Ignatius 500
The Conversion of St Ignatius: 500th anniversary It is 500 years since St Ignatius’s life was transformed by his participation in the Battle of Pamplona. We reflect on the capacity of unwanted things to change our lives, sometimes for the better. Before the Cannon Strike This Ignatian Year marks the 500th anniversary of the conversion of St Ignatius of Loyola – 500 years since the cannonball struck the soldier, Iñigo Loyola, shattering his legs and confining him to a bed for months of recovery. If it hadn’t been for that painful, life-altering wound, Iñigo never would have encountered Christ and the saints, never would have read their stories during his recovery, never would have re-evaluated his life, never would have penned the Spiritual Exercises or founded the Society of Jesus. That cannonball moment led Ignatius to see all things new in Christ – and the 500 years that followed have enabled us to do the same. Lessons from Ignatius Ignatius thought he knew how his life would go, the kind of person he would become, but the future he saw for him-
self was an imperfect one; God saw so much more. It took a cannonball to the legs to shatter that imperfect future, to begin the work of discovering one more perfect and to reveal the person God was inviting Ignatius to become. An unwanted illness, disappointment or bereavement may over time change a life. We all have had experiences in life we would not have asked for. Looking back, we can often find good coming from within that experience. Look back, allow yourself to feel both the pain and the freedom and gratitude. Maybe make this prayer of St Ignatius. Take and receive, Lord, all my liberty, all my memory, all my understanding, and my entire will; whatever I have or hold, I have received from your hand. I return it all to you; do with it what you will. Pour into me your love and grace. That alone is enough for me. 27
Books to celebrate the 500th anniversary
Pope’s FeatureIntentions Walking with Ignatius: in conversation with Darío Menor Arturo Sosa SJ
Counsels of the Holy Spirit: A Reading of St Ignatius’s Letters Patrick C Goujon SJ
A celebration of 500 years of the Society of Jesus, as seen through the eyes of its first Latin American Father General, Arturo Sosa SJ. Comprised of interviews with Father General by Darío Menor, together they engage in a spiritual conversation that covers such topics as the life of Ignatius, the life story of Sosa, the challenge of the unsettling twenty-first century, and the future of the Church. 288pp €19.95
Translated by Joseph Munitiz SJ
Finding God in All Things Brian Grogan SJ In simple, clear language, author Brian Grogan SJ shows how God is involved in all the details of our lives.
An introduction to the letters of St Ignatius which show how Ignatius deals with decision-making and with obstacles in the spiritual life as well as how he offered encouragement and correction to others. 136pp €14.95
St Ignatius of Loyola: A Convert’s Story Patrick Corkery SJ Dramatic change in Ignatius’s life resulted in a time of reflection which brought him closer to God, gave him greater personal insight and transformed his life, putting the service of God and other people before anything else.
136pp €7.99
64pp €4.95
The Way to Manresa Brendan McManus SJ
Finding God in the Mess: Meditations for Mindful Living Jim Deeds and Brendan McManus SJ
A roadmap for those seeking to make sense of the unexpected roadblocks that we all encounter in life and reinterpret them in God’s eyes, allowing for new life and meaning. 128pp €14.95 28
Illustrated meditations for morning, daytime or evening individual prayer, or for parish groups. 96pp €9.95
To Love and To Serve: Exploring the Ignatian Tradition (Selected Essays) Brian O’Leary SJ
Pathways to a Decision with Ignatius of Loyola Jim Maher SJ An exploration of some of St Ignatius’s key insights on spirituality that recognises God’s presence through our feelings, desires and actions in unexpected places and at unexpected times.120pp €12.95
A selection of essays by this well-known writer on many aspects of Ignatian spirituality. An eminently readable and varied collection for anyone interested in Ignatian spiritual formation and direction. 304pp €25.00
Ignatian Spirituality and Interreligious Dialogue: Reading Love’s Mystery Michael Barnes SJ
The Art of Spiritual Direction: A Guide to Ignatian Practice Jos Moons SJ
This book forms a personal introduction, with a degree of autobiography and illustrative anecdote, to an interior dialogue between Christian faith and the challenging context of contemporary religious pluralism. 240pp €24.95
A practical, ‘toolbox’ book about spiritual accompaniment. Its concrete examples and case studies can be used by both new and experienced spiritual directors in a wide variety of Christian contexts. 176pp €19.95
Other popular Ignatian titles available from our online bookstore: .95
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Available from all good bookshops or directly from our website, www.messenger.ie, or phone 01-6767491 29