2018 Reflections
From July 1 to 14, 2018, the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies led its fifth cohort through Spain and Italy as part of an immersion course offered through its Certificate in Jesuit Studies program. The Institute welcomes 20 participants--Jesuit scholastics and laywomen and men–from Europe and the Americas.
Participants spent 14 days following the footsteps of the founders of the Society of Jesus, as they travel through Madrid, Arévalo, Burgos, Loyola, Aranzazu, Pamplona, Xavier, Zaragoza, Verdú, Montserrat, Manresa, Barcelona, Castel Gandolfo, and Rome.
Here are their reflections on their travels.
JULY 11 – YOUNG JESUITS IN ROME
Rome
We’ve spent the last 24 hours considering the types of questions the nascent society of Jesus asked itself. What were the traits it sought it in leaders? Who were the type of young men it would admit to its ranks? The answers to these questions have been answered emphatically in the course of our daily travels. In visiting the tombs and rooms of Ignatius, Stanislaus Kostka, and Aloysius Gonzaga, we’ve seen some of the shining lights of the early Jesuits. The names of these men are literally synonymous with Jesuit education today. We speak still of Ignatian spirituality. My own school bears the name of young Aloysius, 450 years after his birth.
But in a 24 hours of questions, I’m left with this thought. What questions are these men, and their startling legacies, posing to us as Jesuit educators today? The Jesuits, so we have discovered, left little to chance in forming and running the Society that guides our work today. How much do we leave to chance in discerning and pursuing the example these visionaries set for us? We sat today in the room of the young saint, Aloysius, who vowed chastity at aged 9 and died aged 23 caring for plague victims after a life of inimitable devotion.
How, I thought, does Gonzaga College Dublin bear any resemblance to the man whose name it takes? In a world where Aloysius’ devotion now seems almost unreal, how can it?
Not for the first time on this trip, Fr. Casey provided the best line of approach. At mass in the Church of St. Andrea di Quirinale, he reminded us that the rough and tumble of school life can often lack the saintliness of the great men whose names hang over the front door. Thankfully, our job is not to be saints. Our job is to hover, one foot in the beautiful chaos of God’s creation, and one foot raised, with an eye on what is to come. In other words, we are called to be truly contemplative in action, even when that action is a 14 year old throwing a pen across your classroom. After a daunting day in the footsteps of Jesuit giants, this was a welcome moment of clarity.
Saints are meant to inspire, not to intimidate.
_____
This was a very interesting read that allowed the reader access to the criteria for applicants who wish to become Jesuit priests.
The Formula of the Society of Jesus recommends caution when admitting new members. A rigorous and thorough approach is put in places to ensure that young Jesuits are committed to a life of chastity, poverty and obedience. Certain things ought to be asked in order to know the candidate better. The candidate must reply with sincerity and truth. This made me wonder about what questions Gonzaga would have been asked back in the 16th century. What challenges did he face and what insights did he bring to the society of Jesus.
The questions focused on getting to know the candidate. Questions like : was the candidate born of a legitimate marriage or not? What are his parents names? If his parents were still alive? The candidate would also be asked if he has held or holds any opinions or ideas different from those which are commonly held in the church and among the teachers whom she has approved. If at some time he should hold any views that differ to what may be determined in the Society may impact him joining. This made me reflect on the challenges Jesuit face in order to become a member of the society of Jesus. The fact that their views or past experiences could negatively impact their future life choices made me wonder. One does wonder about the future of the Jesuits and how their application process can stay true to its roots, without having a negative impact of recruitment.
– Paul Corcoran, Religion, History & Classics Teacher, Gonzaga College SJ, County Dublin, Ireland
– Rob Altman, History and Theology Teacher, Belvedere College, Country Dublin, Ireland
JULY 9 – THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS
Rome
Following a week in Spain that included a variety of beautiful landscapes and bustling city life, we flew over the Mediterranean Sea to Rome. For many in the group, including both of us, this was a first. The experience of drastic change from the countryside to city was again evident, yet this time it was a change in culture, food and language at the fore. In many ways an appropriate theme for the day is: “the first….”
Our first stop was La Storta. Ignatius's first time in the modest, pink chapel was where he was blessed with the vision of God accompanied by Jesus carrying the cross. This is a significant event in the life of Ignatius, and one could argue that without it, the Society may not exist as it does. Up to that point, Ignatius was determined to get to the Holy Land, but when Jesus said to him, "I will be favorable to you in Rome" his journey changed direction, this time at La Storta, which means the curve. This was the first time Ignatius felt himself confirmed personally about where he was to stay for the rest of his life.
Presenting the Society to the Supreme Pontiff would by no means be easy, and Ignatius knew he would face heavy criticism. He drew strength from his companions, and more importantly, from Jesus. Many years later in 1981, Pedro Arrupe, S.J. addressed the 33rd General Congregation at the small chapel in La Storta, thus confirming the importance of the site. In his homily, Arrupe cited the Formula of the Institute approved by Julius III as a way to rekindle enthusiasm of a Society facing difficult times. As Ignatius knew, so too did Arrupe, that facing challenging times would be possible through companionship with Jesus as a source of comfort and strength.
Our second stop was the massive St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, one of four ancient major basilicas in Rome (the other three being St. Peter’s. St. John the Lateran, and St. Mary Major, which the later will be discussed shortly). It was in this impressive basilica on April 22, 1541 (Easter Friday) in the Chapel of Blessed Sacrament, where six Jesuits, including Ignatius, gathered to profess their solemn religious vows. This was the first time in the history of the Society in which the vow of obedience to the sovereign pontiff in regard to the missions was taken. St. Paul’s, first consecrated in year 324 and completely rebuild in 1840, houses the remains of St. Paul, or Saul prior to his conversion. The pictures of all 266 pontificates are displayed around the basilica and there are many amazing chapels dedicated to St. Stephen, St. Benedict, St. and Lawrence.
Our third and final stop for the day was Santa Maria Maggiore, or St. Mary Major in English. Started in the year 432 and completed in 1743, this major basilica is dedicated to Virgin Mary, which held a special place in Ignatius’s heart. It was in this space that Ignatius gave his first mass in the year 1538, a year and half after ordination. Originally hoping to say his first mass in the Holy Land, at the Church of the Nativity, Ignatius ultimately chose St. Mary Major because it housed the relic of the Crib, Jesus’ birth place.
The sites we visited today have centuries, if not millennia, of history. During the time of Ignatius, these buildings were places of first, meaningful experiences. It is humbling to think about the history and meaning of these locations, even as it was both our first time visiting these sites. Indeed, in the words of Eduardo Galeano, “history never really says goodbye. History says, ‘see you later.’’’
– Jeffrey Grifa, College Counselor, McQuaid High School, Rochester, New York
– Chris Miller, doctoral student, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
JULY 8 – ENCOUNTERING THE WORLD IN BARCELONA
Barcelona and Rome
On Sunday we awoke in Barcelona and went to sleep in Rome. Having followed the way of Ignatius across Spain for six days we had arrived in Manresa on Saturday and spent the day visiting the several sights associated with the pilgrim, not least the iconic ‘cova’.
Saturday night had been spent in Barcelona, which - while pleasant - was a long way from the town Ignatius knew and just as far from the solitudes we had experienced in Azpeitia, Sos and Montserrat. The city hit us like a punch in the stomach and we had to struggle to retain a connection with our purpose in much the same way that Ignatius strove when distracted by ‘that most relentless enemy’ as he pursued his Latin studies there [‘Following Ignatius’, p.82]
While Barcelona is not writ as large in the story of Ignatius as are other locations and events before and after, nonetheless it was significant for a couple of reasons, one of which saved his life. Initially he came there from Manresa simply to embark for the Holy Land but was delayed while finding a suitable ship and also waiting for good weather.
During this lacuna Ignatius encountered Isabella Roser, a noblewoman, who would fund his studies on his return from the Holy Land as well as in later years. Of more immediate importance, she asked him to change ship to one owned by a relative of her husband as a result of which he did not perish when his original choice foundered and sank.
Ignatius would come back to Barcelona a year later on his return from the Holy Land a disenchanted and chastened man. He spent two years there learning the fundamentals of Latin preparatory to his university studies in Alacalá and then Paris. As many as ten years later (1526) he still retained a fondness for the old city and spoke of his hope to return there someday to minister - but La Storta would change that.
