Manresa. Where Ignatius spent several months composing the Spiritual Exercises. Many of our readers will maybe have done the Exercises in several forms - everyday life, week of guided prayer, longer and shorter retreats - so maybe you share with us the special grace of being in the Cave here where he composed them - a fellow pilgrim who had, following his conversion and handing himself over to Christ at the foot of Our Lady of Montserrat - wanted to share his conversion experience with the world, guiding us through an experience-led process of reflection and prayer based on our being loved sinners, following Jesus in his human life and ministry in the Gospels, his passion and death, tomb, new life. A wonderful gift for all. Finding God in all things. You could find out more on how to follow the Exercises now on www.jesuit.org.uk or book a retreat in daily life at www.mountstreet.info or residential at www.stbeunos.com
But for me at least I needed to think Manresa wasn't the end. So back to Montserrat, to savour the source of the conversion again to her son. So we went back to spend time before her yesterday. An Ignatian repetition again. Recognising we're never converted and need to go back to the source to be taught again. Certainly I need to do that more often than I do. And to be inspired by her beauty, the beauty of motherhood, the beauty of his creation, the beauty of silence, of stillness, and so to embrace again the form and shape of God's action in the world. Always showing us the beauty of life. The gift of creation. The goodness inherent in his created order which has sovereignty over all the evil and suffering which can come our way. And our most energetic day too, climbing the mountain and down again. 20 km mainly uphill at a very steep gradient.
The conclusion of our pilgrimage is Barcelona, the great city, though. Back to reality. That's where we are. More on that tomorrow. As we connect with Ignatius here, his friend and for a time history tells us a lay 'member' of the first Jesuits. And her own mission to trafficked women.
Please do give to Project Bakhita if you can. But money's not the only object here. Please pray for the project and spread word about it at such a critical time in our country when we are trying to make the best response to a mass refugee crisis. We need to show God's goodness and welcome to them so we avoid allowing human traffickers to take advantage of such vulnerable people. So many, sadly, it's too late. And that's why at this time Bakhita House is needed more than ever.
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