

How does Ignatius feel when he arrives in Jerusalem? Why does he not stay?

51:

How does Ignatius manage to get past the guards on Mount Olive?

54:

After the failed attempt to stay in Jerusalem, what is Ignatius’ new plan?

54-56:

What are some of the dangers Ignatius encounters on his travels from Venice to Barcelona?

59-61:

What kind of a student was Ignatius?

62-64:

Why does the Inquisition repeatedly get interested in Ignatius and his companions? How does the inquisitor rule?

69-71:

What is the inquisition’s main concern in Salamanca? What is the final verdict? Does Ignatius accept it? What is his plan for himself and his companions?

72-75:

What kind of a student is Ignatius during his time in Paris?

75-76:

Why does Master de Gouvea threaten to give Ignatius a beating?

801:

What do Ignatius and his companions want to do after their studies in Paris?

81:

Ignatius has one more run-in with the Inquisition in Paris. Why? How does it end?

82-4:

Who are the two men that accost Ignatius when he first comes back to Spain? Does he follow their wishes?

83-4:

What kinds of social changes does Ignatius initiate in his home province?

84-85:

What happens to Ignatius upon trying to enter Bologna? How did onlookers respond?

87:

What do the nine companions do after joining up in Venice?

87-88:

Why was there no ship to Jerusalem that year?

87-89:

How do the companions relate to each other? How do they live? How do they spend their time?

89:

What is Ignatius’ greatest desire after he becomes a priest?

89:

How and why does he warn his companions about contact with women when they get into Rome? Do they listen?

91-92:

What does Ignatius do in Rome?

What does Ignatius say to Camara about writing the exercises?

94:

Why does the story end when it does?

Discussion Questions:

1. Loyola changes from nobleman and soldier, to ascetic and student before he finally becomes the founder of a religious order. How does he act in each of these male roles? How does his appearance (dress, hair, nails, weight) change from one role to the next? What kinds of emotions does he show at each stage? What kinds of social relations does he have? What does this tell us about his society’s expectations for different kinds of men?

2. Women play an important role in Loyola’s spiritual transformation. Who are the women he is close to? How does this closeness manifest itself? How do women support him? How do women respond to his religious message? How do the authorities view his ministry to women? Why does he warn his companions against close relationships with women when they get to Rome? Why do you think the author decided not to mention the names of most of these women?

3. Have a look at the illustrations. These images were produced to help Ignatius obtain recognition as a holy person. Why do think the Jesuits chose these particular scenes of his life? How do his clothing and demeanor reflect his social and spiritual transformation? What do the scenes suggest about Ignatius, his character and values, and also about the order of the Jesuits that he founded? How do the ideas expressed here compare with the ideas expressed in the text? What might men have noticed in looking at the pictures? How might women have viewed them?

4. What do we learn about the conditions of early modern travel? How does Ignatius get around? What does it take to survive? What strategies for survival do men have? How do women manage to get around