During our time in the city we visited the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar (where Doña Rosa first noticed Ignatius as he taught children on the steps of the altar) and saw the plaque marking the spot where he begged for alms. The second of our three church visits brought us to the Jesuit run Iglesia del Sagrat Cor which boasts a sword reputed to be the one that he left behind at Montserrat.
No trip to Barcelona would be complete without experiencing Gaudi’s as yet unfinished masterpiece, the cathedral of La Sagrada Familia. Our guided tour was preceded by an intimate Mass in the crypt - a privilege not given to many. The Gospel noted that a prophet is without honour in his own country, a fate that did not befall Ignatius, who was well respected from Azpeitia to Barcelona and beyond. Despite this, the pilgrim spent most of the second part of his life abroad especially in Rome, our next destination.
Inevitably the day was something of a period of transition as we left Barcelona and travelled to Rome rather more quickly than Ignatius did (although we wondered about that for a while on the tarmac at the airport). While it was something of a wrench to depart the pilgrim route that we had been following, it was exciting to look forward to visiting the places where the seeds of the Society were sown and tended. The Eternal City, where Ignatius finally settled and set down the administrative structure that ensured the robust growth of his legacy over the ensuing five centuries.
– Declan O'Keeffe, Head of Communications, Clongowes Wood College SJ
JULY 7 – A LIVING EXAMPLE IN MANRESA
Barcelona and Manresa
Those familiar with the life of Ignatius know of the significance of the Cardoner River—the place where Ignatius had perhaps one of his most significant visions. My own popular imagination placed Ignatius at the banks of a beautiful river, surrounded by lush vegetation, his pilgrim’s robe fluttering in a cool breeze. In the midst of this idyllic scene, God gives Ignatius a vision where he understands all things, both spiritual and physical, about the world. Ignatius himself says that if he were to add up all the graces of his life, they would not total the graces given to him in this vision.
One problem though…the idyllic scene I had imagined is not what you find at Manresa. First, the Spanish Province of the Society of Jesus has determined that the vision that Ignatius had did not take place in fact at the river bank, but on an outcropping of rocks high above the city that overlooks the river.
Second, the Cardoner itself is crammed between a bustling street and a modern train station. Access to the river is through an unkempt and overgrown pathway that leads to something that resembles a spillway. Incidentally, as we traipsed down to the river, we seemed to catch a couple in the midst of an…”encounter.”
So much for my “composition of place.”
And yet, there is something quintessentially Jesuit about Manresa. Or rather, perhaps I should say there is something quintessentially “Manresan” about the Society of Jesus. Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality that seeks to bring the monastery into the marketplace, and Manresa is a bustling marketplace. It has none of the quiet peacefulness of Loyola, Aranzazu, or Montserrat. It is a cramped place where people are busily about their daily lives. After his powerful experiences at Loyola and Montserrat, he moves away from quiet and peace, and into the bustle of daily life. It is interesting that Ignatius had intended to stay in Manresa for only a few days as he prepared to go to Barcelona to find passage to the Holy Land. But there was something about Manresa that captured his attention so that he delayed his dream to reach Jerusalem for 11 months as he lived and worked there.
What did he find? As we stood overlooking the city, Fr. Casey proposed a way of looking at the vision at the Cardoner. As you look out from the outcropping, you see Montserrat to the left, where Ignatius turns his life toward God; the Basilica of La Seu to the right, where he encounters the Church; the city of Manresa spread out before him where he encounters God’s people as he ministers to them and their needs. The Cardoner River serves as a focal point that unites all of these elements for Ignatius—a kind of lens that focuses all of the graces that Ignatius has experienced. All of this, he brings with him back to the cave where he wrote the Spiritual Exercises.
Present day, there is a wall that encloses the cave forming a chapel. At the time of Ignatius, the cave, which was more of a crude rock shelf that would have sheltered Ignatius from the sun and rain the cave would have been open, giving Ignatius a panoramic view of the holy mountain of Montserrat and the river. There, in that cave, we celebrated Mass together as we ended our day. As I sat there, leaning against the cool rock face of the cave, I thought of the countless number of people whose hearts have been turned toward God by the Exercises that Ignatius wrote there. I also remembered my own experience of the Exercises during the long retreat nearly nine years ago and the countless graces and consolations I have experienced as a result of undergoing these Exercises.
As tears welled up in my eyes, I felt rushes of emotion as I contemplated God’s love and presence there in that cave and in my life. I realized that the vision at the Cardoner has very little to do with the river itself or any kind of natural beauty it might have, or lack thereof. Instead, it has everything to do with the way God encounters Ignatius, and us: in the midst of our lives and experiences.
– Matthew Stewart, S.J., Jesuit Scholastic, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
JULY 6 – SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Montserrat
Late in the afternoon on Thursday, the jagged edges of Montserrat—literally, ‘the serrated mountain’—came into view through the windshield of our bus. Towering over the other geographical features of the region, Montserrat is unmistakable. Our leaders had advertised a morning hike for Friday. Gazing at the mountain through the bus window, such a hike seemed unfathomable.
And how much more unfathomable this summit must have seemed to Ignacio, who ascended the mountain with only one good leg, after months of crossing through the harsh Basque landscape in search of a greater purpose! Continuing his journey up the steep slopes, Ignacio contemplated what he must do next: leave his sword at the altar of Our Lady of Montserrat, symbolizing the beginning of a new and uncertain future.
Approximately 500 years later, in the chapel of Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, we had our daily mass and contemplated what it was that we could symbolically leave before the altar of Our Lady of Montserrat. After vowing that I (Adrienne) would never set foot on any hiking path of this jagged mountain, I was convinced by some peers to attempt the supposedly easy climb down to the sacred cave where Ignacio venerated the Black Madonna. As myself and three others descended the steep slope cut into the side of the mountain, I regretted more and more what I had agreed to do. Furthermore, we discovered that the funicular incline which should have transported us back to the hotel was (naturally) out of order. We would be forced to hike up every step that we had hiked down.
Sitting in the chapel of the Santa Cueva, I tried to draw spiritual strength for the laborious 90 minute return journey under the unyielding rays of the Spanish sun. We said a silent prayer and began our ascent.
It was absolutely just as hard as I had imagined it was going to be. We rested in the little shade that the mountainside occasionally offered to us. It was, truly and sincerely, the encouragement of my three companions which helped me to the top.
Arriving back at the hotel, red-faced and tired, I considered for the first time what it might have been that I had left at that altar. In the end, I think, it was the fear of the journey. I undertook a task with what seemed to me an uncertain outcome. A member of our group (Matt Kaiser) remarked that the trip so far had taught us to become “comfortable being uncomfortable.” Ignatius, too, had to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. After his convalescence at Loyola, he embarked on a long and arduous journey—far more so than the one we completed in a single morning on Montserrat. He prayed for spiritual strength and guidance. He gave up that which he had relied upon in the past. He faced an uncertain future on his way down the mountainside.
The journey can be hard, and indeed, uncertain. But how glorious it was to have gone on it.
JULY 5 – PILGRIMAGE AND DISCERNMENT
Sos del Rey Católico, Zaragoza, Verdú, and Montserrat
The reflection readings today tell us that Ignatius saw a utility in the process of discernment…even though he thought a pilgrimage could be very arduous to some. We believe he is also asking us to trust the process. God is with us on this journey.
Father Casey’s homily at this morning’s mass invited us to trust the process and see this day and this pilgrimage experience with our eyes and heart, to sense things both externally and internally and to be open to moments when the external and internal senses coincide. Moreover, Father Casey said that during this trip we need to hold onto a sense of ‘awe and wonder’ without expecting to gain specific clarity…and least of all not now. So we gain a sense that we need to keep moving forward. Keeping one foot in front of the other…in faith; that this slow process of pilgrimage and discernment, as Allison mentioned, is one that we are all on.
We think that Jesus, also had to go through this process of discernment. He had a sense of where the road was taking him but the final destination was not certain. He even asked the Father to take the cup away from him. We suppose that Ignatius may have found himself asking God to help him be courageous and not turn around, particularly as his thoughts turned back to the romantic adventures of the books of his youth.
Some of us expressed a similar sense of fear and apprehension before arriving in Madrid. Ignatius is asking us to continue moving forward – to trust the process –that we may find ourselves full of ‘awe and wonder’ at the end of our road together.
