The Wolves of Loyola
Jesuit Heritage
Los Lobos de Loyola: "The Wolves of Loyola"
"The Wolves of Loyola": The Loyola Family Crest
Tracing Loyola University Chicago’s Jesuit Heritage back to the 15th-Century Basque Country, Kingdom of Spain
Loyola University Chicago’s Jesuit heritage began in the family castle at Loyola in today’s Basque Country, an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Spain. There, in 1491, was born Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola—today known as St. Ignatius of Loyola. Embedded in the masonry over the Loyola castle doorway is the family crest: one gray wolf on each side of a large kettle suspended over the hearth fire by a chain. Loyola’s bronze campus rendition was created by Mexican artist Francisco Cárdenas Martínez (b. 1956) and installed in 2012.
19th-century graphic illustration of Loyola castle (present-day Basque Country, Kingdom of Spain) with “Los Lobos de Loyola” family crest aembedded in masonry over the door. Published in Stewart Rose, St. Ignatius Loyola and The Early Jesuits (Burns and Oates, 1891). Artist: Louis Wain. Courtesy of “Ars Jesuitica” (2000), Institute of Jesuit Sources, St. Louis, MO.
Family crest over the Loyola castle door. Courtesy: Santuario de Loyola. Azpeitia.
Large bronze rendition of “Los Lobos de Loyola” (measuring 8 x 16 feet) installed on Loyola Chicago campus in 2012. Artist: Francisco Cárdenas Martínez (Pancho Cárdenas). Photo: LUC UMC.