Today (20 May) is the 500th anniversary since St Ignatius of Loyola, who was a soldier at the time, had his leg shattered by a cannonball in the Battle of Pamplona, Spain.  So why are we marking that moment in his life 500 years later? The Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Arturo Sosa SJ shares the reason:

In 1521, while Ignatius was convalescing at his family home in Loyola from the wound that damaged his leg at the battle of Pamplona, God brought about his conversion and put him on the road that led to Manresa. Together with our friends and the whole Church, the universal Society wants to remember that privileged moment when the Holy Spirit inspired Ignatius of Loyola in his decision to follow Christ, and to deepen our understanding of this pilgrim way in order to ‘draw fruit’ from it.

Just as he arrives at Manresa desiring to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Ignatius makes the spiritual journey of every convert, of everyone in search of God. This is also true for us today. Therefore, the motto of our celebration is, ‘To see all things new in Christ.’ It highlights that this year is also an opportune time for us to ‘be renewed’ by the Lord himself. -- Father General announces an Ignatian Year: A call to conversion

The official opening of the Ignatian Year will begin with a livestreamed Eucharistic Celebration at the Cathedral of Pamplona in Spain.

Homily: Fr Frank Brennan SJ, Melbourne, 20 May 2021

Transcript: The commencement of the Ignatian Year - Australian Jesuits

Coming up

• Young Adult Gathering - 22 May 2021, 10:30am - 2:30pm
• Pilgrims with Ignatius - 23 May 2021, 10:00pm AEST and 24 May 2021, 10:00am AEST