Encountering ‘awe and wonder’ along our way
Our first encounter was with the beautiful scenery as we gathered outside the Parador hotel. Many of us were not expecting to see the green hills as the sun continued to rise and shine across the valley. Later we knocked on the ancient door of the St. Sebastian chapel where we encountered the bright smile and warm heart of the priest, who opened the tiny door and led us to a magnificent hidden jewel. Again, you could hear the reactions of some of the people in the group. The elderly priest who clearly had given years of service to God, generously opened the crypt and explained the remnants of the fourteenth century. His kindness reminded us of the kindness shown to Ignatius as he journeyed on his pilgrimage to Montserrat. So, we continued on our journey with a walk along the small village. The narrow streets allowed for many surprises including lovely views, interesting architecture, a tower decorated by a colorful tapestries and then an amazing patch of lavender that no one was expecting. Later in Zaragoza, we were amazed at the grandeur of the Basilica and the small acts of devotion inside. We heard the rosary being said in a chapel, priests hearing confession and the veneration of the Pilar.
As we continued on the day’s journey, Cristiano’s reflection on the ‘liquidity of transition’ as a process for moving forward without jolting stops along the way. He helped us shift our perspective and consider how we might embrace the ‘way of pilgrimage’ and allow ourselves to get ‘lost’ in our imaginations along the way.
Many of us have taken on this pilgrimage to discern the possibilities ahead of us but as Ignatius tells us we need personal space and time to cultivate our imagination. Seth’s reflection reminds us that the Devotion Moderno is one of the ways that we can reach ‘true renewal’. So leave it to Ignatius to tell show us the way, motivate us to move and then to tell us that through these different paths we will find out our own way to love and serve the Lord…
Interestingly the Pilgrim’s Testament tells us that as Ignatius approached Monserrat, he was “still blind though greatly desirous of serving him (God) as far as his knowledge went.” The Testament mentions that at this time of the journey Ignatius was doing great penances, not to satisfy his sins but to please God, “His whole intention was to do such great external works because the saints had done so for the glory of God” (p 21).
From such acts he derived all his consolation, not looking to any interior thing. Perhaps we too engage in acts that console us by the approval of our companions rather than edifying their consciousness and winning their approval, as referenced in p9 of the travel companion. We too may need to listen to our hearts and discern what may bring consolation to us on our journey.
As we approach Monserrat it is interesting to note that we too are partially blind and bring with us a great desire to discern and commit even further to our Jesuit apostolate. Each stop, each conversation, each homily is prying our eyes open and moving us out of the spiritual fog.
We look forward to the next part of our adventure.
– Letty Garcia, Associate Director, Leadership Initiative, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
– Paul Kilraine, Teacher of Chemistry, Science, Maths and Law, Coláiste Iognáid SJ, Galway.
JULY 4 – MOMENTS OF CONVERSION
Loyola, Aranzazu, Pamplona, Javier, and Sos del Rey Católico
We began the day with Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady of Olatz where Inigo paused briefly before departing Loyola. In his homily, Fr. Casey reminded us of the centrality of Mary to Inigo’s journey, first from the local Marian shrine on to Aranzazu, which was the regional Marian shrine.
The image of suffering appears subtly in Our Lady of Aranzazu, ‘Thou, amongst the thorns!’, which could possibly be referencing the crucifixion. When Mary watched her son on the cross, she too was being crucified and felt the pain that her son was enduring simultaneously. One of the beams in the Chapel of Our Lady of Olatz bore the words ‘veni coronaberis’, Come, you will be crowned. Yes, Our Lady was crowned Queen of Heaven, but first she had to share the crown of thorns with her Son. This Lady will be more deserving of Inigo’s devotion than any lady of the royal court.
The image of the smiling, crucified Christ in Javier’s castle unites so many of today’s experiences. The physical suffering endured by Inigo as a result of his injury in Pamplona, the long journey back to Loyola, the excruciating surgeries and recuperation, these are vivid in our minds; but, during Inigo’s convalescence, the crucified Christ became vivid in his. He recognised the chivalric nature of Christ as Redeemer of mankind and found a new version of the code for which he had spent his young life preparing. In The Windhover, Gerard Manley Hopkins, the Jesuit poet, is stunned to see his Christ/ “chevalier” in the image of a kestrel in flight as he “rebuffed the big wind”, like a knight scattering the enemy before him…
“My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!”
This was the experience of Inigo too, a quickening of the heart, a recognition of his mission, and a resolution to follow it.
But Jesus is represented as smiling on the cross! The extracts from Ludolph of Saxony’s Vita Christi use the language of food, water and sweetness to describe the via Christi. It is a journey towards the cross accepted “cheerfully” (Following Ignatius p43), its nourishment welcomed, in fact:
“This food is so agreeable and delicious that, once a loving heart has tasted it, all other
practices will seem bland.” (ibid p 41)
Ludolph, a Carthusian monk, was the author of the second book which the recovering Inigo read, and the themes of redemption and rebirth in Vita Christi are ones which shaped his spirituality and subsequent recovery. The Carthusian’s were both hermitic and communal living monks, and Inigo was intrigued by this way of life. He contemplated joining the Carthusian house in Seville; “without saying who he was, so they would make little of him” (A Pilgrims Testament p12). He sent a servant to Seville to acquire this information for him, but due to his engrossing thoughts about his upcoming journey, he did not return to this plan, for fear of distracting himself from his goals.
We can imagine Inigo’s response to the exhortation to do penance and be healed, meditate “with deliberation” and pray, have “a thirst to put into practice” what his Lord will ask of him, and repel ‘our three enemies - impotence, ignorance, negligence” (Following Ignatius p 44). Ludolph often refers to the Lord as a healer, and we are his patients; coming to him with contrition and honesty. Ludolph refers to God’s invitation to sinners, ‘Come to me all you that labor with the toil of vices and are burdened with the baggage of your sins, and I will refresh you by healing and reviving you; and you shall find rest for your souls, here and hereafter.’ This invitation is one that Inigo, lying there recovering from his wounds, embraces and this is a huge moment of conversion for him, the former knight; and now the pilgrim.
Finally, what may have resonated strongly for Inigo, the man who was prepared to give everything for a castle in Pamplona, is the invitation to martyrdom, presented in gory and glorious colour:
“The martyr leaps for joy and triumphs even as his whole body is being mangled… he
watches the holy blood stream from his body not merely bravely, but gladly.” (ibid p 42-43).
Inigo might well have been attracted by Francis’s brash claim, as he revelled in the Perugian prison:
“Know that I rejoice now because in time the whole world
will worship me as a saint!” (ibid p 45).
In time, Inigo’s conversion will become free of vain glory and “gather to a greatness like the ooze of oil crushed.” (The Grandeur of God, Hopkins)
– Ken Murray, History & Religious Education Teacher, Gonzaga College SJ, County Dublin, Ireland
– Martin Wallace, Deputy Headmaster, Clongowes Wood College SJ, County Kildare, Ireland
JULY 3 – YOUNG IGNATIUS
Loyola and Azpeitia
Expectations
Pedro de Ribadeneira declared his expectations and anxieties as he began to write a biography of Ignatius. He had a clear methodology and reliable sources, but even with those he was nervous that he couldn’t convey what needed to be conveyed. This theme of high expectations arose multiple times on Tuesday, our full day in Loyola.
As Ignatius lay in what is now the conversion chapel, where we celebrated mass together, he devised a plan to go to Jerusalem and spend his life there. He too had high expectations, just as he had for himself as a knight before his conversion. With the benefit of hindsight, we can smile at how Ignatius’s ultimate path compared to what he expected. His plans were different than what God had planned for him.
What can we learn from Ignatius’s ability to adapt his expectations to reality? As we sat in seminar last night, many pilgrims expressed their expectations and anxieties. We all came on this trip for different reasons, and we all hope to grow from our experiences here. Like Ribadeneira, we want to “get it right”. Yet it is likely that God’s plans will not be identical to ours.
As we continue on the path of St. Ignatius we hope to emulate the trust in God that he demonstrated by his detachment. We know God is speaking to us through this experience, and that often the messages and graces we receive are not the ones that we expect.
– Margaret Felice, Church History Teacher and Campus Ministry, Boston College High School, Dorchester, Massachusetts
– Richard Sullivan, Director of Ignatian Formation, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Missouri
JULY 2 – IBERIAN ROOTS
Arévalo, Burgos, and Loyola
We began our journey in Madrid, at the center of today’s Spain. 90 minutes later, we arrived at Arévalo, the center of 1491’s Spain.
