On July 31, the Universal Church marks the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Ignatius was born into a noble family in 1491 in Guipuzcoa, Spain. After making a general confession in a monastery in Montserrat, St. Ignatius proceeded to spend almost a year in solitude. St. Ignatius returned to complete his studies in Spain and then France, where he received his theology degree. St. Ignatius remained in Rome, where he governed the Society and became friends with St. Philip Neri.