Celebrating 500 years of Ignatian Spirituality
May 20, 2021
I had hoped to blog more regularly, but, like Ignatius of Loyola, I have grandiose dreams and goals, but there is only one of me, and God has shown me that I do have some limitations! I celebrated the Grand Opening of my brick-and-mortar Urban Sanctuary on May 1st, (yes, in the middle of a world-wide pandemic!), and all my energies went into preparing for that. Since then, I have been trying to just get through the organization of this ministry and discerning exactly what to offer in programming. It is an ambitious goal, but I am certainly honing my discernment skills . . . what gives more Glory to God? (Discerning what is of ‘my will’ and what is of ‘God’s will’? )
Today marks the 500th Anniversary of the conversion experience of Ignatius of Loyola. He lay in a bed convalescing following a terrible accident at the Battle of Pamploma, that left his right leg shattered when he was struck by a cannonball. Some refer to this as his ‘cannonball moment’. We all, at one time or another, experience our own ‘cannonball moment’. It could be a job loss, the death of a loved one, a separation or divorce, a move to a new location, or even an injury from an accident that alters our lives forever. At the very least, it is a time that disrupts our routine. It can make us feel paralyzed, if not physically, perhaps emotionally or spiritually. We may not be bed-ridden, but we may feel as immobilized as Ignatius was, whether by fear or anxiety or depression. But what will become of us, once we begin to heal?
I can relate to Ignatius. He was stubborn, had great worldly plans and ambitions . . . grandiose, even. But laying in bed, unable to put any weight on his leg for weeks, the musings of his mind and imagination were the only active parts of his days. He was given two books to read when he requested his beloved Spanish novels, full of romance and chivalry. He greatly desired to live out the heroic deeds, come to the aid of a beautiful woman, rescue a damsel in distress, or, other grand gesture that would earn him fame and admiration. His accident did not allow him to pursue his fantasies, but the two books offered him much more. The Golden Legend (a book on the lives of the saints) and The Imitation of Christ (a book on the life of Christ) offered him a glimpse into a totally foreign world of battle and chivalry . . . the battle of good over evil. His great desire was altered to become a solder for Christ, in the army of the Kingdom of God, and that he would now defend “his Lady”, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
He also developed a newfound passion, desiring to go to the Holy Land to walk in Christ’s footsteps. This took up every waking moment and he worked hard to recover from his wounds so that he would be able to make the pilgrimage. God had a greater plan, however. On his way to Barcelona to gain ship’s passage to Rome, then Jerusalem, he would be led via Montserrat, then Manresa. Letting his donkey ‘decide’ the route actually became one of his methods of discernment, “do nothing”, or rather, wait for God to provide the answer.
In Manresa, he would live in a cave for a year and would end up formulating the Spiritual Exercises and Rules for Discernment. He would eventually form the Society of Jesus, now known as the Jesuits. He faced the Inquisition for the radical use of his imagination and urging others to do the same, but his techniques were found to be sound and he was allowed to teach and grow his community of followers.
In the upcoming year, I will be presenting programs for Spiritual Direction using the Exercises of St. Ignatius, as well as for Discernment. Considering that this world and, our bodies do eventually die out, but our spirits go on to an eternal life in the heavenly Kingdom of God, it is therefore necessary to make wise decisions, and exercise our spirits every bit as much as our bodies. Making decisions on matters that come up hundreds of times a day, differ from matters requiring discernment. I will offer workshops to help you understand the great difference between these two seemingly similar actions, as well as have you examine your life for how God is at work, and exploring whether you have had a ‘cannonball moment’ and, if so, what has been its outcome.
July 31st the church commemorates the Feast of St. Ignatius, the day he died. In addition to prayer, other activities will include a presentation on his life and the gift of the Spiritual Exercises, and reflections on my own personal pilgrimage to Montserrat and Manresa, Spain in 2019, ten years after becoming a certified Ignatian Spiritual Director. I will be offering individual and group Spiritual Direction in various formats: from recurring sessions, to structured multi-week programs.
Also, there is an actual Ignatian Way – a pilgrimage in Spain that retraces the life of Ignatius starting in Loyola where he was born, and where his conversion occurred, through points of significance relating to his ongoing conversion and spiritual development. This includes the Monastery at Montserrat where the statue of the Black Madonna is/was where he laid down his worldly belongings and put on the singular garment of a pilgrim and went forward walking barefoot, with only a staff to help him (he still limped from his injury), a journal and a gourd for water. He would trust God to provide him with anything else he needed. I hope to offer a virtual pilgrimage that one can make in their own way.
One of my favorite Ignatian quotes: “Most people have no idea what God would make of them if they would only place themselves at His disposal.” I intend to take on this challenge during the next 365 days, and I hope you will join me as I share insights and programs developing along the way.
Ad Majorem dei Gloriam
(For the Greater Glory of God)