“Up to the age of 26 [Íñigo] was a man given to the follies of the world,” and we entered into a milieu that was formative in those early years for two reasons: there was the court where young Íñigo served as a page and the settlement of Jews just outside the city. Walking from Plaza del Real to Castillo de Arévalo, we caught a glimpse of the chivalric culture that had captivated the imagination of Íñigo. Arévalo served as a point of exposure—exposure to the world’s “follies” as well as to the “other,” the Jewish community at a cultural and religious distance but close at hand just outside the walls.
Two hours more on the bus brought us to Burgos, hometown of the converso Polanco family. We made our way past the towering and splendid Catedral de Burgos to San Nicolás de Bari, where Juan Alfonso’s parents and grandparents are entombed at the base of an intricately carved limestone altarpiece. The dramatic extravagance of this little church is telling of its generous Polanco patrons. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, there was a tension within the Spanish Church that compelled all conversos to put their Catholicism on display. Consequently, Juan Alfonso’s faith was likely scrutinized, but he went on to play a critical role in the early Society, serving as secretary to the first three Jesuit Superiors General, including Ignatius himself.
Leaving Burgos, we passed once more through the Arco de Santa Maria, and one of our group members remarked that he thought we should be on horseback. Indeed, in the spirit of young Íñigo, with sights so grand, it seemed fitting.
As the topography shifted along our route from Madrid through Castile and finally into the Basque region, our eyes hungrily took in kilometers of rolling hills, wild yellow flowers, seas of dark green trees, and mountains peppered with boulders. While we were transported across Spain to the North, the sights so stimulated the imagination that we were transported back to the early 1500-1510s. Group discussions and presentations revealed a common experience: What we had seen left us wondering, what had young Inigo seen and how did this prepare his heart? To find answers of his own, Íñigo had to go home. At last we arrived at Loyola.
Loyola may not have been the location that Íñigo/Ignatius spent the most years, or even the most formative ones...it was his home. It was the place where he twice recuperated. It was, by birthright, his place in the world. But perhaps most importantly, it was the place where he reimagined his place in God’s world. The natural splendor of Loyola is plain to see, but the spiritual fruit here that so nourished Ignatius back to life is something we hope to discover ourselves.
– Frank Hager, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Scranton Preparatory School, Scranton, Pennsylvania
– Christine Lorica, Student Life Coordinator/Americorps Fellow, Cristo Rey Boston, Dorchester, Massachusetts
JULY 1 – OPENING CONVERSATIONS
Madrid
Finally. Today, our group once scattered around the globe finally gathered for our first meeting in person. We met at our hotel on Madrid's Gran Vía and made the short walk to the Universidad Pontificia Comillas. There (after Spain's World Cup game against Russia), the vice dean warmly welcomed us and gave a brief tour before allowing us space for our first discussion.
This first conversation was a continuation of many that from the past three weeks when participants have engaged with each other in small online groups to discuss shared readings on the history and spirituality of the Society of Jesus. They also each wrote a paper explaining what they hoped to gain from following Ignatius and his story as well as what the early Jesuits had hoped to learn in reflecting on the life of the founder of the Society of Jesus. They addressed the difficulties in separating historical fact from historical myth and in confronting what you think you know with what you ought to know.
Those reflection papers served as the starting points for our discussion here in Madrid. We also considered the primary sources that we read for today: Pierre Favre's instructions to pilgrims; Pedro Arrupe's homily at La Storta, delivered on his behalf the day after he resigned as superior general; and excerpts from the second degree from the 35th General Congregation. The conversations continued as we dined together at a local restaurant.
For the next two weeks, we will guide these 20 people enrolled in the Institute's immersion course. We intend for the course to expose everyone to unique opportunities, thematic readings, and group discussions so that they might critically examine the foundations of the Society of Jesus. The short-term goal of the online discussions and travels is for the participants to deepen their understanding of the spirituality, history, and leadership methods associated with the Society of Jesus. More long term, we hope that our time together will ultimately assist the participants' personal and professional vocations, paying dividends long after we have traveled in the footsteps of leaders.
Those travels begin tomorrow as we head northwest to the town of Arévalo, where the young Íñigo served as a page in the royal court, before we visit Burgos, the hometown of Juan Alfonso de Polanco, and ultimately to Loyola.
– Casey Beaumier, SJ, Director; Cristiano Casalini, Research Scholar; and Seth Meehan, Associate Director; the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies
DAY 1: JUNE 20 IBERIAN ROOTS
Madrid, Arevalo, Burgos, Azpeitia
Arriving: Today was a day of arriving and setting the stage for the life of young Ignatius and the context in which he was born and lived. We arrived in Madrid at 6:30am and traveled to Arévelo, where Ignatius spent 13 formative years serving as a page in the court of King Ferdinand, preparing for the life of a nobleman. We next traveled northeast to Burgos, the site of Spain’s first cathedral and home to Juan Alfonso de Polanco, one of the major collaborators and influential writers in helping Ignatius establish the Society of Jesus. Finally, we traveled to Loyola in the city of Azpeitia located in the Basque country of northern Spain.
Teenage Ignatius: Walking the streets that young Ignatius once did allowed us to further and more deeply reflect on his life before the well-known injury in Pamplona. From the age of about 13 to 26, some of the most formative years for any young adult, he was sent away from his family in Loyola to Arevalo. This young man romanticized the idea of fame, glory, and was often distracted by vanity in many ways of his life. We deeply appreciated how his identity was shaped so young, which only further lifts up and highlights the life of this man who ultimately realized he could not win the interior battle he was fighting until he surrendered to Christ.
Geography: We were surprised by the diversity of geography moving from the flatlands of Castile to the mountainous region of the Basque country where the Loyola home is located. Both the distance and geography heightened our appreciation for how difficult and challenging travels must have been for Ignatius, both as a young page and on his conversion journey. More significantly, we reflected on the interior geography of Ignatius’ spiritual journey with its own flatlands and mountainous regions. We look forward to Day 2 as we delve into young Ignatius as a soldier for the state and his conversion to a soldier for Christ.
Jessie Graf, Assistant Director for Residential Ministry, Boston College
Steve Titus, President, Iowa Wesleyan University
DAY 2: JUNE 21 YOUNG IGNATIUS
Loyola and Azpeitia
Today we walked into and through Iñigo’s home. The journey provided an opportunity to reflect on what Iñigo was born into. What caught our eye before even going into the house was its apparent reconstruction; an apt metaphor for what happens when the grace of conversion enters and builds upon the foundation of our life’s narrative.
Standing in the room of Iñigo’s birth was an opportunity to imagine what it would have been like to be born in that space. Born the youngest child of 13 into a culture that valued honor and heroic feats, Iñigo was immediately thrust into a strong current of successive losses, not least of which was the loss of his mother shortly after his birth. This lead to a difficult decision for his father—to send him away from home to grow up under the nurture of Maria de Garin, the wife of the local blacksmith, for the next seven years.
We never considered Iñigo homeless until we reflected on the series of traumas that punctuated his early life, and how these scripted his identity. Looking back at Loyola castle, did he wonder why he was separated from his family? And at age seven, when he was called back to Loyola castle, what might it have been like for him to readjust to life within those walls? Then, what might have stirred within him when at the age of thirteen, his father died, and he was sent to apprentice with Juan Valasquez, the CFO for the Spanish crown? Young Iñigo was no stranger to life’s traumas, which together with his blessings, formed the foundation of his identity. Who would have thought that a cannonball would be the threshold through which Christ would rewrite Iñigo’s inherited narrative?
It is not lost on us that just a floor above where he was born, in his room, grace was mediated through his convalescence. What happens when such grace enters into one’s inherited narrative? Given what we know of our Ignatian inheritance, the effects of grace are as numerous as the stars in the night sky. As grace began to rewrite his narrative, Iñigo responded to what such grace invited him to become. Just as new brick was laid upon the foundation of his home, Iñigo’s new identity in Christ brought him to his true home; such is what happens when one falls in love with God.
So it was fitting we gathered for liturgy on the feast of St. Aloysius of Gonzaga, in the Chapel of Conversion, to celebrate the power and presence of the grace of conversion operative in human experience.
Brian Gilmore, Campus Minister and theology teacher, St. Louis University High School
Damian Zynda, Director of Ignatian Identity, McQuaid Jesuit
DAY 3: JUNE 22 MOMENTS OF CONVERSION
Loyola, Aranzazu, Pamplona, Javier
As individuals on the third day of a pilgrimage that is intentionally communal in nature, today, we awakened more deeply to the notion of personal transformation. Through our visits today to San Sebastián, Olatz, Aránzazu, and Pamplona, we have come to realize that it is because of Ignatius’ life experience that the Jesuit charism holds personal transformation, and personal encounter with God, as being so central to the development of an active and effective spiritual life.
That is to say that, essentially, were it not for the experiences of Ignatius that we mirrored on our journey today, the centrality of personal reflection and transformation to the Jesuit charism, and the myriad practices we as Jesuit educators take for granted today, simply would not exist.
Pretty cool stuff.
We tend to talk about Ignatius’ process of personal transformation in terms of disparate events, using lots of words that don’t always seem like the same thing. We talk about his adolescence, baptism, relocation, injury, healing, conversion, confession, meditation, reflection, pilgrimage, change of plans, service of community, and leadership. Really, though, each of these events (or processes) is talking about the same thing: intentional, God-driven change for the better.
One of the topics that has arisen several times for us in discussion is the idea that, in order for God to work positive transformation in our lives, we need to create the time necessary for that transformation to occur, and/or, we need to have God thrust that time upon us, whether we like it or not.
We began our day at the parish of San Sebastián in Azpeitia, where Ignatius was baptized, and as Stephen Kramer so eloquently shared today, where the Ignatius of the past died a spiritual death, and was reborn, now completely focused on the exigencies of Christian baptism. Our visit reminds us not only that Ignatius, though now a saint, was truly imperfect as we are, but that in Christian baptism, we are gifted with the promise that our imperfection does not preclude us from salvation. In giving up our former weakness as Ignatius did (again stealing Stephen’s words), we choose the path that leads to (and is empowered by) God.
We continued with Mass at the hermitage of Olatz, where Ignatius stopped before heading on his way to Montserrat. Inside the thirteenth century chapel, we were reminded of the importance of Our Lady for pilgrims from the Basque country during Ignatius’ time. In his homily, Father Casey invoked Mary’s accompaniment for the remaining stages of our pilgrimage, further deepening the connection between Ignatius’ personal experience and the personalized transformations we are each continually undergoing.
Departing from Azpeitia as Ignatius did—though by luxury coach instead of on foot—we climbed [rode] winding roads and reached the cliffside sanctuary of Aránzazu just before noon. Designed in a rather modern style, the church brought us a true sense of wonder and comfort, especially for those of us who were unsettled by the switchbacks of Aránzazu’s mountain roads. The column-free stone nave of the sanctuary culminated in a towering rock mural behind the altar, and was illuminated in blue from either side by two opposing stained glass windows. The entire space evoked the silent awe of entering a grand, holy cavern.
This design is appropriate for several reasons, not least of which is the resultant personal experience that the structure allows for visitors. Not only does the gaping interior subtly reference Ignatius’ later experience in the cave at Manresa, but it also echoes (and seamlessly nestles into) the surrounding landscape of hawthorn plants and limestone cliffs, allowing the mind and heart to effortlessly connect nature—creation—with God, as Ignatius was so wont to do.
Finally, we must address the reason for the sanctuary’s existence in the first place: Ignatius’ all-night vigil to the icon of Mary (which we saw up close!). Not only does this vigil demonstrate for us Ignatius’ intense devotion to Our Lady as he set out on his pilgrimage—on a grander scale of character, it epitomizes the above-and-beyond approach that Ignatius chose in living out his dedication to all aspects of his faith. The epic space and scale of the Aránzazu sanctuary, then, allows us as individual pilgrims more profound access to comprehension and pursuit of the same level of devotion.
Finally, we made our way to Pamplona, our final stop in the Basque country, and the site of Ignatius’ injury by cannonball. We considered yesterday the utility of Ignatius’ suffering (and perhaps suffering in general) as a means to allow time and space for God to speak to us. Today, remembering Ignatius’ reflection and healing at the chapel of the conversion, we were able to contemplate the benefits of suffering—humility, gratitude, reflection—more completely, as we visited the exact location of Ignatius’ injury that left him bed-ridden in the first place.
This injury was, of course, not in Ignatius’ master plan for his life, but we are reassured in looking back at his life’s trajectory that were it not for this injury, the Jesuit order would likely not exist, and we each as individuals would not have been formed by the charism that resulted from Ignatius’ injury. For those of us whose life plans have drastically changed due to circumstances outside of our control, this is a rather comforting piece of knowledge to encounter.
Peter Baxter, College Counselor, Jesuit High School, Tampa FL.
DAY 4: JUNE 23 PILGRIMAGE AND DISCERNMENT
Zaragoza, Verdú, Montserrat
Today we encountered two famous Jesuits, from close but separate eras who each had relationships with ‘the other’ and the marginalized in ways that inspire some and have others grappling with our place in the world.
We began the Feast of the Sacred Heart in the basilica adjacent to the Xavier Castle, where Francis Xavier grew up. After a warm sleep, the cool breeze at breakfast and on the walk to the castle were rejuvenating. Fr. Casey’s homily reminded us of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as it appeared on the altar at San Sebastian in Azpeitia--exposed, vulnerable and real. We encountered the body in other real ways this day. As we walked through the chapel, our gaze soon turned from the heart to the face of Christ.
Within the castle, the Smiling Christ is enclosed in a chapel surrounded by portrayals of The Pest. This depiction of Christ was created with a face of kindness to counter a plague in the area, perhaps in the 13th century. It was before this Smiling Christ that a young Xavier prayed. Both the view from above and the view from its intended entryway, that face, the kindness of it and the contentedness of its countenance struck some pilgrims in our own hearts. There was also an image of Christ as portrayed in Japan on Xavier’s travels with visual similarities to the people that Francis served. Many pilgrims remarked that this relationship Francis and later Peter Claver had in the mission work compels us to grapple with those similar relationships in the world today.
We traveled from the castle back towards the path of Ignatius would have taken on his own pilgrimage from his home to Montserrat, we spent time looking at the same views, the same hills, the same crops that Ignatius would have knew and saw. Our stop at the Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza gave us pause to touch the pillar which has been kissed and venerated since the second century when James the Greater received it in the Ebro river. The hallowed space that has been created by all the human touch was a reminder, perhaps complicated between the head and the heart, of the importance of the physical to our approach to the metaphysical.
On our ride on the bus after a well-enjoyed lunch with great company and food and exploration, we were invited to consider how we as pilgrims we are grappling with our place in the world and where our faith calls us. The readings for the day (largely letters written by Ignatius) focused on discernment, fitting given the thoughts we had of connecting the physical and metaphysical. Presentations considered how intentional decisions had to be for discernment to play a part. We were also asked to consider the relationship between the open heart of Jesus, in juxtaposition with the open heart of discernment that Ignatius described in one reading for today. And we read selections from the same knightly tale that so tempted Ignatius, the Pilgrim, as he traveled this same area towards Montserrat, and we imagined how he struggled to discern the meaning and direction of his journey and how he would have found encouragement and sustenance from traveling this well-worn pilgrims’ trail and venerating Our Lady, in Aranzazu, Zaragoza, and soon Montserrat.
Before we reached Montserrat, our stop in Verdu provided great surprise and a continued encounter of the dynamic between the body and our faith. The birthplace of St. Peter Claver (born in 1580 but not canonized until 1888) now houses a lovely chapel, a hostel for pilgrims (we were given and extensive tour) on the Ignatian Way. It also houses the relic of Claver in the form of one of his ribs. We took our photo there.
We arrived in Montserrat to an amazing dinner, picture perfect views and a celebration of the vigil of St. John the Baptist which included a bonfire, singing, dancing, fireworks, cake, brandy, and a long walk at midnight.
Kim Smith, Vice Principal for Curriculum and Professional Development, Boston College High School, Dorchester, Massachusetts
Paul Muller, Director of Admissions, Regis Jesuit High School, Denver, Colorado
DAY 5: JUNE 24 SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Montserrat, Manresa
Reflection I: Karen Smith
The bells of the Benedictine monastery peal matin hours and serve as our wake up call this morning. A light fog hung over the mountains give an almost ethereal feel to our surroundings. It is here, in Montserrat, where Ignatius gave his general confession, let go of his sword and began his new life as pilgrim, dedicated to God alone. We had the advantage of arriving by bus, but Ignatius would have arrived on foot, a perilous and tiring climb. For him, this was a perfect place to pause and reflect during his journey. For us, it is the same.
