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Visiting the Place Where Saint Ignatius Formulated the Spiritual Exercises

June 12th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

This morning we visited Manresa and toured the cave where Saint Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercises. In one of the pictures I’ve posted, you can see that it faces Montserrat in the distance. Over time, a Church, a Jesuit Residence and a Center for Spirituality were built over the Cave.  In the late 17th and early 18th century, an elaborate alabaster altar and other decorations were added to the cave.

The afternoon was spent hiking the many trails around the mountains or in quiet contemplation as we took in the beauty around us. We will let the photos speak for themselves. It is simply breathtaking.

Prayer of Montserrat:

O God, giver of every good, You have chosen this mountain as a center of special devotion to the Mother of Your only-begotten Son; grant us the aid of the Virgin Mary, so that we may safely reach that mountain which is Christ. Amen.

At 5 p.m. we celebrated Mass in the Niche Chapel at the Basilica at Montserrat after viewing the Black Madonna. Fr. Paul Harman, S.J., our vice president for mission at Holy Cross, was the homilist. Then we had the opportunity to hear the Benedictine Monks and the Boys Choir for Vespers.

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Arriving to Montserrat

June 12th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

During the long drive to Montserrat yesterday afternoon, we took time to make The Examen.

We checked into our hotel, directly adjacent to the monastery/basilica at Montserrat and had dinner together. Our hotel overlooks the plaza and the stunning views of the valley below.

More Photos of Xavier

June 12th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

Chapel of Christ

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Castle

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School

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Lunch on castle grounds

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The Five Jesuits on the Pilgrimage

June 12th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

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From left, Rev. Brian Linnane, S.J., president of Loyola University Maryland; Rev. Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J., David P. Lauler Chair in Catholic Health Care Ethics at Georgetown University; Rev. Ron Amiot, S.J., rector of the Jesuit community at Loyola University Maryland; Rev. Paul Harman, S.J., vice president for mission at Holy Cross; and yours truly, Fr. Boroughs.

Visiting the Birthplace of Saint Francis Xavier

June 11th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

We traveled from Loyola to Javier to visit the birthplace of Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Ignatius’ college roommate. The Castle of Javier was built in the 10th century and in the beginning, its tower was used to defend the valley of the river Aragon. During the 14th century it became a castle and it belonged to Maria de Azpilicueta, mother of Saint Francis Xavier.

Parts of the castle have been converted into a museum where we saw documents, coins, paintings and other objects illustrating the cultural, artistic and religious legacy of Saint Francis Xavier. In the castle, the small family chapel is decorated with frescos from the 15th century representing the dance of death by several skeletons. These shapes remind me of the celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Centering the chapel is an unusual crucifix depicting the “smiling” Christ, reflecting a death which reflects his great love for us.

After touring the castle, Trustee Ron Amiot, S.J., celebrated Mass in the Parish Church nearby and Trustee Brian Linnane, S.J.  gave the homily. We had lunch in a restaurant near the castle before departing for the 5 hour ride to Monserrat.

Ron Amiot: It was a high privilege for me to preside at the Eucharist of St. Barnabus, companion to St. Paul, in the beautiful parish church across from the birthplace and childhood home of St. Francis Xavier, companion to St. Ignatius. From my days as a Jesuit novice I’ve alway been moved by the stories of the depth of Francis’s friendship with Ignatius and the other first Jesuits and the endurance of his devotion to those friendships over time and distance. Accounts of these friendships during this pilgrimage to places both external and  internal, recall the fact that our personal histories are peopled by men and women who have shared companionship with us on the pilgrimage — journeys of our lives of faith and to God. This is a dynamic deeply rooted in our common Christian heritage, of course, grounded as it is in the revelation that the face of God is a human face, and human friendship is the mode and model of the relationship God desires to share with us. (“You call me, ‘master’ and ‘lord,’ and rightly so, for so I am, but I call you ‘friends.’ “)  So in the pilgrimage moments of quiet reflection, memories of friends’ lives, their welcome, compassion, forgiveness and enduring affection become revelatory of God’s own welcome, compassion, forgiveness and affection. In our gratitude for riches so freely received, we too are enriched to be signs and sacraments of God’s presence for the life of the world.

