This past year a group of young adults decided to walk the Ignatian Way through Catalonia. From this journey a new community group was born that has stayed connected since then. A year later, thanks to the work of the Loyola Center and CVX in San Sebastian, a group of nine people – mostly young adults – has returned to travel another part of the Ignatian Way, this time through Gipuzkoa.
It is important to highlight that the Ignatian Way has broadened its horizons; it now has three different phases: Before, During, and After. Nevertheless, it still has the same basis – to share within a community life, meals, feelings, problems, idea, faith …
In the Before phase, we had the chance to hold different meetings around new volunteer opportunities with the help of Caritas. These meetings have been enhanced with the help of a guide for prayers, texts, reflections … who has facilitated a review of the lights and darks, calls and feelings we have had all throughout these new experiences.
In the During phase, we walked as pilgrims along the Ignatian Way in Gipuzkoa, where we have followed in the footsteps of Iñigo, starting in Loyola. There, besides reliving history, we have also been able to get to know the Jesuits that live in the Loyola infirmary. This has been an experience of solidarity that allows us to feel the fragility of life, learning to trust in the will of God. That day we learned one of the fundamental pillars of Iñigo, self-knowledge as a principle element for discovering God.
Our route continued to Zumarraga to visit the hermitage of Antigua, a stopping point of Ignatius on his way to Manresa. Throughout the different moments we labored – as a community – with the first week of the Spiritual Exercises; we saw that the world is unjust, that there is sin, and recognized deeply that we are sinners… feeling, as we could in no other way, the unconditional forgiveness of God before these truths. On the other hand, we asked for the courage to accept the love and forgiveness of God, by recognizing our own fragility.
In the final stage, we arrived at Arantzazu, where before the gaze of the Virgin, we tried to become more aware of all the ‘smiles’ that we see in our day-to-day life. Trying to internalize these smiles, we reflected on the different ways we can pass them on to others, approaching new realities, improving our environment, spreading the message of God … We realize which are the keys that let us be church for others and build the Kingdom of God for them; we ought to strive for transformative leadership in the little gestures where we happen to be. Let us not forget that the scenery that accompanied us during these stages comes highly recommended for any that want to enjoy the wonders of nature.
This has all been an experience that one cannot leave behind. We return with many questions and doubts that we will continue to clarify. We must analyze the whole lived and felt experience with plenty of time to make the experience our own and to incorporate it into our daily lives. The works has only just begun.
All that is left is the After moment. A moment that, through prayer, and with some distance from the Ignatian Way, allows us to rest in the lived experience of the encounters of the Before and on the route itself so that we can discern what we are being called to next.
The route has been an unparalleled success. The goals that we set throughout the year were amply fulfilled and we participants have returned with much spirit. In any case, we will keep looking for more answers and more questions while we walk along, passing on all the key points to those around us (at least, until the next route).
