The Most Influential Catholic Saints: The Lives and Legacies of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Ignatius of Loyola

By Charles River Editors (Editor)

It would be hard to overstate the influence that St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) has had on both the Catholic world and the West as a whole over the last 750 years. Even in secular circles, Aquinas is known as one of the most important medieval philosophers, and in many respects a harbinger of the Renaissance that began to flourish across Europe in the centuries that followed his life. His groundbreaking work, Summa Theologica, remains one of the most influential philosophical texts in history, earning him a place in the pantheon alongside Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates.

Aquinas had just as great an influence on Christianity as well. His philosophical works forged and established natural theology, squaring Catholicism with reason and logic, the ideals and aspects of modern thought that really took hold during the Renaissance. With his work on logic, theology, and metaphysics, as one of the Church’s Doctors, Thomas Aquinas remains the Catholic Church’s greatest theologian and philosopher, and he is still held out by the Church as the role model for those studying to become a Catholic priest.

Of all of the important Catholic men and women who have been venerated over the last 2,000 years, one of the faith’s most popular and influential men also lived one of the most unique lives. Like Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) found God about as far away from church as possible; it was during military service that he underwent a remarkable conversion.

A Spanish knight who hailed from a noble Basque family, Ignatius seemed destined for military glory until he was badly wounded in 1521 during the Battle of Pamplona. While convalescing, Ignatius began reading De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxony, after which he began a tireless career in service of the Catholic Church. After spending several years studying the faith, Ignatius formed the Society of Jesus in 1539, and as its Superior General, he sent followers as missionaries across Europe to create schools, colleges, and seminaries. The Jesuits remain active across the world nearly 500 years later. By 1548, he had published his famous Spiritual Exercises, which help the faithful commit themselves to Christ by conducting different mental exercises. The Spiritual Exercises continue to be wildly popular across the world today, even among non-Catholics.

By the time Ignatius died in 1556, he was one of the most important Catholics of the Counter-Reformation, and it took less than 100 years for him to be beatified and canonized as a saint.

Alongside St. Ignatius, who founded the Jesuits, St. Francis of Assisi is widely regarded as one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic Church due to his work establishing religious Orders that have done an incalculable amount of good and service for societies. Like St. Ignatius, St. Francis also got his start as a soldier who experienced a vision that put him on a more divine path.

St. Francis eventually became a pillar of the Church, both living in poverty to assist those in greatest need and in establishing the Franciscan Order, the Order of Poor Clares, an enclosed order for women, and the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance. Near the end of his life, he became the first person recorded in history to bear the stigmata, the Passion wounds that Christ suffered in crucifixion, which only added to his ultimate aura and legacy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles River Editors
• Release date: May 5, 2025
• ISBN: 9781475330687

Book preview

The Most Influential Catholic Saints: The Lives and Legacies of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Ignatius of Loyola

By Charles River Editors

About Charles River Editors

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Charles River Editors was founded by Harvard and MIT alumni to provide superior editing and original writing services, with the expertise to create digital content for publishers across a vast range of subject matter. In addition to providing original digital content for third party publishers, Charles River Editors republishes civilization’s greatest literary works, bringing them to a new generation via ebooks.

Introduction

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St. Francis of Assisi (1181/2-1226)

A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ Catholic Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of the Church’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.

Alongside St. Ignatius, who founded the Jesuits, St. Francis of Assisi is widely regarded as one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic Church due to his work establishing religious Orders that have done an incalculable amount of good and service for societies. Like St. Ignatius, St. Francis also got his start as a soldier who experienced a vision that put him on a more divine path.

St. Francis eventually became a pillar of the Church, both living in poverty to assist those in greatest need and in establishing the Franciscan Order, the Order of Poor Clares, an enclosed order for women, and the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance. Near the end of his life, he became the first person recorded in history to bear the stigmata, the Passion wounds that Christ suffered in crucifixion, which only added to his ultimate aura and legacy.

