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How did St. Ignatius of Loyola live during his time at Manresa?

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Engraving by Lucas Vorsterman after Peter Paul Rubens showing St. Ignatius of Loyola with a halo, hands clasped in prayer before a crucifix and open book. — St. Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish theologian who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1534. The Jesuit order received official papal approval in 1540 and became a key player in the Counter-Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries.

During his time at Manresa, from March 1522 to mid-February 1523, St. Ignatius of Loyola lived as an ascetic dedicated to penance and prayer. His lifestyle was characterized by extreme austerity:12

Living Conditions: He lived as a beggar and spent significant time in a cave outside the town.12
Physical Discipline: He ate and drank sparingly and practiced self-mortification by scourging himself. For a period, he neglected his personal grooming, neither combing nor trimming his hair and leaving his nails uncut.1
Spiritual Practice: His daily routine included attending mass and spending seven hours in prayer.12

This period was marked by intense spiritual trials, as well as moments of profound interior light and understanding, such as his experience on the banks of the Cardoner River. It was during this decisive sojourn that Ignatius began sketching the fundamentals of his influential work, The Spiritual Exercises.12