We celebrated liturgy in a small chapel tucked behind the main altar of the basilica. From our vantage point we can see the back of Our Lady of Montserrat, at whose feet Ignatius laid his sword and took up the staff of the pilgrim. We would soon join in the line of men and women waiting to venerate her.
As we emerged from the chapel, the sun shone bright and the fog had lifted. Our day was ours for exploration and many small groups took to the hills to hike and explore and pray. At this point in his journey, Ignatius would have been so alone on his journey, but we have been finding God in and among the companionship of our fellow travelers.
We reconvened in the late afternoon to make our way to Manresa, where we will visit the sites of some of Ignatius’s greatest ecstasies and deepest sorrows.
Reflection II: Mark Ladd
From Javier, we have traveled two hours into the Montserrat mountain range. When we reached the top, all I had to do was look around to understand the perspective Ignatius had while he was here. This place allows you to see the world “with the eyes of God”. Ignatian spirituality encourages seeing “God in all things”. I have been reflecting on why Ignatius has named his order the Company of Jesus. From my reflections, I believe Ignatius wants us to always be in companionship with Jesus in many ways. This allows us to see God in all things and the Jesuits continue to carry on this message through their many vocations. For me, Montserrat was the first place Ignatius started to view the world in this way.
I have noticed the union of Jesus and my surroundings. This pilgrimage has truly tested our endurance and spirituality. We have been moving from place to place throughout the days making the day seem longer and my body feel tired. Then I realized during our drive to Montserrat that Ignatius walked this journey. I am able to see these places of Ignatius’ life and conversion in a matter of hours and he spent months walking with the struggle of his own humanity. Ignatius carried his cross a long way to Montserrat. This would be the perfect place to pause and reflect during his journey.
Each day we have started with Mass. This in itself has brought me closer to Jesus through the celebration of the Eucharist. It is a constant reminder that God is present with me at this very moment. This is especially important to me because we have gone to Mass in a different chapel in a different city every day for the past four days. No matter where we go or where we are, we can always find time for God.
Everywhere we have traveled offer its own beauty. Ignatius’ hometown was in a valley surrounded by mountains. Zaragoza’s basilica was amazing to see the capabilities of man through architecture all for the purpose to glorify God. Javier provided a stunning view of an old castle in the countryside which Francis Xavier would have experienced while growing up. Montserrat is also naturally breathtaking. We stayed at the top near the Benedictine monastery. This pinnacle gave me “God’s view”. I could see the surrounding area of Catalonia but I now understood that maybe Ignatius could see God’s plan. It was at the top of Montserrat where Ignatius started to realize there is a greater purpose to his journey.
These all having put me in the company of Jesus. I find God through the presence, conversations, and bonds with the people around me. This is the most important place for me to meet God. Ignatius would have been so alone at this point of his journey and he finally reaches Montserrat where he is able to confide in a Benedictine priest. I think we all seek help companionship in some way. In this moment, Ignatius needed spiritual companionship before he was able to be in companionship with others. I have come to learn this is what I need to do in my own life. I need to take time for myself to reflect and find God so I can be a better companion to those around me.
Ignatius’ journey has given me insight to how he might have personally found God and why he wants us to always be in company with Jesus. Through the pilgrimage, mass, the different sights, and our relationships with ourselves and others, I have come to see why Montserrat was the spiritual birthplace for Ignatius. It was at this very place where he would have been able to stop, look around, and find time for his own spirituality. Maybe this mountain top pushed Ignatius to the edge of his past life and allowed him to lay down his sword so he could be with God.
Karen Smith, School of Theology and Minestry, Boston College
Mark Ladd, Theology teacher, Arrupe Jesuit High School
DAY 6: JUNE 25 A LIVING EXAMPLE IN MANRESA
Manresa
“Lord, in your great love, answer me.” This refrain from today’s psalm illuminates the tension between light and darkness that St. Ignatius of Loyola experienced during his eleven month stay in Manresa. The psalmist, in desperation, yearns for God’s mercy through a response. After surrendering his sword to Our Lady of Montserrat, Ignatius voluntarily invites the death of his chivalrous life. As Ignatius descends toward Manresa, he adorns himself with a new armor of humility as a pilgrim. Through experimentation with prayer and encounters with the people of Manresa, Ignatius desires to hear a response from God. While Ignatius freely accepts this transition from knight to pilgrim, it is not without conflict. As our group heard from Fr. Louis, former Provincial of the Spanish province and Director of the Jesuit Centre for Spirituality, Manresa is a place of extremes. The transition from winter to summer is dramatic in this area, and the contrast between the river and surrounding cliffs is striking. The tensions between old and new, local and foreign, sacred and profane present in contemporary Manresa help us to better understand the physical and spiritual interruptions that stirred Ignatius in this sacred landscape. God, in his mercy, invites Ignatius into a transformation of body, mind, and spirit as a pilgrim.
Our day began with mass in the holy cave which Ignatius took on the life of an aesthetic pilgrim. As mentioned in our group’s introduction to Manresa, this “stopping place” became a “founding place” for Ignatius. Where Ignatius’s life was interrupted by his injuries sustained fighting in Pamplona, he accepts God’s invitation to become a pilgrim. In this cave, Ignatius began experimenting with his prayer practices and crafting the Spiritual Exercises. The right wall of the cave reflects the original stone with its two hand-carved crosses still present. This stone wall shows the simple humility Ignatius was seeking in his relationship with God. The opposite wall of the cave, adorned with ornate marble, stands in stark contrast to his desired simplicity. As we prayed together in this space, our group could not help but feel the palpable disruption of Ignatius’s life of pride and riches, and his invitation to accept a simple piety.
Departing the cave, we traveled to the Well of the Illumination. This contemporary installation sits on the location where God graced Ignatius will a new understanding that God was in all things. From this vantage point, we took in what would have been Ignatius’s view of Manresa. This panoramic landscape includes the life he left behind at Montserrat, the majestic Cardoner river, Ignatius’s holy cave, and the prominent Basilica of Our Lady of Santa Maria at the center of this view. Here, Ignatius believed that God interrupted his life one more time, illuminated him to see the world in an entirely new way.
Throughout his eleven month stay in Manresa, God continued to interrupt Ignatius’s life and invite him to deeper understandings of his spiritual transformation. After his illumination, it was reported that Ignatius spent eight days in spiritual ecstasy. This important event, depicted in the Chapel of the Rapture in the Hospital were Ignatius once lived and served, helped build the case for St. Ignatius’s canonization. Later on in the Day, we visited the Basilica of Santa Maria de Manresa where Ignatius prayed and begged during his time here. This church was a source of stability in Ignatius’s life during this time of transformation. The massive structure interrupts the pristine landscape, while continuing to provide a strong foundation of faith within the community.
Our day ended with a conversation with Fr. Louis, the director of the retreat center, about the Jesuit’s evolving mission within Manresa and Spain. The mission of the retreat center is to balance the important tension between old in new as it is charged with upholding the sacred sites of St. Ignatius’s life, but also adapt to meet the needs of a contemporary Church. The Spiritual Exercises, developed and transcribed in this place, continue to infuse this center’s way of proceeding in its formation of clergy and laity. After our lecture, we crossed town one more time for our final meal in Manresa. With Ramadan coming to an end, the growing Moroccan community in Manresa filled the streets where Ignatius once walked. This was a consoling reminder of God’s ever-evolving and transformational work within this community.
Manresa continues to be a place of dualities, tension, and change. In experiencing this place through the eyes of Ignatius, we can see that each of God’s interruptions serve as invitations into greater love and growth. Both in darkness and in light, Ignatius’s time in Manresa marks an important transformation in his spiritual life and relationship with God. As our group continues on pilgrimage, we continue to embrace the tensions and interruptions within our own lives, and are more acutely aware of the invitations that God calls us toward in our collaborating with the Society of Jesus.
Benjamin Horgan, Loyola Blakefield, Baltimore, Maryland
DAY 7: JUNE 26 ENCOUNTERING THE WORLD IN BARCELONA
Barcelona
Today’s theme, namely “encounter” and “world” very much guides this reflection. Following in our Pilgrim’s footsteps, his spiritual development in Montserrat and Manresa, we are brought to Barcelona due to St. Ignatius desire to travel to the Holy Land. As we arrive, immediately apparent becomes the openness and cosmopolitan spirit of this city, which stands in contrast to the mountains and caves of Montserrat and Manresa.
