Unit 10: “St Ignatius and Apostolic Service”

• Aims of Unit:

• 1. Life of a disciple is a pilgrimage journey that requires transformation and conversion

• 2. Finding God in all things…

• 3. Called to work with Christ to serve God’s people in the world

• 4. How does Ignatius’ story compare with Augustine’s and Francis’ accounts?

Early Life of Ignatius…

• Born of noble parents in 1491 at the Castle of Loyola in the Basque region of northern Spain

• Ignatius = youngest of 13 children… • The young Ignatius = dreams of being a valiant

soldier…

While in Battle…

• Battle of Pamplona in 1521

• St Ignatius of Loyola = seriously wounded by a cannon ball while defending the Spanish against French invaders in Pamplona, Spain.

While in Battle…• His right leg was broken during the battle… • French = admired his courage… then He

was then sent back to his home in Loyola.

While Recovering…

• While his long and painful recovery at Loyola, he read “The Life of Christ” and “Lives of Saints…”

• Disappointed at first, but eventually the books set his heart on fire!

• His worldly and vain desires were soon transformed into what God desired of him!

While Discerning at Manresa…• After recovering = Ignatius wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. • But shorter spiritual journeys first…• One was to the famous Shrine of Our Lady at Montserrat, near

Barcelona.• Saw the Virgin Mary and Baby…• Spent several months in personal prayer (1522-23), living the life of a poor

pilgrim and hermit in a cave at a small nearby town called Manresa.

While Discerning…

• At Manresa, began writing notes for the Spiritual Exercises (1548).

• For almost a year, at Manresa, through mystical experiences, became more sensitive to how God wanted him to serve his people…

• He was drawn to serve God and so he continued on his pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

While Traveling…• Rome (1523) = received the Pope’s permission to make a

pilgrimage to Jerusalem (to convert Muslims…?) • September 1523 = deeply moved in visiting the many places

made holy by Jesus' living presence. • But the dangers from the Turks/Muslims cut his stay short,

which disappointed him deeply = and the Franciscans sent him back to Spain…

To Serve God Requires Knowledge• Often preached to groups assembled by chance…• In those days a layman preaching on his own, without a

license or supervision, was automatically suspected of heresy...

• Ignatius was twice imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisition (began in 1478)…which was to establish church orthodoxy!

To Serve God Requires Knowledge• They questioned his

competence to teach and preach about God and Christianity.

• Studies in Alcala and Salamanca, and eventually at the University of Paris where he obtained his Master in Arts.

• Age 33 in Barcelona = only one in Latin class with a beard…

• In Paris, he gave the Spiritual

Exercises…enter Francis Xavier and Peter Faber (talk about these people later on…)

Manresa

• Small town on the Cardoner River on road to Barcelona…– Intends to stop briefly; stays 10 months

• Time of intense prayer and labor– Works at hospice caring for dying– Hours spent in reflection and meditation– Life of the solitary ascetic…

• Written notes from his experience here form the foundation of the Spiritual Exercises

Vision At La Storta…

• 1537 = the companions decided to go to Rome = to be at the disposal of the Holy Father (the pope)

• A few miles from the Holy City (Rome), at a chapel in La Storta, Ignatius had a vision where God the Father "placed him with His Son" carrying His cross…

• Ignatius and friends = called to serve/be companions of Christ!

• Ignatius HAS to be thinking…But How????

Vision At La Storta…In Class Reflection: 3 Minutes

• Why is Ignatius’ moment at La Storta so unique?

• How are we called to serve at Xavier?

• (Write down your responses in your NB’s…)

Responses to Reflection…• 1. Ignatius and Jesus are equals…God has a special

plan for Ignatius and his companions

• 2. Fits into our definition of discipleship (courage to serve…)

• 3. Service requiresaction!

--Service at Xavier??… Need to do it as a community!!

The Founding of The Jesuit Order

• St Ignatius and his companions, because of the vision at La Storta, are sure that God’s will was to form a religious order...Ignatius working together with his friends (as a community!)

• Pope Paul III approved their petition on the 27th of September in 1540 in Rome to form the Society of Jesus.

The Pope Missions the Jesuits

• Ignatius and his companions = serve the Pope ANYWHERE in the world, for God’s greater glory!

• This still applies today…• Where do we fit, as students

in a Jesuit school?• What is our mission as a

Jesuit school to serve?

Jesuit Vocabulary

• Men and Women FOR Others

• Cura Personalis

• “A Jesuit Apostolate SERVING New York, The Church and The Nation Since 1847”