The Most Influential Catholic Saints details the remarkable life Francis lived and analyzes the enduring impact his work has had on the Church and the world at large. Along with historic depictions of St. Francis of Assisi and other important places and events in his life, you will learn about this most venerated saint like you never have before, in no time at all.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Thomas_Aquinas_by_Fra_Bartolommeo.jpg/220px-Thomas_Aquinas_by_Fra_Bartolommeo.jpg

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

It would be hard to overstate the influence that St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) has had on both the Catholic world and the West as a whole over the last 750 years. Even in secular circles, Aquinas is known as one of the most important medieval philosophers, and in many respects a harbinger of the Renaissance that began to flourish across Europe in the centuries that followed his life. His groundbreaking work, Summa Theologica, remains one of the most influential philosophical texts in history, earning him a place in the pantheon alongside Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates.

Aquinas had just as great an influence on Christianity as well. His philosophical works forged and established natural theology, squaring Catholicism with reason and logic, the ideals and aspects of modern thought that really took hold during the Renaissance. With his work on logic, theology, and metaphysics, as one of the Church’s Doctors, Thomas Aquinas remains the Catholic Church’s greatest theologian and philosopher, and he is still held out by the Church as the role model for those studying to become a Catholic priest.

The Most Influential Catholic Saints details the remarkable life Thomas lived and analyzes his writings, explaining how strong and enduring his legacy has become. Along with historic depictions of Thomas Aquinas and other important places and events in his life, you will learn about the Church’s greatest philosopher like you never have before, in no time at all.

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St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Of all of the important Catholic men and women who have been venerated over the last 2,000 years, one of the faith’s most popular and influential men also lived one of the most unique lives. Like Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) found God about as far away from church as possible; it was during military service that he underwent a remarkable conversion.

A Spanish knight who hailed from a noble Basque family, Ignatius seemed destined for military glory until he was badly wounded in 1521 during the Battle of Pamplona. While convalescing, Ignatius began reading De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxony, after which he began a tireless career in service of the Catholic Church. After spending several years studying the faith, Ignatius formed the Society of Jesus in 1539, and as its Superior General, he sent followers as missionaries across Europe to create schools, colleges, and seminaries. The Jesuits remain active across the world nearly 500 years later. By 1548, he had published his famous Spiritual Exercises, which help the faithful commit themselves to Christ by conducting different mental exercises. The Spiritual Exercises continue to be wildly popular across the world today, even among non-Catholics.

By the time Ignatius died in 1556, he was one of the most important Catholics of the Counter-Reformation, and it took less than 100 years for him to be beatified and canonized as a saint. The Most Influential Catholic Saints chronicles Ignatius’ remarkable life and his ongoing legacy. Along with historic depictions of Ignatius and pictures of other important people, places and events in his life, you will learn about St. Ignatius of Loyola like you never have before, in no time at all.

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The habit of St. Francis of Assisi

The Most Influential Catholic Saints: The Lives and Legacies of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Ignatius of Loyola

About Charles River Editors

Introduction

St. Francis of Assisi

Prologue

Chapter 1: Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Chapter 2: Where there is injury, pardon.

Chapter 3: Where there is doubt, faith.

Chapter 4: Where there is despair, hope.

Chapter 5: Where there is darkness, light.

Chapter 6: Where there is sadness, joy.

Bibliography

Books About St. Francis

Books by St. Francis

St. Thomas Aquinas

Chapter 1: Universal Son

Chapter 2: Universal Dominican

Chapter 3: Universal Professor

Chapter 4: Universal Defender of Doctrine

Chapter 5: Universal Saint

Chapter 6: Universal Inspiration - What Modern Catholics Can Learn From Saint Thomas Aquinas

Chapter 7: Philosophical Legacy

Epistemology

Ethics and the Law

Justice

Bibliography

Books About Thomas Aquinas

Books by Thomas Aquinas

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Chapter 1: The Soldier in Training

Chapter 2: The Soldier in Battle

Chapter 3: The Soldier in Turmoil

Chapter 4: The Soldier at School

Chapter 5: The Soldier Takes the Lead

Chapter 6: The Soldier Becomes the General

Chapter 7: The Soldier and the Council

Chapter 8: The Soldier Makes a Battle Plan

Chapter 9: The Soldier’s Schools

Chapter