Today, July 31, we celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Happy feast day! We’ll wager a guess that if you’re a listener of this podcast, then today’s saint needs no introduction. You know about the cannonball, the pilgrimage, the Spiritual Exercises and the founding of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius’ story, told year after year, might even begin to feel a bit dry.

That’s why we’re excited about today’s interview. Our guest takes a fresh approach to this well-known history. We’re looking at the story of Ignatius and the Jesuits not from a chronological perspective but from a thematic one. Claudio Ferlan is an Italian historian and was a fellow at Boston College’s Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. His time at BC has led to the publication of a new book titled “The Jesuits: A Thematic History.”

What are these themes? We explore the historical development and importance of the Ignatian identity, of the role of mission work in the Society, of the Jesuit’s unique way of proceeding and of the inevitable conflicts that Jesuits have found themselves engaged in. We think you’ll find this to be a brisk, fascinating tour of Jesuit history.

And if you do like this conversation or just have an interest in Jesuit history, then pick up a copy of “The Jesuits: A Thematic History.”