St. Ignatius of Loyola
Jesuit Heritage
St. Ignatius of Loyola Statue
St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
Loyola University Chicago’s Location in the Jesuit Global Educational Network
St. Ignatius of Loyola was one of the founders of the Society of Jesus—abbreviated “S.J.”—a Roman Catholic religious order commonly referred to as the “Jesuits.” In 1540, the order was formally approved by Pope Paul III. In 1548, just eight years later, the first Jesuit school for “externs” (i.e., for non-Jesuit students) was founded in Messina, Sicily (Italy). The Jesuit order rapidly expanded and established a worldwide educational system. In 2024, the global network numbered 177 universities (772,000 students) and 937 secondary and pre-secondary schools (888,327 students). Loyola University Chicago’s Jesuit and Catholic global heritage is nearly 500 years old.
“Jesuit World of Universities and Schools (2024)” printable map. Courtesy of Educate Magis, Jesuit Global Network of Schools. ©Copyright Society of Jesus, Secretariat for Education, General Curia, Roma. Designed by Educate Magis.
https://www.educatemagis.org/Jesuit World of Universities and Schools
Jesuit World of Universities and Schools
Graphic illustration of Ignatius Loyola preaching with Jesuits in background teaching doctrine and administering sacraments. From Vita beati patris Ignatii Loiolae [Life of Blessed Father Ignatius of Loyola] (Rome, 1609), eighty-one copperplate engravings illustrating the life of Ignatius published to celebrate his beatification that year. Various artists, engravings by Jean-Baptiste Barbé. Courtesy of “Ars Jesuitica” (2000), Institute of Jesuit Sources, St. Louis, MO.
Image showing the typical curriculum of a Jesuit “college” in the 18th century, including Religion and Character, Liberal Arts, Geography and Astronomy, Mapmaking, Fencing, Languages, Music and Dancing. From a book published in 1755 / 1756 by the Jesuits’ Imperial College in Barcelona in 1755. Image courtesy of Loyola University Archives and Special Collections.