Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did St. Ignatius of Loyola decide to pursue formal education after returning from Jerusalem?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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.

After returning from Jerusalem, St. Ignatius of Loyola decided to pursue a formal education because he realized it was God’s will that he not remain in the Holy Land. He concluded that he needed to study for a time in order to be better equipped to "help souls".1

Ignatius was convinced that a well-trained individual could accomplish in a short time what an untrained person could never achieve. Drawing on his background as a soldier, he recognized the value of careful preparation and chose to defer his priesthood for over 12 years to undergo the rigors of academic study. Over the course of this period, he studied Latin, philosophy, and theology at various universities in Spain and Paris, eventually earning an M.A. before his ordination in 1537.12