July 31, 2012 - St. Ignatius Loyola and Our Lady of Montserrat

Today, July 31, 2012 is the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus or as the community is commonly called, "The Jesuits." He wrote "Spiritual Exercises" which is widely used in retreats today.


He was born in 1471 of a noble Spanish family and trained to be a warrior until he was 30 years of age. In the Battle of Pamplona, his legs suffered major injuries. While confined in bed, he read the only available books his sister-in-law had. They were about Jesus and the Lives of Saints. He was greatly moved and developed an insatiable desire to know more of Christ and His teachings. Upon recovery, he went to the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat near Barcelona where he made an all-night vigil. It was a turning point in his life so that he left his sword on the altar before the Virgin Mary and vowed to be a follower of Jesus. 


He went to Manresa and lived in a cave in complete mortification and realization of God in the world. Eager to be an instrument of change, he studied Theology and Latin in Salamanca, Spain. Later, he went to the University of Paris for his Master's Degree. It was during his stay in the Paris that he formed a group of six schoolmates into one dedicated to poverty, obedience and chastity. They called themselves the "Society of Jesus." In 1540,they went to Rome to have their community approved. Since the Pope at that time was beset with the growing Protestant Reformation, he asked them to help him. The "Jesuits" as the community was then called became involved in the field of education.
St. Ignatius Loyola wrote "Spiritual Exercises," a method of prayer, meditation and discernment based on the Scriptures. He died in Rome in 1556.

The life of St. Ignatius is inextricably associated with Spain's Our Lady of Montserrat, one of the two widely-acclaimed Miraculous Black Madonnas. The other one is Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland.


Montserrat is a mountain 4,055 ft. high above sea level near Barcelona, Spain. It is a "jagged" or "serrated," multi-peaked mountain with striking slightly- colored sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded formations. The wind, rain, snow, heat and cold for thousands of years have molded the rocks into weird, capricious  shapes. Some peaks or crags have fancied resemblance to human figures, animals or objects and have been given names as: Cat's Head, Elephant Trunk,The Bell, The Parrot, The Dice, The Friar, The Doll, and The Giant. Surprisingly, despite the lack of soil and the scarcity of water, vegetation grow in abundance.


It is recorded that as early as the 8th Century, hermitages were in Montserrat and by the 12th Century, a sanctuary was built which has become a Benedictine Monastery. Widespread miracles of the Blessed Virgin brought pilgrimages then which has continued to the present.


My visits to Montserrat were in 1988, 1996 and 2003 with my grand-daughter, Diana, after her Grade VIII graduation as "Valedictorian." Montserrat was pilgrimage site in our tour of France, Portugal and Spain.


In my 2003 visit, I had time to take the funicular or trolley trip down  to the base of the mountain to see the cave where the image of our Blessed Mother was found. At the ticket counter, we were informed that the last trip of the funicular was at 6 PM. I let Diana spend more time with a sweet young lady, Tina, who was so gracious to let her tag along. Another woman within my age bracket, too, Celenia was my companion during the cave adventure.


Much to my surprise, the end-of-the-line station of the funicular was not near the cave. We had to go through a very rocky path farther down for more than 30 minutes to reach our destination. It was an awesome feeling to be inside a cave that had existed thousands of years through the centuries when God did not even thought of putting me in His blueprint of the universe! More importantly, I was in a sanctuary, a blessed place, indeed!


Celenia and I departed with the group for our return trip. Despite our determined effort to walk with them, we lagged behind since the uphill climb was more exacting on our knees and legs. Maneuvering through the many right and left turns of the trail further caused  a tremendously long gap behind our companions. We reached the small patch of platform which served as the station only to see the tail-end of the trolley disappear among the forest greens.


I realized that it was the last trolley for the day and that we had to stay overnight in the "wilderness." My heart sank to its lowest ebb and my whole body weakened like a mass of gelatine. Physically, I was in the "Lost Horizon" but then my Faith, like a flaming arrow  zoomed up to the Heavens, to my God Who will never abandon me! I have always believed, "I am one of God's favorites!"


While Celenia kept pacing back and forth murmuring invectives about our companions' lack of consideration for us, I felt the stomach-churning fear of spending the night in the dark forest inhabited by nocturnal animals out for human flesh. I shivered at the thought! In utter despair, I looked up to the darkening clouds, lifted up my arms and prayed loud, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? The Lord is my refuge, of whom should I be afraid. (Psalm 27) I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34). All of a sudden, I saw two figures coming towards us from a distance. I did not have any trace of apprehension but rather of expectancy! As the two men came nearer, I noticed one having the resemblance of St. Raphael, the medicine of God and travelling companion, as depicted in a "stampita" I had.  Since I have been travelling a lot in my career, I have always prayed to St. Michael and St. Raphael. Anyway, it was a flitting thought.


They came to us and went direct to the water tube inserted in the hillside from whence water was continuously falling. I excitedly asked them while they were drinking with their cupped hands, "How did you come down? Almost in unison, they pointed to the same direction. No word was spoken. With a brief, "Thank you," I hurried on with Celenia close to my tracks.


Night had fallen. The crescent moon did not shed enough light for our way up the mountain in a trail of rocks and stones. My heart was in unceasing prayer as we took turns helping one another, pulling one up this way or the other in our ascent. After a few minutes, we came to a point where a rock hung precariously at the edge of the mountain. It spelled danger with any false step! We stopped trying to figure out the safest maneuver. The lack of light made the situation worse.While in deep thought over our next move, we heard a rustle of leaves behind us. Instinctively, we turned our heads only to see two smiling ladies, possibly in their mid 20's.




 Surprised, I asked, "Where have you been?"
They answered, "We were left by the trolley."
I said, "But we did  not see you at the station," As I mentioned earlier, the so-called station was a small cemented open-air platform. A sizeable tract around it was cleared of trees or bushes.
One lady answered, "We were there," as she immediately held my arm directing me make the right moves over the rock. My attention centered on our climb to the top where the Benedictine Monastery stood. We each had someone helping us all along the way. It was only through the timely assistance of the ladies. who claimed to be from Singapore, that we successfully survived our ordeal.


I invited them for dinner but they politely declined saying, "We have to go back to Barcelona."
We thanked the young ladies profusely as we poured our double, triple, nay, limitless gratitude to God Who will always let His Presence be felt during times when we need Him most! 


          Psalm 91:11- 12  "For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands, they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone."