July 31 is a special day for any Jesuit school because it is the feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, the man whose conversion, pilgrimage, and prayer gave rise to the spirituality that fuels our mission. But I must admit this July 31 feels particularly special because, just a little more than a month ago, along with ten Arrupe students and two faculty members, I was walking in the footsteps of Ignatius on the Camino Ignaciano.
The 13 of us were privileged to make this journey as part of a fully funded pilot program organized by Boston College. The program, called AMDG—short, of course, for the Jesuit motto Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, “For the Greater Glory of God”—aims to offer young people an opportunity to renew their commitment to Catholic faith and service through an experience of Ignatian spirituality. Our students’ pilgrimage in Spain was really just the culmination of a year’s worth of spiritual formation through the AMDG program, which included five days on the BC campus last summer and a silent retreat in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in February. Throughout the program, they were accompanied by one of our outstanding theology teachers, Mr. Sam Schelble, himself an alum of BC. I only got to tag along in Spain because, it turns out, the pilgrimage portion of the program has a BYOP policy: “Bring Your Own Priest!”
What a blessing it was to accompany our ten students, all rising seniors, as well as Mr. Schelble and Ms. Estefany Socarro, ’11, on this Ignatian journey. We began in Ignatius’ hometown of Loyola, even celebrating Mass in the bedroom—now a chapel—where he recuperated from a cannonball wound and, in the process, reoriented his life toward God. We walked south through expansive vineyards to Navarrete, where the newly devout Ignatius recovered some money that was owed to him and promptly distributed it to people in need. From there we headed east toward Montserrat, where Ignatius famously laid down his sword before a statue of the Blessed Mother. We concluded our pilgrimage with Mass in the Cave of Manresa—also now a chapel!— where Ignatius wrote his foundational Spiritual Exercises.
To be clear, we did not walk the whole way, which would have required four weeks—and which surely would have resulted in severe homesickness among our students, who were excited to be overseas but also missed their families! Each day, we rose for breakfast at 8:00, hit the road by 9:00, and walked until lunch, usually covering about 11 miles over five to six hours. Buses helped us cover the distance between major stops—and afforded an opportunity for naps and/or Michael Jackson karaoke sessions!
For me, as a Jesuit, it was powerful to see how this pilgrimage experience integrated all four of the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP’s) that guide the present-day mission of the Society of Jesus:
- Showing the way to God
- Walking with the excluded
- Journeying with youth
- Caring for our common home
But ultimately, we did not go on this pilgrimage so “Father” could marvel at the beauty of the Jesuits’ global mission. We went for the students. Here’s what a couple of them had to say about their pilgrimage:
“Something I realized on the Camino was the importance of taking time away from all the chaos around you and really reflecting on your faith and God, knowing that there is a deep connection with God at all times of your life.”
“I had the opportunity to help and be helped, experiencing this whole new spectrum of selfless love that I didn’t believe in. To be a better leader as I enter my senior year of high school, I need to be the embodiment of the love I so desperately desire to see everywhere.”
I think it’s safe to say they had a transformative experience, perhaps not all that different from the transformation Ignatius experienced on his own journey. I’m excited to see my fellow pilgrims again, along with all our students, when school resumes in a few weeks. There is truly no greater joy than to walk with them, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, for the greater glory of God.
Happy Ignatius Day, everyone!
