The Spiritual Exercises followed at home, meditations on the Gospel of the day, online preparation for Holy Week and more

This is a time of trial and unknown that challenges us and requires us to be creative. The Jesuits of the three communities of Milan are trying three different initiatives. The first is "A light to my path", lectio on the Gospel of the day made available from Sunday 15 March showing short videos on facebook and you tube. Every Friday of Lent, the Carlo Maria Martini Foundation publishes on its website the audio of "roaming sermons" on the Our Father which the archbishop of Milan introduced in various places in the city, including the San Vittore prison and Sacco hospital, together with some quotes and images published presently with the hashtag #Lentwithmartini. More Spiritual Exercises will be given daily online between March 30 and April 2 at 5 pm on the San Fedele Cultural Foundation website and texts for personal prayer in preparation for Easter.

After a televised intervention by Fr. Renato Colizzi on TV2000, the CEI promoter of the Spiritual Exercises, a parish in Rome made a request for the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises to be followed at home. This consisted of a lectio, a time of meditation and if possible, a sharing via skype. In a few days, thanks to the agencies’ tam tam messenger and by word of mouth, hundreds of requests for accompaniment were sent by email to the Ignatian Spirituality Center."80 of us were streaming live in 20 parishes last night," Fr. Renato said " others were received through the network or via whatsapp through the recommendation of friends. This is a real miracle”.

Four videoconferences on Holy Week were offered by the Jesuits of Cuneo. These conferences were recorded live and quickly converted into "distance learning". They consisted of a biblical/liturgical preparation on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.

Not to mention also the celebrations activated by the parishes via Facebook. “People, thirsting for the Word and the sacraments are looking for meaning and consolation during a time of misfortune and death. Where can one find it if the Churches and other public places are closed? " Fr. Colizzi highlights. "The web becomes a place where one can seek a moment of profound sharing within the limitations of distance".

See the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/GesuitiItalia