This year's Holy Week presented itself in an unusual way. It was a real ordeal for everyone. In St. Ignatius, we asked ourselves whether it would be appropriate to film the celebrations in order to give the faithful the opportunity to experience them through the media and social networks, failing which they would not be gathered together as a Christian community. We thought that we could provide them with spiritual nourishment inspired by the exercises of St. Ignatius. A dozen companions from the community of the Centre Sèvres went to work to give a retreat. A virtual community was going to be formed in anticipation of the new day of Easter.

Starting on Sunday, April 5, Palm Sunday, we broadcast daily the video of a prayer time of about twenty minutes filmed in the church of Saint Ignatius, to live with Jesus his pilgrimage from death to life. A hymn gave the harmonic of the Gospel of the day, before its proclamation. Then, with a brief commentary, a Jesuit illuminated what was happening on the way to Jesus and proposed points to guide the meditation. Everyone was invited to take as much time as was appropriate, ten minutes, half an hour, enough, however, for the Spirit to invade his heart.

We gave this retreat through the websites of St. Ignatius and Maison Magis, but above all our novena became an offer of the prayer site Hozana. This one is presented as follows: "Hozana is an association carried by lay Catholics, in an ecumenical perspective. Its mission is to allow each one to help his brothers and sisters to come closer to Jesus, by creating a vast community of prayers on the internet". It was a beautiful experience for all at the end of the journey, 5,500 people followed him regularly, coming from all over France and far beyond! This opportunity made it possible to make our spirituality known in new networks! Deo gratias!

A novena to the Holy Spirit

Christians will still be "deprived" of celebrations in churches until further notice. So we decided to resume the exercise to offer a "novena to the Holy Spirit", between the Ascension and Pentecost, in those moments when the disciples are gathered in prayer, with Mary, in this expectation.

Signs of joy

We have received many letters re-reading this experience. Here are some of them. They tell of the joy we had in this service of the Word and of Contemplation.

"My husband and I enjoyed living with you this week, and I think that rarely have we experienced it so intensely. It was sober, clear, and very well framed. Your meditations allowed us, then, to bounce back ourselves, and were not a "ready to wear" to consume, but rather, tracks to pursue ourselves. »

"A huge "Thank you" for this retreat so beautiful, so deep, that you have allowed us to live in our own home, confined. I must have been in Penboc'h, I'm in St. Ignatius, it's beautiful. With Arcabas, moreover! Thank you for this journey that I have been able to live thanks to you to the joy of the disciples of Emmaus. Bless you for this beautiful initiative! »

"We shared our prayer on this text as a family this morning. I discover in the proposed paths this serenity of Jesus which, at the same time, impresses me and reassures me. I ask him to share it with all of us, in these times of doubt, fear, suffering and mourning. May she accompany the whole community of care-givers to which I belong. »

"I don't know the Exercises of Saint Ignatius. I am discovering them with you. Your video expression literally plunged me into the depths of the Holy Spirit. It is an excellent experience during this confinement. »