Reflection 1
Cannonball Moments
That's the end of this reflection.
Notes from Fr. Michael: On the 8th Day of our Pilgrimage, we left Loyola and journeyed about 60 miles to the town of Pamplona. There Ignatius served as a military officer defending a fort against the French. The Spanish troops were badly outnumbered, but Ignatius rallied his troops to fight on until a cannonball breached the walls and shattered both his legs. Impressed by his bravery, the French soldiers set his legs on the battlefield and carried him back to his castle at Loyola. The fort that Ignatius was defending no longer exits, but a statue in a small square in the middle of the street commemorates this site. There Betsey Beckman performed a commemorative dance. Nearby there are two churches. We spent some time in Eucharistic adoration at the Church of St Ignatius (Iglesia de San Ignacio) and then celebrated Mass at another nearby church, St Nicolas. I was the celebrant and Fr. Mark Scalese preached. Attend an Ignatian retreat: jesuitretreat.org
Jesus said to his disciples:
"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life will lose it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.. ...