4  Ignatius at Pamplona.

          In the year 1521, the French attacked the Province of Navarre in an effort to take it away from the Spanish. The Duke of Navarre sent 1000 troops to defend the town of Pamplona, including Ignatius of Loyola, to fight against 12000 men. The Spanish were outnumbered and many of their officers wanted to surrender. For Ignatius it was a chance to distinguish himself in war and, moreover, it would be shameful for a knight to give up fighting for his king. Ignatius organized a defence attack. The French used cannons to break down the city walls. It was one of those cannon balls that hit Ignatius and shattered his leg.

    Who fired that cannon? Two brothers of Francis Xavier were fighting for the French against Ignatius in that battle. Did they fire the shot that was to change the life of Ignatius? We do not know, but what we do know is that that injury was the turning point in his life. It was on Monday, May 20, 1521.

    This incident portrays two things about Ignatius. First of all, Ignatius comes across to us as a born leader; a man of courage and will-power; ambitious and competitive; a man with a resolute will. Secondly, Ignatius had a deep sense of knightly honour so for him to surrender in a battle was a betrayal of his king. Due to these two strong qualities, Ignatius risked his life as well as those of his companions.

(to be continued chapter 5. Learning initial lessons in discernment.)

"Placed with the Son"- A short biography of St.Ignatius--- Fr.Lawrence Dharmaraj 

(From the personal study notes under the guidance of late Fr.Maurice Dullard s.j)