In this episode of the Christian Mysticism Podcast, Dr. Carlos Eire tells us about St. Ignatius of Loyola. Born in 1491, he was a nobleman who wanted to be a soldier, but a serious injury took him off the battlefield and led to an unexpected conversion. He dedicated his life to God and prayer, leading him to dedicate his sword to the Virgin Mary. His intense mystical experiences were documented in his autobiography and his path to mysticism in his famous work, The Spiritual Exercises. St. Ignatius went on to found the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), with missionaries that spread all over the known world.
Alas, something went seriously wrong with the Jesuits, which is definitely evident in current ones–including the one now heading the Vatican.
We discuss that very topic during the podcast.