We learn from our guide that most likely Ignatius has spent time in Barcelona prior to his conversion. After his conversion, Ignatius had two important visits significant for what was to come. First, Ignatius brief visit in 1523 before parting for the continuation of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the second, his longer stay from 1524 to 1526, when he dedicated his attention to formal education.
Following Ignatius pilgrimage Barcelona signifies an opening of mind, heart and soul. Up until now Iñigo has moved in a relatively small circle of encounter. He speaks his Basque dialect and understands other dialects spoken throughout the North of Spain, but has no Latin and no Italian, as he is recommended a translator for his travels. Ignatius is determined to face the risky journey to the Holy Land via Rome as a lone pilgrim, completely relying the mercy of God. Initially he even refused to bring a sufficient amount of bread for the journey on board, but when the captain denies him passage, he went out to beg for the minimum amount of the required provision. His complete faith in God seemed confirmed when the vessel he originally intended to board sinks off the coast of Catalonia.
As Casey Beaumier said: “Distance gives clarity”. Hence, in 1526 Saint Ignatius returns from the Holy Land more open to the world and chastened, aware that he lacks an academic education. It is through Ignatius’ own story that I take inspiration for my own life and my work in the Society. The Society’s tradition roots us, provides the foundation upon we then can built in an creative and organic manner, responding to the needs of our time and future-proofing our mission. When meeting with JECSE (Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education) once per annum, I always gain a lot of understanding, insights and inspiration from my Catalan colleagues who master the above written (and hearing Fr. Louis in Manresa speaking on Sunday those thoughts were confirmed): being sure of their heritage and rooted in tradition, they step forward bringing Catalan education in the spirit of Ignatius into the 21st century in the most creative, holistic, connected and visionary manner. They simply see the bigger picture!
When arriving in Barcelona, we first prayed at the Jesuit church of the Sagrat Cor, where the sword Ignatius left at Montserrat after general confession is displayed. After lunch we visited Santa Maria del Mar and La Sagrada Famiglia, two breathtakingly beautiful churches that made me reflect on the themes of tradition and modernity, medieval versus contemporary spirituality. And again, Spain, the cradle of the Society, represents the rock solid foundation upon Ignatius, his companions and many generations of dedicated Jesuits built upon. I was deeply moved by Antoni Gaudi’s genius vision for La Sagrada Familia. Gaudi was a devout Catholic, humble and genius, with an acute sense for social justice, as I discovered sitting in the little, most beautiful yet functional school he built from his own limited funds right next to the church. Walking through La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi teaches me one very important lesson, namely that perfection lies in nature, in God’s original creation. Gaudi observed nature, which is not significant in itself, but he had the genius to understand nature, its mathematical and geometrical perfection, learn from it and translate it into architecture and design. By adding his overflowing creativity he created a basilica that is unique in every aspect (even every angle). Despite his genius Antoni Gaudi never fails to honour the greatness of nature (of God) over the achievements of human kind, as he designs the towers to be lower than the surrounding hills. La Sagrada Familia is built on the foundations of a design of a more traditional church, as we saw and experienced when celebrating Mass in the crypt. The regular, traditional design of the crypt represents the roots of our faith for me. From the ground beautiful pillars, resembling tree stems rise up and guide our focus upwards, to the heavens, towards all that is, namely God. While growing upwards the tree branches out, becomes diverse. La Sagrada Familia for me represents the evolution of our faith and leaves me with an important lesson: when our roots are firm and we move towards the heavens (all that is good and all that is light), we do not have to be afraid of change, but embrace it.
Elisabeth Clarke, Gonzaga College, SJ, Dublin, Ireland
DAY 8: JUNE 27 THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOCIETY
Rome
Following a week together in Spain as pilgrims, we have arrived in Rome ready to experience the historical places and moments of the establishment of the Society of Jesus. This has been a day of change: from Spain to Italy, from the molding of Ignatius’ heart to the molding of his mind, from anticipation to actualization. The stops on today’s portion of our pilgrimage allowed us to contemplate the changes –minor and major- that define a life, a movement, and a community of believers.
Through questioning and reflection, we can delve deeper into our subconscious. On the way to a small pink chapel at La Storta the group was asked to privately contemplate what ‘hunger or yearning has brought us to this point’. This was a perfect juncture for this particular question as the church at La Storta was where Ignatius had a vision of Jesus saying “I will be propitious to you in Rome”. It felt as if Ignatius received confirmation that he was on the correct path, a path that quickly grew into something more fruitful. The question posed to us entwined perfectly with this as we can reflect on our own aims and intentions as we move forward on our personal and spiritual journey. This church had an effect on all members of group in many different ways. Whether it was the modest nature of the space (in stark contrast to what we have become used to), the dove on the roof, the virgin Mary holding her child with outstretched arms, it certainly reached out to each of us. We have established a pattern of pausing for five minutes of prayer and reflection at many of the stops along the way, which give us time to organize some of these thoughts.
Transition has been evident in other areas of the trip as well. At Santa Maria Maggiore, we celebrated Mass in the chapel where Ignatius celebrated his first Mass, roughly a year after his ordination. We were told that saying mass took a huge amount out of Ignatius, both mentally and physically. He would often shake and sweat before service as he felt he must do justice to Jesus and our Lord with every word he spoke. Ignatius encouraged his companions to seek nourishment in the Eucharist. For our group, daily Mass has been a blessing. The opportunity to profess faith in such meaningful settings is strengthening the bonds that we have been forming as a group. On our first Mass together, the sign of peace consisted of a handshake. Observing this exchange at Santa Maria Maggiore today, people are reaching across aisles for a full embrace. The closeness of the group is palpable as we begin our stay in Rome, the final destination of the pilgrimage.
Today we also had the opportunity to visit St. Paul’s Outside the Wall. Here, we paused to consider the evolution in Ignatius’ interior movements and that of the Society of Jesus as an Order. In Ignatius’ early years in Rome, the Society grew quickly while seeking to maintain the quality of formation and service. Documents published by the Society in 1540 and 1550 show subtle shifts in the understanding the Society is gaining of its mission. In this way, our group is making subtle shifts: conversations no longer must rest in the trivial details of our lives but are able to penetrate to more meaningful events and feelings. Like the Society of Jesus in its early years, the next few weeks of study that remain for us feel “pregnant with opportunity” to discover and implement the lessons of the leadership of the Society of Jesus.
Katie McKiernan, Boston College High School, Dorchester, Massachusetts
Rob Quinlan Gonzaga College, SJ, Dublin, Ireland
DAY 9: JUNE 28TH THE EARLY GOVERNANCE OF THE SOCIETY
Rome
“Being overwhelmed is a beautiful reality.” - Fr. Casey reminded us at today’s mass, which we celebrated in the room where St. Ignatius died. He continued to explain that we can also feel a sense of gratitude in being overwhelmed. We chose to reflect on those concepts throughout the day. Specifically, we tried to reflect on the question: How can we experience gratitude and beauty in our feelings of being overwhelmed?
Spaces:
Today we felt and understood the importance and power of space. While experiencing the gravity and importance of the spaces we visited could be overwhelming, we felt incredible gratitude for the connectedness that the spaces of the day brought to us. Spaces allow us to feel memories of our past and also allow future memories to be better informed by past spaces. Spaces bring to life the people that lived before us and their experiences in the world. We visited several sacred spaces throughout the early part of the day that allowed us to us to remember and revere people:
Our tour guide, Daniella, pointed out that St Catherine of Siena (patroness of Italy and the US) is buried near our hotel beneath the high altar of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. St Catherine would be the first of many great saints we would encounter today, and with her help we would be drawn further into the great spaces of Roma. Just a few steps down the road our breath was taken by the Pantheon. As the raindrops fell on us, we stood beneath the oculus in awe at this amazing example of human creativity and engineering.
The Church of the Gesù, the Jesuits Mother Church, is an inspiring, beautiful Church that houses remains of St. Ignatius, St. Xavier, and Pedro Arrupe (the 28th General of the Society of Jesus). It was moving and humbling to see the places where these great men rest and to reflect on the lives they led and the progress they made for the Society.
After visiting the Gesu, we walked to the rooms of St. Ignatius. Simple rooms housed in a nondescript building included many vivid remnants of Ignatius’s life, including his shoes, a frock, and a book. We celebrated mass in the room where he died - indeed an overwhelming, yet beautiful experience.
