The 500th Anniversary of St. Ignatius' Conversion

This memorial is the 500th anniversary of Ignatius’ injury during the battle at Pamplona, on May 20, 1521, when he was fighting to protect the fortress of Pamplona from the French soldiers.   He was seriously injured when a cannonball shattered his leg.  That injury took many months to heal; and it was during that time that Ignatius was changed, that he had his conversion, that is to say, he changed from being a daring soldier to becoming a saint.  This year, the Society of Jesus also remembers the 400th anniversary of the canonization of Ignatius and Francis Xavier, which will be celebrated on March 12, 2022.