Views from the top of the castle of St. Xavier

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St Francis Xavier’s castle

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Visiting Ignatius’ Family Castle

June 10th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

We left Bilbao at 9 a.m. for the 1 1/2 hour ride to Loyola. The steep mountains, and dense forests remind me of my native British Columbia and adopted Pacific Northwest. We checked into the Hotel Arrupe which is adjacent to the beautiful Loyola Basilica, built to honor the canonization of St. Ignatius of Loyola. We visited his family home, which is now surrounded by the Basilica, the Jesuit community and associated library and museum. Ignatius’ family castle helps us to understand his early years, family life and social context place. We are moved by the most famous room called the Chapel of the Conversion. This is the room where Ignatius, as a young soldier, had a profound spiritual experience and conversion while he was recuperating after being wounded in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521.  We celebrated Mass here — an incredibly moving experience for all of us.

This afternoon we visited St. Sebastian Church where St. Ignatius was baptized, the Magdalene Hospital where he worked for three months in 1535 and the Hermitage of our Lady of Orlatz. Dinner was at a local restaurant. Feliz Cumpleanos to one of our pilgrims and Trustees, Kevin Fitzgerald, S.J. It was also Kevin’s 26th and my 36th anniversary of our ordinations.

Notes on being a Pilgrim: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, after his conversation experience, thought of himself and referred to himself throughout the rest of his life as a pilgrim. His pilgrimage through life witnesses his growth as a human being, as a disciple of Jesus, as a companion of others with a shared vision of faith and service.

Pilgrim comments after our first day

“Even though many of us know one another this situation promotes a deep level of interaction.”

“Mass at the Chapel of Conversion was a deeply moving experience. The wound that brought Ignatius back displaced him — the problem became his focus. It engendered a crisis. He couldn’t be a soldier any more and he had to decide what his new life would be. Problems displace all of us. How we deal with them can be profound.”

“The sense of place — the rugged terrain — allows you to place yourself back in time and think about the difference between the way we make decisions and look at the world.”

“Seeing the Madonna at St. Orlatz was beautiful — especially the way Mary and the Baby Jesus are situated. Sedes Sapentiae — seat of wisdom. Mary is the throne and Christ is the source of wisdom.”

“In 24 hours we have all become familiar with each other. Our conversation, our bus rides, our walks — have already been a bonding experience.”

“During our institutional accreditation process, we heard that Holy Cross was an institution that clearly understood its mission. This experience is only enhancing the values of Ignatius that we all cherish. It is embedding the mission in key decision makers and influencers at the College.”

“By the end of our first day I think we all felt a sense of relief. What will this journey be like? What will it mean for us personally? We have all seen that the power of place has amazing influence.”

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Appreciating the Origins and Spiritual Grounding of a Holy Cross Education

June 9th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

Over the past three weeks Holy Cross has celebrated graduation and two reunion weekends. At each we have been reflecting on the reality of time, both the impact of its passing and the perspectives our graduates acknowledged they gained in its passing. How much more their Holy Cross education means 25 years later than it did while it was being experienced. Because of what they learned in the classroom, the enduring friendships they formed and the values they appropriated over those years, they made life choices which have made all the difference.

This week 32 alums, spouses and trustees began an 8 day pilgrimage to Ignatian Spain and Rome. On this journey, instead of emphasizing the impact of time, we are using the lens of place to appreciate the origins and spiritual grounding of a Holy Cross education.

We met as a group at the Hotel NH in Bilbao to begin our weeklong journey together. As part of our introductions, we all shared where we were from…or where we called home. This conversation begins to prepare us for an experience that will allow us think about both space and place…places we see and spaces we occupy — and how we interpret these experiences in light of our own background and expectations — and ultimately what we will experience together on this journey.

We take a walk along the Nervion River to see the magnificent Guggenheim Museum on our way to dinner. The structure is beautifully integrated into the urban context of the area and has transformed what was a decrepit and dilapidated port area into a vibrant cultural mecca. We also walk over the Pedro Arrupe bridge to see the Universidad Deusto, one of the most significant Jesuit institutions in Spain. Dinner tonight is in a small local restaurant. We occupy an entire room and our dinner table feels like a family holiday gathering.

 

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Holy Cross President to Blog About Ignatian Pilgrimage

May 27th, 2014 by ignatianpilgrimage2014

From June 9-17, Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College of the Holy Cross, will lead a pilgrimage to visit sites in Spain and Rome that are significant in the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Accompanied by about 30 members from the College’s Board of Trustees, Advisory Board, and senior leadership team, the group will share a lived experience of early Jesuit history and Ignatian thought. The pilgrimage — which dozens of Holy Cross faculty and administrators have previously embarked upon — is designed to enrich the understanding of the College’s Jesuit mission, and provide new perspectives on the distinctive place of Holy Cross in higher education today.

Bookmark this site to follow along on the pilgrimage, and share reflections and experiences from Fr. Boroughs and other participants.