People:
Many of us on the trip have remarked on the gratitude we have for those who have made this trip possible for us - benefactors at our home institutions, our classmates on the trip, our families, and our colleagues at work. Today we felt also the gratitude in having three Jesuits in our company. We are fortunate to experience such sacred places such as the Church of the Gesù or St. Ignatius’s home and place of death, with these who have devoted their lives to the Society of Jesus. We recognize the significance and importance they may feel visiting these places, deepening the overall experience for many.
Our walking tour of sacred Jesuit spaces was enlivened with two wonderful Jesuit interactions: Fr. Maher, speaking to us about his research at the Gesu; followed by a visit to the Jesuit Curia, where we met with Fr. Jessie. Both men shared their insights with us: Fr Maher speaking to us about his discovered history of the Gesu; and Fr. Jessie sharing his experiences and thoughts about the Curia, the current state of the Jesuits, the structure of the Society, and what he feels the future holds for the Society.
The evening was capped by a wonderful dinner with special guests from Rome, including the editor of the Curia’s journals and the Secretary of the Society. We continued to be overwhelmed by, and deeply appreciative of, the spaces that we encounter which allow us to share reflections with our colleagues, engage in meaningful conversation and explore the history and future of the Society of Jesus.
Steve Rabatin, Architect, Rochester, Minnesota
Claudia Pouravelis, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
DAY 10: JUNE 29 YOUNG JESUITS IN ROME
Rome
Pallium Mass
Our eager group started out early to secure good seats for a Papal Mass in St. Peter’s Square. We were met with a merciful break from the typical Roman heat for what turned out to be a beautiful morning and an even more beautiful Pallium Mass, wherein newly elevated Bishops and Cardinals received the lamb’s wool stole that symbolizes their roles as shepherds of the Church. The group lingered after Mass and were rewarded with some great photo opportunities as the Holy Father passed directly by: Lar Duffy insists the Pope waved to him personally. After our drive-by “Papal audience,” the group split to sightsee and enjoy lunch in the bustling streets surrounding the Vatican.
Sant’Ignazio Church
Later in the afternoon we reunited to visit Sant’Ignazio Church, which was built as a Chapel for the original Collegio Romano and was dedicated to Ignatius. Within it we were astounded by the beauty of another one of Br. Andrea Pozzo’s works of art. A master of perspective, he painted a ceiling that gives the eyes as well as the heart a image of the heavens.
Also at Sant’Ignazio, we encountered the relics and altars of Jan Berchmans and Aloysius Gonzaga, two of the Jesuit’s “boy” saints. Both were beautiful reminders and votives to lives poured out for the love of God. Their brief stories are moving inspirations towards virtue and proof that God’s grace is accessible to all, even to the youngest and simplest of people.
Jesuit Novitiate and the Church of Sant'Andrea
From there we moved to the old Jesuit Novitiate and the Church of Sant'Andrea, which Berini built as a chapel for the novices. The Novitiate housed not only Ignatius at times but was the final home to another saint, Stanislaw Kostka. Kostka, another “boy” saint of the Society, continues to inspire admiration and devotion as he did in his own time. We were moved by the artwork outside of his room depicting the great suffering he underwent throughout his short life, whether at the hands of his family trying to prevent him from entering the Jesuits or the physical illness that plagued him until his death.
The Church, which was begun but not completed by the time of Kostka’s death, was considered by Bernini to be the best of his work. The baroque Church is dedicated to St. Andrew in not only its name, but also in its construction. It is a strange oval space that places the main altar along one of the longer walls, giving it a noticeably short nave. This building itself, therefore, recalls the suffering and martyrdom of St. Andrew who was crucified on a diagonal x-shaped cross rather than the upright t-shape of Christ’s cross. It seemed a fitting Church for its proximity to Kostka’s life and story.
The remainder of the day was free for all to have dinner and to further explore Rome. Of course, with all of the holy stories and beauty that we encountered, as well as with all of the walking around, rest and reflection were high on many people’s agenda.
Evarist Shigi S.J., Student, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Stephen Kramer S.J., Student, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
DAY 11: THE IGNATIAN LEGACY
Rome
How to end your travels with an exclamation mark.
Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hands have made…
Throughout this trip we’ve found ourselves looking up at things, whether it’s the majestic roof of the cathedral at Manresa, the trompe d’oeil of the Ignazio, or the stars above Montserrat as the fireworks of the Feast of St. John the Baptist explode in the Catalan night below. The fusion of Nature with man’s curiosity has long been a source for science, letters, and art, so it should come as no surprise that we spend our last full day in Rome still either looking up at things, looking deeply into things, looking down from the roofs of things, or just looking things up.
We had seen in the Segrada Da Familia the respect for the symbolic height of the power of God - a deliberate attempt to build the cathedral so this man made-made structure would be just slightly less than the height of the tallest formation in the natural surrounding world. This is science and art as devotion, reminding us of the inscription from the statue outside the church of Santa Maria supra Minerva in Roma: ‘only a robust mind can carry the weight of divine wisdom’. There were some pretty robust minds on show today, but they all lead us to the same conclusion.
We looked at the expansion from dealing with just the religious aspect of the society to those areas that are extensions or connections in the arts and sciences. This began with Castel Gandolfo, where we saw the Jesuit observatory and learned of how much the Order has contributed to the history of astronomy and astrophysics. Paul Mueller, SJ, Provincial of the community, noted that there are six Jesuits with at least a PhD in Physics working in the Observatory system, here and in Mount Graham Arizona, where the latest telescopes are located.
We found it amazingly heartening to see such commitment to science, and even more amazing that such support has been consistent across the many Popes who have ruled since the foundation of the observatory under Gregory XIII. Funny to think that Clavius was in regular correspondence with Kepler, or that the maps of the stars recorded over 140 years ago are still vital to the development of astronomy. This marriage of faith and reason, the embrace of science by the Society, inspires because it reflects how the Jesuits like to look beyond. It brought to mind Ronald Reagan’s eulogy at the funeral service for the Challenger astronauts, where he quoted John Gillespie McGee: we see how man “slipped the surly bounds of the earth… touched the face of God”.
The change from looking at just Ignatius to looking at how the Jesuits began to look out from themselves and connect with the world—not just during the formative years of the society but continuing and expanding as the years have gone on—has been a major thesis in this trip; here we see such undeniable evidence of curiosity and intellectual rigour as to make this point self-evident.
A quick stop to the stunning Bernini church of San Tommaso da Villanova in the town square, before heading back to the Jesuit Curia in Vatican city. We’d been there on Wednesday, finding out about operations and looking out from the roof garden, smelling the fresh rosemary and marvelling at the architecture laid out before us. But today we got to look deeply into the treasure trove of the Jesuit Archive. And treasure we saw, thanks to our friend Rev. Brian Mac Cuarta, who was generous with his time and as enthralled with the material he showed us as we were to see it for the first time. Here we could see more of this outward-looking Society, one which expanded and reported back, providing not just the General but posterity, with valuable documentation on a wide range of science, geography, botany, biology and anthropology.
It was amazing to think of the range of documentation here: an especial treat was seeing original documents from the early Jesuits, including material in the hand of Ignatius, Xavier and Claver. A particularly enlightening observation in the context of the relationship between the Vatican and the Jesuits can be made—with such an extensive network of correspondence between the missions and the General, the information provided was frequently much more up to date and pertinent than the information used when the Pope instructed on such priorities. Armed with more information, the Jesuits could act in perhaps more directed ways, which must have been difficult for relations with the Vatican at times. Nowadays, societies where documents and reports have been suppressed or destroyed can return to the archives in the Curia in much the same way as modern astronomers return to Castel Gandolfo to see material they can trust, to put the present in context of the past.
At the day’s end we snuck in a little art appreciation, with three Caravaggios in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi and a quick wonder at Michaelangeo’s Christ the Redeemer in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. We returned home, remarking on how some of the finest art is devotional, but also how devotion can be brought to bear in science and letters, too. All of this work points towards the majesty of God’s creation and can still seize the senses and haul our eyelids up, giving us utility, consolation or even just joy. It left us with a commonly held expression of devotion ourselves:
My God! How great Thou art!
Lar Duffy, English teacher, Gonzaga College, SJ, Dublin, Ireland
Sheila Fisher, Physics teacher, Boston College High School, Dorchester, Massachusetts