Saint Ignatius of Loyola is an inspirational person and has touched the lives of many people even now, centuries after his death. Loyola has impacted the lives of countless people, directly or indirectly. He began as an extremely brave and tenacious soldier and transformed into the founder of a powerful religious order. He was born in 1491 in Spain and founded the Jesuits in 1540 at the age of 49. The Jesuits today are still a devout religious order. Everything they do is in the name of God, hence their motto AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM which literally means “for the greater glory of God”. (Linten, Seven Things) Many Jesuits (and even non-Jesuits like Pope John Paul II) sign their documents with amdg at the end to demonstrate that they do their work for God and not exclusively for themselves. (Linten, Seven Things) The Jesuits have survived multiple persecutions and yet have continued to have great influence in the church and universities around the world. If it hadn't been for an unfortunate cannonball that shattered a soldier's leg, none of this might have happened. In 1491 Ignatius of Loyola was born into a noble Basque family in Guipuzcoa, Spain. (Pavur, 217) His name was not originally Ignazio; at birth he was called Inigo di Loyola, until later in life he changed it to Ignazio. (Pollen, Saint Ignatius) He later decided to become a soldier in the Spanish army and fought in the Battle of Pamplona; the French were invading the Spanish castle there. (Muthleb) In the battle his leg was crushed by an enemy cannonball. (Caraman, 25-26) The French soldiers were so impressed by his courage that instead of taking him prisoner they took him to recover. (Muthleb) During his convalescence he came very close to death. At one point... in the center of the newspaper... llen, John Hungerford. "History of the Jesuits before the Suppression of 1773". The Catholic Encyclopedia. vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. March 23, 2014. Pollen, John Hungerford. "Saint Ignatius of Loyola." The Catholic Encyclopedia. vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. March 23, 2014 .Pollen, John Hungerford. "The Jesuits During the Transitional Period (1773-1814)." The Catholic Encyclopedia. vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. March 23, 2014. Pollen, John Hungerford. "The Suppression of the Jesuits (1750-1773)." The Catholic Encyclopedia. vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. March 23, 2014. Purcell, M. (1981). The first Jesuit, Ignatius of Loyola. Loyola Press.