Ignatius of Loyola: Letters and Instructions

Friends and foe of Ignatius of Loyola have used his writings, such as the Spiritual Exercises, the Constitutions, and the Spiritual Diary, along with his so-called autobiography, to portray him. Only to a lesser extent have they delved into his more than 6,800 letters. This volume contains English translations of almost four hundred of those letters and instructions of Ignatius, from the first extant letter of 1518 to the last one, posted on the day before he died in 1556. These letter range across a spectrum of personal, political, social, educational, financial and, especially, religious concerns. Depending on the recipient, they can be businesslike, warmly personal, quite curtly, gently reassuring, direct and stern. High among the virtues Ignatius ranked gratitude: many letters of thanks went out to benefactors for gifts as grand as the founding of a college and as simple as a box of candles.