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Lesson 2 The Pilgrim, 1522 - 1528
The Life of Ignatius of Loyola Lesson 2 Page 2 of 3
The Pilgrim (1522 – 1528)
A. INTRODUCTION
Lesson One took the story of Ignatius’ life from his birth in 1491 through his initial conversion period and his pilgrimage to Montserrat in March 1522. We now move on to his time in Manresa, his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1523, and his entry into student life in Alcala, Salamanca and Paris.
B. CONTENT
Ignatius always called himself a “pilgrim” – a man in search of God in all things. After having recovered from the agonizing pains from a broken leg, Ignatius, inspired by the lives of Christ and saints, desired to walk in their footsteps. He first set out to Manresa in 1522 in search of God and to know what God wants him to do with his life. For detailed descriptions of his journeys, please read the following sections from the book; Alone and on Foot, by Brian Grogan, SJ.
For greater intelligibility of the texts, we group the chapters in 4 sections:
• Section A: 16 – 19 – Ignatius leaves for Manresa (March 1522) • Section B: 20 – 23 – Ignatius in Barcelona, Rome and Venice (1523) • Section C: 24 – 27 - Ignatius a student in Barcelona, 1524-25; Alcala, 1526-27; and Salamanca, 1527 • Section D: 28 – 31- Ignatius a student in Paris, 1528-34
C. REFLECTION
Use the questions as indicated ‘For Pondering’ at the end of each of the chapters (Chs. 16-31).
D. RECOMMENDED READING Books: (1) Munitiz, J., and Endean, P., SJ: St Ignatius of Loyola: Personal Writings. London: Penguin, 2004. (2) Ignatius’ Autobiography (or’ Reminiscences’), pp 13-64. Donnelly, J P., Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Jesuits. NY: Pearson Longman, 2004. (3) De Dalmases, C., SJ: Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Jesuits. St Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1985. (4) Caraman, P., SJ: Ignatius Loyola. London: Collins, 1990 (5) Ivens, M., SJ: An Approach to St Ignatius of Loyola, ed J Munitiz SJ. Oxford: Way Books, 2008.
Articles: (1) The Spiritual Journey of Ignatius of Loyola 1491-1540 http://clcaustralia.org.au/downloads/Brief_Life_of_Ignatius.pdf (2) The Life of a Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Translation by Brian Edwards. https://www.groupsthatclick.com/atf/images/toc_ignatius_of_loyola.pdf
The Life of Ignatius of Loyola Lesson 2 Page 3 of 3 (3) The Pilgrim Journey of Ignatius: From Soldier to Laborer in the Lord’s Vineyard and Its Implications for Apostolic Lay Spirituality, by J. Peter Schineller, S.J. (Studies, 1999) Videos: (1) Ignatius: Pilgrim, Mystic and Master of the Practical, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJf2MlRjY6E
E. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
(1) To gain knowledge of Ignatius’ pilgrim years: from Spain to Paris (2) To understand Ignatius’ overarching desire ‘to help people’ while living in great poverty (3) To identify his long and patient search for what God might want of him to do in life
F. ASSIGNMENT
Write up your own short version of Ignatius’ life for the period 1523-1528. Indicate some resonances you notice between your own life and that of Ignatius over this period, e.g., your own searching for what God might want of you. Are you to some degree a pilgrim as Ignatius was?
The Life of Ignatius of Loyola Lesson 2