St. Ignatius Loyola (JM 27) Greeting Card

Spanish Basque nobleman and soldier turned priest and theologian, St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) was founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Here, St. Ignatius is clad Jesuit style. He wears a simple black cassock, presumably wrapped and cinctured at the waist not buttoned down the front, and a collared black cape. He holds an open book—presumably, the Society’s Holy Rule--inscribed with the Jesuits’ motto “[Omnia] ad majorem Dei gloriam”, that is, “[All things] for the greater glory of God”. Bound by a vow of special obedience to the Pope, the Jesuits undertook missionary work and education in orthodoxy under papal directives in the 16th century, playing an especially important role in the Counter-Reformation. + A pattern of shields containing the Christogram, the JHS monogram above three nails, borders the main image. IHS (or iota-eta-sigma) stands for first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek; the three nails, for the Passion of Christ crucified. + Feast of St. Ignatius: July 31 + Image Credit (JM 27): Antique image of St. Ignatius Loyola, originally published in chromolithography by Josef Müller Art Publisher, Munich and New York, first quarter of the 20th century. This is just one of over sixty images in a very popular style of devotional prints issued in several sizes and formats by Müller at the turn of the last century. + Image Credit (Shield): Detail of an antique devotional print in chromolithography of SS. Ignatius of Loyola, Benedict of Nursia, and Francis of Assisi, originally published by by B. Kühlen, Mönchengladbach, Germany, late 19th-early 20th, century. Both devotional prints are from the designer’s private collection of religious ephemera.