Lying among
mountains and gardens in the middle of the Basque Country, we find the humble
Holy House surrounded by the Sanctuary of Loyola.
The Shrine
and Basilica of Loyola is a monumental and religious complex built around this
birthplace of Ignatius of
Loyola , founder of
the Society of
Jesus, known as the Jesuits.
In 1491, a
family of minor nobility welcomed its 13th child, who would one day change the
world. Ignatius of Loyola, whose real name was Iñigo
López de Loyola, was the son of the Lord of Loyola, Beltrán Ibáñez de Oñaz
and Marina Sánchez de Licona, member of an important family.
San
Ignatius, turned from Lopéz de Loyola, a soldier, into to the priesthood by his
visions. He was living in around the Court, as described by himself, in
dissipation and laxity when he was called to the war. While in the battle
against the French around Pamplona, a cannon ball broke his leg. He was taken
to Loyola, where his leg had to be rebroken and reset.
During the
following period he read the lives of Christ and the Saints, and he was
radically transformed. Then all of a sudden, he became conscious that the knight
dreams were to make him dry and dissatisfied, while the ideas of the saints braced
and strengthened him with joy and peace. Next it dawned on him that the former
ideas were of the world, the latter God-sent; finally, worldly thoughts
began to lose their hold, while heavenly ones grew clearer and dearer. One
night as he lay awake, pondering these new lights, "he saw clearly",
so says his autobiography, "the image of Our Lady with the Holy Child
Jesus” at whose sight for a notable time he felt a reassuring sweetness, which
eventually left him with such a loathing of his past sins. His conversion was now
complete. Everyone noticed that he would speak of nothing but spiritual things.
He founded
the Brotherhood of Jesus, or Jesuit order, whose radical interpretation of Catholicism
left its mark on both the New and Old World.
The Society
of Jesus became a powerful institution that was very influential in the Catholic Church. Ignatius,
its founder, was named a saint and his birthplace became a place of worship.
In the
seventeenth century the house where he was born was given to the jesuits, they
built there, near the birthplace of its founder, a religious complex, of which
the highlight is its basilica.
A place of
pilgrimage and wonder for the devout and secular alike, San Ignatius' former
home has been transformed with Chirriguerresque flair into a grand compound.
In addition
to the basilica and shrine, there is an art museum displaying some of his
belongings and writings, as well as religious objects collected over the
centuries. We will present you some other information in coming entrances.
In the year
2011, more than 3.000 young catholics meet in Loyola, in the “Magis 2011”,
preparing themselves for the “World Youth Day”.
To learn
more:
Sanctuary
of Loyola oficial page: http://www.santuariodeloyola.org/home.html
Jesuit
Brothers: http://www.jesuitasdeloyola.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_of_Loyola
Pics:
aitonaknavarra.blogspot.com
cofrades.pasionensevilla.tv
bienesvisor.es
txemivirtual.com
agenciasic.es
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