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The cannon wound, the sword, the shrine containing the relics and the glory of the Saints. These are the symbols on which the program of prayer proposed on May 20 at the Church of the Gesù for the initiation of the Ignatian Year was focused. The vigil was presided by Fr. Angelo Schettini, with short quotes from the autobiography, readings chosen by the Scholastics and hymns that relate to the Scripture texts.

“This prayer session has been appreciated by many for its solemnity and precision” Fr. Marco Colò, EUM coordinator for the events of this year, highlights. The alternating readings, the silence and the hymns were a means of producing a quiet meditation on some phrases and images from the autobiography and Scripture.".

Three Scholastics prepared the prayer: Anselmo Rabadan Linares, who is studying philosophy at San Saba, Pietro Coppa, a Regent at the Massimo Institute and Dominik Dubiel, who is at the international theologate of the Gesù. They were given some help by Fr Massimo Marelli, rector of the Gesù Church.

A communal experience

"Working together is a highly consoling experience," the Scholastic Pietro Coppa explains. "I neither knew Anselmo nor Dominik, yet from the beginning we worked in perfect harmony. Intimacy with the Word of God and knowledge of Ignatian spirituality are traits that all Jesuits have in common; it is as if everyone of us shared the same "spiritual genes" with each other. Each one shared his particular talent with the group, a skill which the others did not have."

The Holiness of Ignatius, God's initiative

The aim of the prayer was to highlight Ignatius and his holiness. “We wanted to make clear that God is taking the first step. We must "only" let ourselves be moulded. This image of God is fantastic, that through the canon wound and a long convalescence God abolishes the old Ignatius and moulds a new one”.

Discernment, a gift to be shared.

The Ignatian Year is an invitation to deepen and spread more profusely Ignatius's teaching on the discernment of spirits. “Not only to offer to many the possibility of doing the Spiritual Exercises, but also and above all to promote discernment as a permanent attitude for those who choose to follow Jesus. It is not the prerogative of the Jesuits, but a practice which every Christian should undertake. Many are grateful because they have been able to experience greater freedom and a profound renewal of their own life of faith,” Peter highlights. "They realize that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life "(2 Cor 3: 6). They are amazed when they discover that in prayer it is "the same Creator and Lord" who communicates with the soul (EESS n.15). They feel at home when we encourage them to "seek and find God in all things".

Ignatius’ choices will challenge us after the Covid pandemic.

During his convalescence, Ignatius found himself facing a crossroads: either to return to the life of a soldier or to dedicate himself entirely to the service of the Lord. “The world, after the Covid-19 wound, is at a crossroads. The strongest temptation is to "fall back into our former selfishness". The health crisis should stimulate us to transform our personal life and that of the society where we live.”

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