The 400th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Ignatius will be celebrated on 12 March 2022.
Let us remember that Saint Francis Xavier was canonized on the same day.
The 71st Congregation of Procurators (which brings together delegates from each of the administrative units of the Society, Provinces, and Regions) will take place in Loyola from 16th to 22nd May 2022; it will be preceded, in 2021, by Provincial Congregations all over the world.
Ignatius 500 commemorates a personal transformation that changes the history of the Church forever.
It is an event that, as is customary in the manifestation of God in life, occurs without the need for solemnity or artifice. It is worth recalling the main milestones of a story that continues today to inspire people from diverse contexts and cultures around the world.
The years of seizure. In 1521 the French army invaded Navarre with the claim to restore the Navarran king to the throne and the knight Iñigo de Loyola was in the defense of Pamplona.
The ancient capital of the kingdom was a city in French hands, but Iñigo enters the citadel with the intention of defending it to death if necessary.
On Pentecost Monday, May 20, a bullet shattered his right leg, injuring him his left. Transferred to the family house-tower, it is surgically operated on several times; he is about to die, but they manage to save his life.
His long convalescence devotes him to the reading of books found in the house library: A story of Christ and a volume of lives of saints.
He spends whole days devoted to reading and in him is growing an idea that: "If those men were made of the same clay as me, well I can do what they did".
One night, the Mother of God appears to him, surrounded by light and carrying his Son in his arms. Since then, he has only thought of transforming his life: He wants to leave the manor and go to Jerusalem as a pilgrim. He does not know that God has done nothing but start working on him.
Its purpose is to reach the Holy Land by embarking in Barcelona. But the city is closed for fear of plague and has to wait in the small village of Manresa.
There, staying in a convent and in a hospice for the poor, and retiring to a cave to pray, God operates a new transformation in him. For eleven months (from April 1522 to February 1523) enthusiasm, anguish, penance, despair, spiritual visions and mysticism alternate.
The consolations of the early times are followed by a period of spiritual aridity; of emptiness and tempest. Finally, he leaves that dark night and begins to write down some experiences that will serve him in the book of "spiritual exercises". Iñigo is already a master of spirit.
One day in February 1522 he says goodbye to his family and gets on his way. Pass by Aránzazu, Navarrete… until you reach the Monastery of Montserrat. It is the itinerary that we recall today on the so-called "Ignatian Way".
In the monastery of Montserrat he makes confession of his sins and on the night before March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, he takes away his rich clothes and determines to lead life as a penitent.
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O Lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me. – AMEN
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
God of our history, owner of our future, grant us a new vision to enlighten and nourish our hunger for justice and reconciliation in the world so that your dream to make all things new may come to pass in our day and age. Amen
Fr. Dean Brackley, SJ
ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, PRlEST AND FOUNDER OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS - SOLEMNITY + 1556. There were 1036 Jesuits, 11 provinces, 92 houses, 33 colleges at his death.
Approbation and recommendation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius by the brief of Paul III. Pastoralis officii cura. Through the intercession of Francis Borgia.
The first translation of the body of St. Ignatius. It is moved to the sacristy area of S. Maria della Strada while the foundation stones of the Gesu are being laid.
Clement XIV refused to see Fr. General Ricci who came to congratulate him on his election to the papacy.
Anton Kohlmann is born. Alsace. Professor, Provincial, etc.
Mr. Thomas Weld signed a deed of gift of Stonyhurst and Hodder to the Society. This occurred on the eve of his death.
In London, the opening of Farm Street Church. The sermon was preached by Bishop (afterwards Cardinal) Wiseman.
Patrick Healy, S.J. African American, is inaugurated as President of Georgetown University.
California Province established. Herman Goller Provincial. It arises from the Mission of California-Rocky Mountains.
New England Province-established as a Province, separated from Maryland/New York Province.
Pontifical Biblical Institute opens a branch in Jerusalem.
Instruction of Fr. Ledochowski De usu "Radii" in nostris domibus. "All recreational use is to be absolutely avoided, including classical concerts."
New Ratio Studiorum promulgated after years of preparation.
New York and Maryland Provinces separated.
Henri DeLubac ordered to give up his chair of theology at Fourviere, Lyon. Humani Generis is published 12 days later.
Eastern Africa Region of the Society is established (Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya.) Polycarp Toppo is the first Regional Superior.
The Independent Region of East Africa is raised to the status of a Province, with Louis Plamondon as Provincial.
The English and French Assistancies are combined to form the Assistancy of Western Europe. The German Assistancy becomes the Central European Assistancy. The American Assistancy becomes the Assistancy of the USA.
Michael Harrington + Jesuit trained, Holy Cross Alumnus. Democratic Socialism, author of The Other America.
During the long weeks of his recuperation, he was extremely bored and asked for some romance novels to pass the time. Luckily there were none in the castle of Loyola, but there was a copy of the life of Christ and a book on the saints. Desperate, Ignatius began to read them.
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