SYRACUSE, NY (OCTOBER 30, 2015)—An eight-foot bronze statue of Jesuit founder and its first Superior General Saint Ignatius of Loyola was dedicated on October 22, just a day before his 524th birthday at the small private institution in Syracuse, Le Moyne College, Toms River-based Hanlon Sculpture Studio announced.
Depicted as if he is emerging from the cave after writing the Spiritual Exercises, the dynamic thinker, priest and theologian from the 16th century, who experienced a spiritual awakening after being critically injured in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521, is shown offering his gracious hand out to guide you on your path of life just outside the Panasci Family Chapel.
“It is to pay tribute to the Jesuits’ profound and constant impact on education and faith,” said NJ sculptor Brian Hanlon. “I wanted to convey grace and serenity in his movement. I was honored to be able to sculpt such an important figure.”
The statue, with its seemingly blowing cloak, captures the Jesuit founder’s commitment to the care and development of the whole person, mind, body and soul. The pious leader and his followers held themselves by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and in 1539, formed the Society of Jesus, which was approved in 1540 by Pope Paul III, who also approved his Spiritual Exercises in 1548. St. Ignatius died in July 1556, was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1609, canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, and declared patron of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.
Also gracing the campus is a multi-medium sculpture wall in the new Coyne Science Center called “Jesuits in Science,” which was also unveiled by Hanlon Sculpture Studio in 2013.
This is not Hanlon’s first liturgical statue. Among many others, Hanlon has sculpted Pope John Paul II who served from 1978 to 2005; Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, the 20th century Spanish Jesuit priest; and Fr. Mychal Judge, the Catholic priest and chaplain to the New York City Fire Department who became the first casualty following the 9/11 attacks.
Founded by St. Ignatius Loyola in 1539, the Society of Jesus began at the University of Paris by a group of students dedicated to living in the service of God through education and allegiance to the Pope. Today, the Jesuits are the single-largest order of priests within the Catholic Church, comprised of approximately 17,000 working in over 100 countries on six continents. The Jesuits have been brought further into the spotlight recently with the election of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope.
For more pictures, please visit: St. Ignatius Statue Gallery
ABOUT HANLON SCULPTURE STUDIO
Brian P. Hanlon is a classically-trained master sculptor and founder of Hanlon Sculpture Studio; a full-service art studio that designs, creates, and installs awe-inspiring and signature monuments featuring bronze, aluminum, stainless steel and granite sculptures, illustrative and informational graphics, and interactive kiosks.
Hanlon Sculpture Studio provides complete site design services from sculptures to hard and softscapes, and offers total project management from design to installation and unveiling. In collaboration with administrative and athletic staff at colleges and universities, the studio develops the scope of artwork projects that are designed to enhance the spirit, pride and tradition of athletics and the campus community.