His teachings are still valid for interpreting today's world.

The Diocese of Cordoba and the Cathedral Chapter, together with the Jesuit Loyola University and the Spanish Province of the Society of Jesus held the International Congress on St. Ignatius of Loyola from 22 to 25 June. This academic meeting brought together the leading scholars of Ignatian doctrine and was part of the events that the Society of Jesus is celebrating for the 500th anniversary of the conversion of St. Ignatius (Ignatius 500).

Large intercontinental audience

More than 1,400 people registered for the congress, both in person and online, from countries such as Italy, Portugal, Uruguay, the United States, Peru, Paraguay, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, India and Panama, among others.

The Congress showed that the teachings of Saint Ignatius are still valid for living and interpreting the world today. The program approached the figure of St. Ignatius along three main lines: a presentation of his life; a reflection on one of the main keys of his spirituality, discernment; and an approach to concrete testimonies of how to live discernment as a way of life in the Church.

Integrating spirituality

During the conference, the figure of St. Ignatius was presented through various presentations that made clear several fundamental points of his life: his integrating spirituality that allowed him to see a complex and ambiguous world as a place of God's call; the ability to face situations of ambiguity in the mission through discernment; the importance of his studies in Paris in shaping his person; and the importance of recognizing one's own fragility as a key to the updating of his spirituality.

The different interventions showed that the great treasure that Ignatian spirituality offers us is discernment, which, being an original concept of St. Paul, he systematizes and makes accessible. It is also necessary to avoid an indiscriminate use of the term so as not to devalue it. But it was clear from the Congress that discernment, as a feature of Christian life in St. Ignatius, becomes an accessible and concrete method that allows us to listen to the Holy Spirit and his calls to follow him. As a method it illuminates the life of the Church and gives keys to live many ecclesial tasks and realities.

Life and action in the Church based on discernment

Finally, through some presentations and several round tables, concrete examples of life and action in the Church based on discernment were reviewed: in the leadership of organizations, in the educational world, in family ministry, in the social apostolate or in the world of health. Discernment is listening to the Spirit who can call us along unsuspected paths beyond all prejudices or preconceived ideas. It demands courage and detachment from securities and brings an unusual creativity to the life of the Church. Those who live in the church from Discernment, which puts Christ's call and mission at the center, can live with an enormous freshness and openness. These enable them to discover ways of responding adequately to realities on the peripheries of the church that would cause blockage or paralysis in those who rely more on preconceived ideas.

In short, it has been seen how St. Ignatius of Loyola and Ignatian spirituality are not an echo of the past, but are a gift of the Lord for the Church that helps the Christian of today to serve the mission of Christ better by following the ways that the Spirit indicates to him or her.