On Thursday, May 20, 2021 the Jesuits began a celebration recognizing the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius’ conversion experience and the start of the Jesuits as we know them. It marks the beginning of a yearlong celebration of the Society of Jesuits and the contributions they have made to society and the Church.
On May 20, 1521 St. Ignatius was busy fighting in a battle in Pamplona on behalf of the Spanish against the French but they were losing badly. He was defending the citadel when he was struck by a cannonball. It passed between his legs shattering his right leg and leaving a gaping flesh wound in his left leg. The French were victorious but chivalrous in victory. In the field hospital they set Ignatius’ leg and cared for him.
It was during his recuperation that he experienced his conversion to follow Jesus Christ and leave his old ways behind him. He had a multitude of experiences in which he felt led by the Holy Spirit to Our Lady and to Jesus Christ. These experiences are the core of Ignatian Spirituality and the discernment process as we know it: the Examen prayer. All of this happened by the gift of God’s grace and Ignatius being led by the Holy Spirit.
It is amazing to think that Ignatius’ journey of faith all began with a cannonball experience. Most of us would have been devastated by such an experience but Ignatius allowed the Lord to work in his life right there. In fact, the Jesuits regularly refer to conversion moments as “cannonball experiences” when they lead to a change in direction in one’s life like Ignatius. But even with a cannonball experience, we still need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to a better place beyond the experience.
This year of the coronavirus pandemic feels like a collective cannonball experience. Yet how we will respond to this year of trauma is up to us. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to allow his Holy Spirit to guide our conversion experience and be transformed by the experience. Like Ignatius, we are called to discern where the Lord is leading us and not allow this moment to pass with us changing for the better.
Pentecost was a cannonball experience for the original disciples, and it changed their lives forever. They were huddled in a room out of fear and yet the Holy Spirit came to them and encouraged them to be witnesses to the love of God that Jesus showed them. It is considered to the beginning of the Church as we know it and today is often celebrated as the birthday of the Church.
This weekend, over 70 youth will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and through it we believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit will be imparted to each of these young people. It is sincere hope that they will remember this “cannonball” experience of a year and the grace of this weekend will give a deeper conversion to following Jesus in their lives. Please say a prayer for them and encourage them to always look for where Jesus is leading them in all future cannonball experiences.
God bless,
Fr. Brendan