St. Ignatius was born in Spain in 1491 and became a soldier before experiencing a religious conversion. After recovering from an injury in battle, he decided to dedicate his life to helping others and founded the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuit order. He wrote the Spiritual Exercises to guide the spiritual formation of members. St. Ignatius died in Rome in 1556 from malaria at the age of 65. He was canonized in 1622 and is the patron saint of the Jesuit order.