6. Ignatius at Montserrat.

         After his convalescence Ignatius left Loyola as a pilgrim. He planned to go to the Holy Land but later on he changed his plan and decided to visit a Benedictine monastery at Montserrat. (Montserrat means “the saw mountain” – as the big rocks on the top of the mountain looked like teeth of a big saw.). He bought some old clothes for himself and gave away his costly ones to beggars. He spent some days in the monastery preparing for a general confession. After three days of preparation he made his general confession. Before leaving the monastery, he gave away his mule to the monastery. On 24^th March 1522, Ignatius spent the whole night in vigil at the Shrine of Our Lady at Montserrat. He placed his sword on the altar and prayed the entire night. 

    Ignatius made three important external changes as a result of the interior changes that were taking place in him. Firstly, he gave away his expensive clothes to beggars and put on the clothes of the poor in order to identify himself with Christ, the Poor. Secondly, he was sorry for his past sins and expressed his sorrow by making a general confession to purify himself. Thirdly, he looked to the future and placed his life under Our Lady’s care through the all-night vigil at Montserrat. The sword on the altar signified that he was now the knight of Jesus. He would defend Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and would live and work for Jesus alone. The following morning on the feast of the Incarnation, he attended Mass, received Holy Communion and resolved to live forever as a knight of Jesus.

( to be continued Chapter 7. Ignatius at Manresa)

"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)