St. Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus (more commonly known as the Jesuits) in 1540 and remained the Father General for many years.
Despite being the founder of his own religious order, St. Ignatius felt that his own faults were a hindrance to the Jesuits.
By the mid 1550s, his health was also failing and so he believed it was the time for his community to elect a new Father General, marking a new chapter in the Society of Jesus.
The resignation letter
He wrote all of this out in a resignation letter dated January 30, 1551. St. Ignatius expressed freely his reservations about continuing as Father General and gave evidence for why his confreres should accept them:
Regarding calmly and with a sense of reality what I see in myself, as a result of my many sins, imperfections, and infirmities of body and soul, I have often and at different times come to the conclusion that I really do not possess (in fact, I infinitely lack) the gifts required for the proper discharge of the office which the Society itself has laid on me.
He then explains how, “I think with good reason that this office should be given, not only to one who would perform it better, or not so poorly, but to one who would have at least equal success.”
St. Ignatius proceeds to renounce his office in the letter, but ultimately gives his brothers the option to accept or deny his resignation.
Unsurprisingly the Jesuits at the time refused his resignation, and St. Ignatius accepted their decision.
Humble acceptance
What is probably more evidence of his humility is the fact that he remained Father General for the rest of his life and that he did not pridefully refuse their refusal, insisting that he be dismissed.
He could have remained obstinate and forced them to accept it, using his power and influence to override their vote.
Yet, he accepted the decision of the Jesuits with humility, seeing in it God’s will.
St. Ignatius wasn’t perfect and had lived a rowdy life as a young man, but he ultimately gave himself up as a sacrifice to God, letting him do with him as he willed.
God can use imperfect instruments to do wonderful things and the Jesuits saw in their founder a saintly individual that they wanted to follow.
