An Ignatian Formation and Training in Spiritual Direction
When we take up occupation of the site of our bodies in stillness before God, we are granted a place to be, simply in virtue of being there as material beings made by God. Rowan Williams: Lear and Eurydice The truth is that we are always home. On this retreat day, we will explore coming … Continue reading Retreat day: Coming home
Thrush (photo by Julian Maddock) Every year everything I have ever learned in my lifetime leads back to this: the fires and the black river of loss whose other side is salvation, whose meaning none of us will ever know. Mary Oliver: In Blackwater Woods I was listening to Radio 3 over breakfast on Wednesday. … Continue reading Lass auch Dir die Brust bewegen, Liebchen, höre mich!
By their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7.16 A person is walking along the street and a thought comes to her: “I ought to phone my Auntie Julie. I know it is boring, and I never know what to say, but she must be lonely stuck in her flat with no visitors.” Another person … Continue reading It’s only your imagination
This interview takes place in the Spring of 1529 while walking in the St. Barbe area of Paris. Thank you, Inigo, for agreeing to make a last interview. This feels an important moment as I hear you’ve finished writing up your notes into a book called ‘Spiritual Exercises’. Yes. I’ve put everything together in one … Continue reading Making the Exercises – last interview with St. Ignatius
This interview takes place in the Autumn of 1525 in Mr. Ardevol’s school room in Barcelona. Hello Inigo. I heard that you had settled back in Barcelona after your trip to the Holy Land so I thought this would be an ideal time to catch up with you. Silence… I’m wondering how you are? Silence… … Continue reading Following through – a 3rd Interview with St. Ignatius
This interview takes place in the Spring of 1522 in St. Lucy’s Hospice, Manresa. It’s good to meet again, Inigo, although I have to say that it’s been hard work finding you! Sorry. Since coming out of lockdown, there’s been no holding me! I’ve been walking, seeing lots of places, meeting new people and going … Continue reading Handing in my Knife – a 2nd Interview with St. Ignatius
The Interview takes place in the autumn of 1521 at his family home in Loyola. Hello. Is it OK if I call you Inigo? Yes, of course. Inigo Lopez is my name. I was named after the Basque Saint Inigo. How long have you been in Lockdown? Since June, so it’s now been 4 months. … Continue reading An Interview with St. Ignatius in Lockdown